My Garn is finally fully operational.

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I used the supplied hood that has a flapper built into it.I think all Garn come with it.Do you think I shouldn't have it on ?
Still waiting for some Garn owners to post there max flue temps.I just got my new controller with flue sensor and am worrying if I'm over firing or whats the max.
 
I'd expect to get more delta T out of the first load, if for no other reason, just becuase the water to fire temp difference is bigger. Should pick up at least a little more temp increase from this.

Harry, I don't think my cover from Dectra had a flapper....I thought it just had a fixed screen. I will check when I go outside again and let you know if it DOES has a flapper. Pretty sure there wasn't one.

Yes, wood to the back certainly seems to help. I routinely get more smoke than I think I should, certainly more than I want.....though smaller loads with redirected air upwards do seem to work best....though not ideal yet.

Merry Christmas to all!
 
I wonder if this flapper is wrong.I never really liked it but What do I know.I always worried if I had puffing bad enough would it blow my intake pipes apart.I screwed and taped all joint but never really liked it.I'll call Garn and ask them on Monday.I do have an issue with small embers out of my flue and noticed they seem to be timed with the very slight puffing I get.If I hear the flap bang I can expect to see an ember shortly afterwards
 
Mine came with a screen on the hood also, no flapper. The live embers will happen with a forced draft system, be mindfull of where the flue discharges! based on flue temp thermometer readings 300-450 are common, keep in mind water temp has a influence on fluetemp also. i have had flue temps of 600 for a brief period with a test for biobrics,not something i want to repeat but no harm done with respect to overfiring the boiler. call dectra monday about the flapper, personally i would remove it.
 
With a horizontal chimney is that not what the drum underneath is for?
 
Harry: I know you have the vertical chimney....I wonder if that is why you have the flapper? Perhaps to cut down on draft losses? Don't know.

I have 7' of pipe exiting the back of my 1500 (horizontal). I have the 90 elbow stuck in the pipe and venting down into a garbage can. I will see some tiny "sparks" every now and then blowing out...and they will exit the garbage can quite regularly. I don't yet have the screen on the can, and with this snow, I'm not worried. Before spring I will have to do something. 20' away I have spruce trees with the normal dry needles all on the ground. I'm not very worried...not like out west...but I will have to attach that screen.

Every now and then I do hear something get tossed around in the squirrel cage fan. I assume this is a small ember of some form. I haven't been able to correlate that sound with a big chunck blowing out the back...I'd have to be moving fast! I see the little "sparks" without hearing any noise.
 
Harry:

What do you think of the new controller? I still haven't seen mine yet! I hope on Monday.....
 
MY BAD.I Guess I was dreaming or the sound made me think it was a flap.I was able to probe around and do not have a flap.Maybe what I'm hearing is something hitting the fan and sounding like a piece of tin like your hearing Bruce.I did talk to Keith from Garn and described how my system is acting and he said it was text book.What I mean by that is when I first fire My flue temps shoot right up then level off and then settle down.Today I over loaded more the usual and they went to 538*and then down to 450* all in about 15 min.I couldn't seem to get a max temp. out of Keith but He said everybody system is little different and not to worry.He also said maybe in the spring they will offer a remote display that will go up to 300 ft.that will show the same screen on the controller.I really like the new controller but I not getting good temp readings from the sensors attached to my black pipe.I wish I had some thermal wells in my system.
 
You got me going whit this boiler...Verry nice!
What is the cost of a new boiler?
I was thinking of EKO 40 whit 2k storage ,Garn boiler semen to be more simple and
built to last, what made you go this route?
 
razvy said:
You got me going whit this boiler...Verry nice!
What is the cost of a new boiler?
I was thinking of EKO 40 whit 2k storage ,Garn boiler semen to be more simple and
built to last, what made you go this route?
Click to expand...

I like the self contained storage and the clean, "Grandma Easy" operation. The retail price of a 2000 was $14,900.

I the short time I have been operating mine it has gotten simple to predict the temperature gain of a load of wood. Basically no smoke, easy to start once a day in these 20 degree temps, set the timer and walk away, the house will be warm. I have a simple plumbing system that so far is working great for my house and workshop.

I have the option to tweak the pumps and zones but the system is already operating as good as the propane boiler so I may just leave it as it is and go ice fishing. ;-)
 
FWIW....Garn hasn't shipped all the new controllers to people waiting....or at least they hadn't as of yesterday....ARGH! Now the claim is they need to get more temperature sensors..... Looking forward to it! But was hoping to get it all in during this week of holiday. Next weekend.....I hope!

Garn's aren't cheap....but by the time you ad storage to your euro style gasser, if you aren't going to put propane tanks together like most do, the price is within $2000. I don't know how the Garn could be any easier....and hopefully it will outlast me.

There have been some reports here of Garns lasting nearly 30 years WITHOUT water treatment....so take of her, and hopefully she will take care of me and the next owner after I'm back in dirt form.

By the way, my wife has quickly become a Garn expert as well...starting the fires as needed without any problems. I think she is very happy with it as well. The other night she turned up the temp to 77 in the house...no big deal, just use an extra 5 splits of wood. Sweeeeet.
 
FWIW....Dectra apparently shipped another round of controllers today...
 
Kemer said:
I used the supplied hood that has a flapper built into it.I think all Garn come with it.Do you think I shouldn't have it on ?
Still waiting for some Garn owners to post there max flue temps.I just got my new controller with flue sensor and am worrying if I'm over firing or whats the max.
Click to expand...

There is no flapper in any of the hoods I have ever seen nor am I aware of any that have been produced that way. It's just a screen to prevent animals and small children from getting sucked into the beast when they walk past. ;)
 
Like I said I made a stupid assumption.It just made a sound like a flapper.Might be some embers hitting the fan.I really like the new controller and am getting confident in it's operation
 
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