Wood burning pool heaters

goosegunner · Jan 2, 2009

I had posted in the Brake Drum furnace but started this one to keep that one on track.

Brake drum furnace
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=84742

I know it takes a lot of heat for pools. We get by pretty well with the good old sun and a home made solar. I want it mainly to boost heat after cold, cloudy, rainy spells. It never fails you get 2 or 3 crappy days before a planned party.

But,

For $2400+ shipping I would rather put it towards a boiler that I can use all year and know that it will work. Thats why I would rather make something to try.

Here are a few links to the manufactured ones.

http://warmwatersolutions.com/Index.html

same unit different site

http://www.woodheatedpools.com/gpage1.html

Anyone using wood to heat their pools?

How is it working out for you?

gg

LazyJ · Jan 2, 2009

I've been looking at these Cowboy Hot Tub heaters. You could run one of these in a stock tank next to your pool (hottub) with the tub setup at the same water level as the pool. Have valves on the pool system where you could simply route the pool return lines through the hot tub to heat the pool.

http://cowboyhottubs.com/

ktm rider · Jan 2, 2009

goosegunner said:
I
For $2400+ shipping I would rather put it towards a boiler that I can use all year and know that it will work. Thats why I would rather make something to try.

Why not get a INDOOR wood boiler or multifuel boiler and heat your house/ garage/pool, whatever with it. Instead of just a pool. I bought my indoor boiler after fighting with an OWB for a few years ( I hated it ) I paid $3,500 for mine brand new WITH the oil backup burner. it is way more efficient than the OWB I had and it is ASME stamped. You can easily hook up your pool to it.

You could also put it inside one of those Home Depot shed that run about $900 or so. Then you will have an outdoor wood boiler that will last a lifetime AND not be subjected to local ordinance.

I can PM you a few links to some nice indoor units if you would like.

goosegunner · Jan 2, 2009

ktm rider said:
Why not get a INDOOR wood boiler or multifuel boiler and heat your house/ garage/pool, whatever with it. Instead of just a pool. I bought my indoor boiler after fighting with an OWB for a few years ( I hated it ) I paid $3,500 for mine brand new WITH the oil backup burner. it is way more efficient than the OWB I had and it is ASME stamped. You can easily hook up your pool to it.

You could also put it inside one of those Home Depot shed that run about $900 or so. Then you will have an outdoor wood boiler that will last a lifetime AND not be subjected to local ordinance.

I can PM you a few links to some nice indoor units if you would like.

That is what I would probably do if I buy a boiler. I have been reading about Tarm and Garn. I would put it in a shed.

We have a local tarm dealer.

What brand did you get for $3500?

gg

urhstry · Jan 2, 2009

My neighbor has a chiminea fire going almost every night except in the winter. He put a coil of copper tubing on the top and pumped it to his pool. Makes the water steam on cooler nights. Cheap and easy!

goosegunner · Jan 2, 2009

The manufactured ones used copper initially when I looked at them a few years ago. They now have stainless.

The thing with copper and pool water is that it causes green hair. Not appreciated when I have 3 blondes in my house. It is not the chlorine in pools. Some chlorine tabs and algaecides have copper added be cause it kills algae.

gg

ktm rider · Jan 2, 2009

goosegunner said:
That is what I would probably do if I buy a boiler. I have been reading about Tarm and Garn. I would put it in a shed.

We have a local tarm dealer.

What brand did you get for $3500?

gg

I got an AHS multifuel boiler. I burn mostly soft ( bituminous ) coal. AHS also makes a gasification wood boiler that is basically the same as the tarm but doesn't require the large water tank for heat storage. I would have went with the AHS gasifier but coal is just too darn cheap in my area and the gasification boiler is quite a bit more $$$.

Marklambert61 · Jan 2, 2009

Pool heat

I have been heating my 30,000 gal pool for 3 years with my wood boiler works great just a few things to remember.

1. Watch out for the ratings on the stainless tube heat exchangers the actual BTU's you will get are far below what their rated value. The issue is water flow volume most have 1" pipe connections for hot boiler water input. That will yield at best 80,000 BTU's at normal boiler flow rates even though your exchanger is rated something like 250,000 BTU's.

2. Single pass exchangers are the normally sold also a problem because the flow rate of the pool water through the exchanger is too fast. Look for double pass tube in tube but watch your material types some exchangers have steel or cast components there no good to you.

3. Wood usage is a problem be prepared to cut a lot of firewood I burn far more wood in summer than winter.

Upside is I save about $2000.00-$3000.00 bucks a year in fuel cost not burning a propane heater. I live in Michigan we still open the pool in April and close it Holloween really helps to extend our pool season.

Send me a PM if you need help getting setup with equipment.

Mark

Wood burning pool heaters

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