Just got the OWB fired up last week after getting it back from the manufacturer for a refab. They replaced most of the firebox that rotted out, new insulation, even a new (and bigger!) door. It's working great except for an unexpected problem...
Last year (first year I ran an OWB), I started up mid-October and ran until first week of April. In the early part of the season (and for the warm spells in between) there were plenty of long periods where the fire sat and smouldered without the blower coming on. For example, a 35 degree night followed by a 55 - 60 degree day, the OWB might not fire for 6 or 8 hours at a time during the day. Come night, I'd just pop open the door, rake a few coals, throw in some wood and I'd be good to go. Now, the OWB seems to be so efficient that it simply snuffs the fire out completely if it sits for any period of time. I guess that's a good problem to have, since it tells me there aren't any leaks, but I'm finding there are plenty of times that I just want it to smoulder, especially if I'm just trying to heat the domestic hot water. I know some people heat their hot water all year round with these things - how does that work then? How do you keep the fire from going out completely during warm periods where there's no draw on the furnace other than the occasional shower?
Last year (first year I ran an OWB), I started up mid-October and ran until first week of April. In the early part of the season (and for the warm spells in between) there were plenty of long periods where the fire sat and smouldered without the blower coming on. For example, a 35 degree night followed by a 55 - 60 degree day, the OWB might not fire for 6 or 8 hours at a time during the day. Come night, I'd just pop open the door, rake a few coals, throw in some wood and I'd be good to go. Now, the OWB seems to be so efficient that it simply snuffs the fire out completely if it sits for any period of time. I guess that's a good problem to have, since it tells me there aren't any leaks, but I'm finding there are plenty of times that I just want it to smoulder, especially if I'm just trying to heat the domestic hot water. I know some people heat their hot water all year round with these things - how does that work then? How do you keep the fire from going out completely during warm periods where there's no draw on the furnace other than the occasional shower?