I bought a used Heatmor 200 last summer. I had been wanting one for quite some time. About 95% of my heat for the last 12 or so years has been the Clayton/US Stove model 1537 (I think). Anyway its been great but I really wanted the fire outside and I do not like buying propane for my DHW.
i'm a full time machinist and a part time mechanical engineering student at a big university so I wasn't able to get everything hooked up until last weekend. I did a lot of it myself but had help from Dad and FIL for the outside work. I did most of the inside plumbing myself except for hiring the sheetmetal work for the heat exchanger (forced air) and some help repairing a leak and getting things fired up. (Bunch of great guys showed up Sunday unannounced to help)
If I ever have to do this again I will make sure all of the air is out of the system BEFORE the water is hot. OUCH!! With the help I had on Sunday, things were moving along quickly and the fire was lit before anyone thought about the possibility of air in the system. The removable / reusable pex fittings (can I say the name here?) worked as advertised although not cheap.
The stove is about 80' from the house. I used the CB thermopex line which isn't cheap but it was $1 / ft cheaper than the Logstor and quite a bit closer. I couldn't see if there is much difference between the two anyway.
I used the shorter sidearm heat exchanger for the DHW that has multiple small lines inside. I did not do any reserch but it was cheaper and I liked the idea. Two days in and the teenager (long showers) has not complained about a lack of hot water yet. It was frosty outside this morning and the house was a toasty 74 Deg. F just where we set it.
I hope this works out as planned. Wife's cousin has an 8yr old Heatmor 200 with no issues. FIL's is 5 years old. Dad's 400 was new last fall. Hunting buddy had a 200 for several years until he moved with no issues. So pretty much I knew what brand I wanted from being around them. Nothing negative about any other make, just good references from family and friends.
I need to add conditioner right away but I'm not sure what to get. Please advise. It holds 114 gallons of water.
thanks,
Jeff
i'm a full time machinist and a part time mechanical engineering student at a big university so I wasn't able to get everything hooked up until last weekend. I did a lot of it myself but had help from Dad and FIL for the outside work. I did most of the inside plumbing myself except for hiring the sheetmetal work for the heat exchanger (forced air) and some help repairing a leak and getting things fired up. (Bunch of great guys showed up Sunday unannounced to help)
If I ever have to do this again I will make sure all of the air is out of the system BEFORE the water is hot. OUCH!! With the help I had on Sunday, things were moving along quickly and the fire was lit before anyone thought about the possibility of air in the system. The removable / reusable pex fittings (can I say the name here?) worked as advertised although not cheap.
The stove is about 80' from the house. I used the CB thermopex line which isn't cheap but it was $1 / ft cheaper than the Logstor and quite a bit closer. I couldn't see if there is much difference between the two anyway.
I used the shorter sidearm heat exchanger for the DHW that has multiple small lines inside. I did not do any reserch but it was cheaper and I liked the idea. Two days in and the teenager (long showers) has not complained about a lack of hot water yet. It was frosty outside this morning and the house was a toasty 74 Deg. F just where we set it.
I hope this works out as planned. Wife's cousin has an 8yr old Heatmor 200 with no issues. FIL's is 5 years old. Dad's 400 was new last fall. Hunting buddy had a 200 for several years until he moved with no issues. So pretty much I knew what brand I wanted from being around them. Nothing negative about any other make, just good references from family and friends.
I need to add conditioner right away but I'm not sure what to get. Please advise. It holds 114 gallons of water.
thanks,
Jeff
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