How old was the fan? Was it the bearings or something else?

I turned mine off for a week and now burning again. 30's with wind and rain.

Tim

With the winter starting to wind down... I hope, wondering how everyone's winter went? This is my fifth year burning and 1st with 100% pellets. I had hoped to stay at or under 7 tons, but broke into my 8th ton this week. If I end up using the entire 8th ton (which I hope I won't), this would be equivalent to about 325 bushels of corn, which fits into historical usage pretty good. It fits into historical propane BTU equivalent usage also.

The only issue I had was the aerator melted. This was the 3rd season with it. I purchased the stainless one for $120, and they said nobody has destroyed one yet.

I have emptied the ash pan 3 times and brushed the heat exchanger and scraped the burn pot weekly. I really enjoyed the less work with pellets. I'll have to pay attention to the sales and stock up for next year.

I figured during this winter the unit payed for itself. With the increased cost of the Maxim unit and corn being $$$ I don't know if I would do it the same today, but have enjoyed burning. Lesson learned, buy a unit that can burn anything.

Hope it warms up soon. I'm itching to get back in the fields.

Tim

Wood pellets vary in quality and heat. I've been happy with the brands I've burned. I've only emptied the ash for the second time yesterday.

Tim

Corn would really need to come down in price for me to switch back. I do miss the smell of burned corn.

Tim

$179 per ton here or$3.58 per bag. Cheaper if you watch for sales. Can't burn corn for that price and way less ash.

Also lots of info in the old forum and here if you don't mind some reading. www.hearth.com/talk/forums/the-boiler-ro...rs-and-furnaces.13/. The people on hearth are partial to their chunk wood gasifiers but the plumbing is the same.

I would also recommend a couple of Dans books here. Primary and secondary plumbing and pumping away. Both helped me on my boiler project and recommended but Sting.

www.heatinghelp.com/categories/Hot-Water-Heating-Books/26/1

Good stuff just don't let anyone borrow them as you may not get them back.

What boiler do you have?

Tim

I had 50 bags for end of October and November. 60 bags for December. Gulp, 90 bags for January.

The wind seems to be non stop and my house is not tight.

The use does include my domestic hot water and using my steps snowmelt a few times.

At 174 per ton cheaper than propain or corn.

Tim

I'm all pellets for the first year. Last year I was almost all pellets.

Tim

I had a similar issue with my liquid level the 3rd year. I pulled out cleaned it has has been fine since. Hopefully the dealer is helpful. May be a controller issue.

Tim

You burning pellets or corn this year?

I'm all pellets this year for the first time.

The vac switch is the round thing with the hose. There are two connectors that need to connected. Either use. Jumper cable or piece of wire. Not sure of the voltage so use caution.

May check voltage at the fan too.

My bad ground would cause the panel lights to flicker and then reset.

Tim

Try bypassing the vac switch and starting the ignition. If your fan isn't working this is probably why it won't ignite. Will the fan spin by hand?

I have soaked some pellets in paint thinner and lit it that way. I have Also used the propane torch.

I think my fan comes on right away.

I had a bad ground on my ignition for awhile.

Tim

No power required. It is standard now. It came out a couple years ago and can be retrofitted.

purdue#1 wrote:


The Maxim's first safety system is the snap switch on top of the bottom auger that is about 2-3 inches from the auger end. If it it gets hot it turns the bottom auger on, while keeping the top auger off. If this happens you will see bb on the control panel

About 3-4" behind the snap switch is a heat sensing element that controls a dump valve. The dump valve dumps boiler water into the auger to put the burn back out. If this happens you will need to clean out the augers.

Tim

Burning pellets due to cost this year. Biggest downside for me is the smell. With corn I would occasionally get the aroma of burnt corn outside which I have grown to like. Now the occasional smell is the wood smell. Oh we'll.

Tim

Not much actively lately on the forum. I may be done for the year. Haven't needed any heat for 2 weeks. Ac is on now! Suppose to be 80 next couple days.

Tim

Nogas wrote:


+1. Maybe lots more than 1500 with insulated pex at $12+ per foot.

I have one. Not sure how many manufactures make them anymore. Small hiccup yesterday with a back burn, but the protective systems worked. No real issues in 4 years.

To buy one today might be cost prohibitive.