Comment

Comment by Jeff S on May 28, 2014 at 1:24pm

Jim, Thanks for the heads up. I am going build a solar heater using 1/2" black poly tubing like they use in sprinkler systems. The idea is that the smaller/thinner tube would transfer more heat. Any thoughts on that?

Comment by Jim Fisk on May 28, 2014 at 11:55am

Jeff,

One word of advice as to your pipes in the stack:DON'T. You will create so much liquid creosote due to the cooler pipes that you will stink yourself right out of the GH and rot out your flue pipes in short order. Instead try to put a ss coil in the stove and even then I have to throttle back the water flow so it stays warm rather than ice cold or you will have very corrosive creosote running out of your stove as well. I have a 1" x 6' "U" coil with bypass sump water running thru it. In my 2000+gal system that brings the water temp up about 2F in a day while keeping the air dry and warm as well. The solar collector (100' of 3/4" pvc painted black and mounted on a 16' metal roof panel) on the other hand will bring the temp up 4F on a cold but clear day. Between the 2 we do pretty well even at 20F below.

Comment by Jeff S on May 24, 2014 at 1:04pm

yeah I plan to insulate the beds and tanks. I used the wood heater idea last winter to heat the GH and I was quite satisfied with the amount of heat that came off the ducted stack. I did just the wood stove at first and most of the heat went out the roof. Jim Fisk has a great heater design but looks like a lot to build for me. I've only been doing this for about 10 months and haven't decided whether to expand the GH or move some of the operation into the basement or both.

Comment by Lyle on May 24, 2014 at 9:21am

I used 1" styro insulation for the inside walls of the beds, then Duraskrim ww20 liner over top. There is a 2x4 on the top 2x6 on the bottom to hold it in place. It was more than $25 per bed for sure. Great idea on the wood stove. Have you considered wrapping the stack with copper tubing and an unpowered hw tank and let radiant heat keep the water hot? I was at a sauna that the guy had rigged like that so folks could have hit showers after...but those copper pipes really radiated some great heat from the stove.

Comment by Jeff S on May 24, 2014 at 8:12am

My plan is to use IBC tubs in wood boxes instead of liners. I can get IBCs for $25. Going to run my wood stove stack in and down the top of the GH to radiate as much heat as possible and run the water lines through. Last winter was tough.

Comment by Lyle on May 23, 2014 at 10:06pm

12' x 22' there is about 18" space both front and rear for access.... Doors on both ends. I wouldn't block the path through next time.