Typical Operation Of An Outdoor Furnace

As with any burning of alternative fuels as a heat source, an outdoor boiler will not run itself!
Outdoor hot water furnaces require owner operations which include:
Following proper maintenance procedures as outlined in the owner's manual.

Daily Operation For Wood (Conventional, EPA) & Wood / Coal) Boilers Include:
1) ideally stoking the outdoor boiler twice a day for a more efficient burn, with less smoke.
Burning time is dependant on how the outdoor furnace was sized for the heating demand, how much and the quality of the wood that is loaded into the boiler and the current heating demand.

2) adjusting the combustion fan for any changes in the fuel for optimal fuel combustion.

3) check the outdoor boiler operating temperature & heat transfer fluid level.

Weekly Operation For Wood Outdoor Boilers Include:
1) removal of ashes & cleaning the unit as necessary.

Semi-anuall Operation For Wood Outdoor Boilers Include:
1) servicing combustion fan(s) & dampers.
2) checking boiler piping and connections to underground piping for leaks.

Anuall Shut Down For Wood Outdoor Boilers Include:
1) complete removal of ashes & cleaning the unit.
2) shut valves off at boiler to underground piping.
3) ensuring the chimney cap is in place so no mosture can enter the the boiler.
4) one manufacturer recomends the spraying of a coat of oil on the interior of the combustion
chamber and heat exchanger of the interior of the boiler to protect against corrosion.

Daily Operation For Outdoor Multi-Fuel Stoker Boilers Include:
1) checking the outdoor boiler operation twice a day.

2) adjusting the stoker speed for changes in heating demand and fuel quality.

3) adjusting the combustion fan for changes in fuel or stoker speed for optimal fuel combustion.

4) check the outdoor boiler operating temperature & heat transfer fluid level.

Weekly Operation For Multi-Fuel Outdoor Boilers Include:
1) clean unit:
a) cleaning the vertical spiral flues.
b) clean the exhaust chamber & chimney.
c) clean the ashes from the combustion chamber.

Although the Multi-Fuel Outdoor Boilers can possibly be left unattended for a period of time,
Murphy's Law applies, regular checking of the boiler twice a day becomes a habit
(even if nothing has to be done to the boiler)
and eliminates potential problems caused by delayed maintenance.

Things seem to go wrong when you do not check it:
1) the fuel could bridge in the storage bun.
2) a shear pin could break on the stoker auger.
3) stoker gear motor problems.
4) control problems.
6) combustion fan motor problems, Etc.

Semi-anuall Operation For Multi-Fuel Outdoor Boilers Include:
1) servicing stoker motor, grease auger bearings, combustion fan(s) & dampers.
2) checking boiler piping and connections to underground piping for leaks.

Anuall Shut Down For Multi-Fuel Outdoor Boilers Include:
1) complete removal of ashes & cleaning the unit.
2) shut valves off at boiler to underground piping.
3) ensuring the chimney cap is in place so no mosture can enter the the boiler.
4) one manufacturer recomends the spraying of a coat of oil on the interior of the combustion
chamber and heat exchanger of the interior of the boiler to protect against corrosion.
5) on automated stoker units to elimate auger burn back to the fuel bin on shut down,
close the fuel gate and completely burn all the fuel in the auger and burn pot.