When I first started this blog I posted videos showing how easy it was to clean a Kedel boiler. Well, after using the Kedel for the first winter I can tell you that it is actually as easy as it looks in the videos. I found myself emptying the ash bin once a week just to get into a habit although it could have gone longer. I burned 10 tons of pellets and the ash filled one 30 gallon trash can. I know the amount of ash will vary somewhat depending on which brand of pellet, but I was pleased with the complete combustion of the Kedel. The ash was the consistency of flour and there were so few "clinkers" that they don't even deserve a mention.
I also looked at the photo sensor weekly but it never seemed to get dirty. It was simple to do, just remove a cover and pull it out of the housing, a simple wipe and push it back into place.
When it came to the heat exchanger it truly was a simple procedure. The hardest part was probably waiting for it to cool off for 20 to 30 minutes to do the cleaning. Then it was just removal of two wing nuts, lift off the cover and lift out the baffles. The majority of the soot and ash on the baffles would come off with a light tap on the concrete floor. I could have used the included brush, but there was little need. I did find that an Ash Vacuum came in handy. I received one as a gift during the holidays and it made cleanup that much simpler.
Removal and cleaning of the burner was even simpler. Once again, two wing nuts and the entire burner assembly was out. The burn tray was nearly always empty due to the automatic air compressor cleaning, however on a couple occasions I did find a small amount of ash build up which quickly fell out with a slight tap. Again, the vacuum came in handy sucking up a light coat of wood dust around the burner housing.
Once the baffles and the burner assembly were removed it was easy to use the brush and scraper tools which came with the Kedel. Scraping the sides of the chambers removed all ash with little residue remaining. And when I say scrape I should explain that this was effortless. I'm not talking about a scrape like trying to scrape paint off the siding on your house, it was more like running your hand over a tabletop to remove the dust. However it is a metal tool on a metal surface so it technically is scraping I guess. I never noticed any large build ups which required the use of the included wire brush, but I did use it just to say I did. Once the ash was removed from the inside walls it all fell into the ash bin in the base of the Kedel and it was removed like a file cabinet drawer. Be careful when dumping or otherwise emptying this bin. The ash is very fine and can create quite a cloud of dust. That's all I'm going to say about that.
The only other maintenance worth mentioning was the replacing of the igniter. I was told to expect the igniter life of approximately 1000 ignitions. Mine quit at around 900. The impressive thing was that I got an email from my boiler saying it had an ignition failure. I've mentioned before but it bears mentioning again, I love the internet connectivity of the Kedel. The igniter was easy to replace and the Kedel came with a spare. If you can connect a stereo speaker you can replace the igniter. Two wires, on two terminals and the ignitor just pulls out of the burner assembly. It goes back in just as easy. I had never done it before and it took me less than 10 minutes to figure it out and replace it. I icontacted my installer, Daigle Oil Company, to order a spare. I expected the worst based on horror stories from owners of other pellet stoves/boilers. I was pleasantly surprised that not only were they kept in stock, they were only $25.
After it's first winter of use, the Kedel didn't disappoint with the ease of cleaning. I would recommend the air compressor. It kept the burn tray clean and clear of ash which made the operation of the unit so much more worry free. I definitely saw the benefit. I made the mistake of "temporarily" using the air compressor's electrical outlet for my tile saw. After three days I noticed (online) the photo sensor was seeing less light. After I plugged the compressor back in and cleaned the burn tray I never had another issue. I think I'll find another place for my tile saw.
Next post: Pellets and Consumption
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Winter is over
Its been a while since I last posted, primarily because I wanted to use the Kedel for several months and see what it could do. I've received several requests for additional information since I had the Kedel installed and for the past few weeks I can't go more than a day without an inquiry. So here it goes. This will be the first of several posts outlining the performance of the Kedel this winter.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "Are you still happy with your Kedel? The honest answer, Absolutely. I couldn't be happier. I did not burn a drop of oil all winter, which was a significant savings. I purchased my pellets locally at $200/ton which is less than the price of cordwood. The Kedel ran without a hitch all winter, and we had a cold winter. This December was the coldest we've had in decades and the house was comfortable the whole time. I was able to travel for work without worrying, sleep the whole night without getting up to stoke the wood boiler, and the even heat made the house feel even warmer than it actually was.
Maintenance was minimal, but that will be another post, as will be pellet consumption/brands.
So Yes, I'm very pleased with Kedel. I made a good choice, no regrets, wish they were around sooner.
Stay tuned. Next post, Maintenance.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Heating Season Has Arrived
I have have been saying that I couldn't wait for heating season to arrive so I can put the Kedel through it's paces and get it fine tuned. Well, now that it is here I'm longing for a few more warm days to prepare for the long Northern Maine winters. The temperature has been below freezing every night this week and the days have been very chilly. The Kedel is running very well and I am still very pleased and convinced I made the right choice. As expected, pellet consumption has increased ad the Kedel is running pretty much constantly, at a low power level, through the night and only shuts down a couple times during sunny days with solar gain from my large windows. This is right where we want it as the start/stop cycles lower the efficiency of the unit, much like starting a car takes more gas and energy than letting it idle. I watch the power level and output readings and really enjoy the fact that the unit keeps itself at the lowest power level needed and will ramp itself up as the temperature drops. The house remains a consistent temperature of between 68 to 70 although it may not appear that way if you have been watching the data graphs. The temperature sensor reads in tenths of a degree where my thermostat reads in whole degrees. You can almost tell when we let the dog out by the drop of a couple tenths of a degree on the graph.
As for the pellet consumption, it is in keeping with my expectation based on the square footage I am heating, age of the windows and home insulation. I compared the pellet consumption per square foot of other Kedels heating around the clock and I'm right there with them. At this moment I am using .034 lbs/sq.ft./day. I will gain additional efficiency when I swap the windows out for newer, more efficient ones (next year?). I have consumed just under a ton of pellets at this point and found that with the pellets I am using, the ash bin will hold the ash of almost the whole ton. I have no intention of letting it get filled all way again. Emptying the ash bin every three to four weeks is more than acceptable. I may try a new brand with my next purchase just to see how it will effect performance and ash production.
The cost savings is still very obvious over the oil boiler. I still the oil connected to the system although I have no intention of throwing the on switch any time soon. Perhaps it's the 6 months I spent in the Boy Scouts or the episodes of 'Doomsday Prepper' I've watched that tell me "keep the backup."
I'll gather additional data over the next few weeks then post my cost savings data of pellets over oil. At that point I'll also be able to more accurately look at the BTU output of the Kedel and compare it to the Heat Load calculations I had done prior to selecting the size of a boiler.
As for the pellet consumption, it is in keeping with my expectation based on the square footage I am heating, age of the windows and home insulation. I compared the pellet consumption per square foot of other Kedels heating around the clock and I'm right there with them. At this moment I am using .034 lbs/sq.ft./day. I will gain additional efficiency when I swap the windows out for newer, more efficient ones (next year?). I have consumed just under a ton of pellets at this point and found that with the pellets I am using, the ash bin will hold the ash of almost the whole ton. I have no intention of letting it get filled all way again. Emptying the ash bin every three to four weeks is more than acceptable. I may try a new brand with my next purchase just to see how it will effect performance and ash production.
The cost savings is still very obvious over the oil boiler. I still the oil connected to the system although I have no intention of throwing the on switch any time soon. Perhaps it's the 6 months I spent in the Boy Scouts or the episodes of 'Doomsday Prepper' I've watched that tell me "keep the backup."
I'll gather additional data over the next few weeks then post my cost savings data of pellets over oil. At that point I'll also be able to more accurately look at the BTU output of the Kedel and compare it to the Heat Load calculations I had done prior to selecting the size of a boiler.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Naysayers, Pellet Level and Latest Tweaks
It's been a while since the last post because, well, you can only say things are going great so may times before people lose interest. Plus there was no major changes to discuss. We are still looking forward to the heating season to really test the Kedel out. I feel like we just bought a new sports car but can't open it up because the weather isn't cooperating.
Since my last post I have had several people ask me about the boiler and a half dozen coworkers are watching closely to see how it goes as they prepare to update their heating systems next year. A few naysayers have already converted to believers based on the limited data I have been able to share with them. It is obvious that people out there are looking at the Kedel, standing up and asking questions.
I finally had to add pellets to the hopper after a month of use. I had intentionally understated the amount of pellets in the hopper by 50 pounds when inputting the data on the control panel. I did this to create a buffer just in case I forgot to check the pellet level. There isn't much of a chance of that as I am drawn to the web site data and check it frequently. The method to my madness was that I wanted to see if the control panel would generate a warning to the user if the pellet level went low. The displayed pellet level dropped to 34.2 pounds before I spent 10 minutes to refill the hopper. No warning was generated. I will say that when I sent the suggestion to Kedel it was well recieved. I filled the hopper and once again understated the amount of pellets when I entering the poundage on the control panel. I suspect this is just like setting the time on your alarm clock back 10 minutes in case you oversleep and just end up taking advantage of knowing you can hit the snooze button one extra time. But for know, I'll say I have a buffer of 50 lbs.
I have been adjusting the fan speed on low setting for the past several days as I have been getting a 'Note' message on the display. Apparently the boiler has sensed it is not operating optimally and has been adjusting the auger speed on its own to compensate. A quick email to Kedel and they explained the solution. It was as easy as punching numbers on a number pad. A graph on the display clearly showed what was happening and each adjustment brought the oxygen levels to the desired levels and I no longer get the "Note" on the display. Kedel actually sent me an email saying that they had been watching (via the internet) and noticed that the adjustments were working. As I mentioned before, I love the ability to have techs look at my system in real time via the net.
Another change I made to the Kedel is I installed the exterior temperature sensor. Rather than putting it outside, I put it in my living room. This allows me to see the actual temperature in my home at any given time. Anyone looking at the website will see the orange line 'exterior temp' and see that it is 70 with less than 1.5 degree fluctuations. This is so much better than my old heating system. The constant temperature in the house makes it feel so much warmer.
And the last tweak I've made is to turn down the minumum power setting to 20% allowing the boiler to handle my DWH with less power.
So for now we will continue to wait for the colder weather to set in. It won't be long as the geese have been flying for a while. Although there are a few less after my hunting trip last week. I mentioned previously I am utilizing the time NOT cutting and splitting wood to do more hunting. So I guess the Kedel is good for me, bad for the geese.
Since my last post I have had several people ask me about the boiler and a half dozen coworkers are watching closely to see how it goes as they prepare to update their heating systems next year. A few naysayers have already converted to believers based on the limited data I have been able to share with them. It is obvious that people out there are looking at the Kedel, standing up and asking questions.
I finally had to add pellets to the hopper after a month of use. I had intentionally understated the amount of pellets in the hopper by 50 pounds when inputting the data on the control panel. I did this to create a buffer just in case I forgot to check the pellet level. There isn't much of a chance of that as I am drawn to the web site data and check it frequently. The method to my madness was that I wanted to see if the control panel would generate a warning to the user if the pellet level went low. The displayed pellet level dropped to 34.2 pounds before I spent 10 minutes to refill the hopper. No warning was generated. I will say that when I sent the suggestion to Kedel it was well recieved. I filled the hopper and once again understated the amount of pellets when I entering the poundage on the control panel. I suspect this is just like setting the time on your alarm clock back 10 minutes in case you oversleep and just end up taking advantage of knowing you can hit the snooze button one extra time. But for know, I'll say I have a buffer of 50 lbs.
I have been adjusting the fan speed on low setting for the past several days as I have been getting a 'Note' message on the display. Apparently the boiler has sensed it is not operating optimally and has been adjusting the auger speed on its own to compensate. A quick email to Kedel and they explained the solution. It was as easy as punching numbers on a number pad. A graph on the display clearly showed what was happening and each adjustment brought the oxygen levels to the desired levels and I no longer get the "Note" on the display. Kedel actually sent me an email saying that they had been watching (via the internet) and noticed that the adjustments were working. As I mentioned before, I love the ability to have techs look at my system in real time via the net.
Another change I made to the Kedel is I installed the exterior temperature sensor. Rather than putting it outside, I put it in my living room. This allows me to see the actual temperature in my home at any given time. Anyone looking at the website will see the orange line 'exterior temp' and see that it is 70 with less than 1.5 degree fluctuations. This is so much better than my old heating system. The constant temperature in the house makes it feel so much warmer.
And the last tweak I've made is to turn down the minumum power setting to 20% allowing the boiler to handle my DWH with less power.
So for now we will continue to wait for the colder weather to set in. It won't be long as the geese have been flying for a while. Although there are a few less after my hunting trip last week. I mentioned previously I am utilizing the time NOT cutting and splitting wood to do more hunting. So I guess the Kedel is good for me, bad for the geese.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Adjustments, No Back Pain, The Network, and 'Big Brother.'
The pellet boiler has been in for just over a week now and things are still going great. We are still seeing the same pellet consumption and have turned on the heat due to the colder evenings here in Northern Maine. The house is heating nicely with the new plumbing and the Kedel. I am averaging .008 lbs/ sq. ft. of pellets to heat the house and DHW; or roughly 16 lbs per per day ($1.60) My oil fired boiler is still online but I haven't heard the steady drone of that money sucker since the Kedel went in. I also haven't had to sharpen or oil my chainsaw nor fuel up the log splitter. I'm enjoying spending more time in the field scouting ducks and geese rather than spending time at the wood pile. And my back is happier too.
We are currently doing adjustments to the Kedel to reach it's peak efficiency for my house. I have 3 heating zones and a 4th zone feeding the boilermate. We have started turning down the power level to the minimum needed recover the DHW without realizing any lack of hot water. Once we are heating full time later this fall/winter I think it will be easier to recognize the effects of the setting changes. Right now we are having significant weather swings that we need heat one day and not the next.
The Kedel gave me a message on the control panel earlier in the week saying that an adjustment could be done with the fan speed and fuel consumption. This wasn't an 'Alarm' message which would have notified me (and my technicians if I wish) by email. This was just an 'Info' message telling me that a change could be done to improve efficiency. I hate the fact that this thing may be smarter than I am. A few quick email exchanges with my techs and Kedel and I changed settings to address the issue. A few clicks on the control panel brought up a line chart visually representing the prior levels and, over time, the effects of the new changes. I almost wish the Kedel would be running more often so I can see the effects immediately.
I also received an email from my techs and Kedel who have been monitoring the operation of my boiler via the network. They noticed that I had failed to turn on the weather compensation functions available after connecting the Kedel to the network. I had provided them with my access codes previously so they could make changes if necessary, so they changed it for me remotely. Some people have told me that they didn't like the idea of 'other people' being able to see what was going on in their basements. Paranoid comments regarding "big brother ." We'll fear not, I had the choice of making my information visible on the web, my location on a map was voluntary, and I did not have to give anyone my access codes if I chose not to. I didn't even have to connect my Kedel to the network if I didn't want to, and it can be disconnected just as fast. It was my choice to give access to people who know more about the Kedel than me. Why wouldn't I? It's not like the CIA, FBI, MLB, NFL or any other acronyms care what the water temperature is in my system or if I just added a bag of pellets to my hopper. If you are worried about "other people" seeing whats happening in your house don't Tweet about it, update your Facebook status with it or watch cable, satellite tv, send an email, use the internet, smart phone or use smoke signals from your chimney. Someone is watching.
We are currently doing adjustments to the Kedel to reach it's peak efficiency for my house. I have 3 heating zones and a 4th zone feeding the boilermate. We have started turning down the power level to the minimum needed recover the DHW without realizing any lack of hot water. Once we are heating full time later this fall/winter I think it will be easier to recognize the effects of the setting changes. Right now we are having significant weather swings that we need heat one day and not the next.
The Kedel gave me a message on the control panel earlier in the week saying that an adjustment could be done with the fan speed and fuel consumption. This wasn't an 'Alarm' message which would have notified me (and my technicians if I wish) by email. This was just an 'Info' message telling me that a change could be done to improve efficiency. I hate the fact that this thing may be smarter than I am. A few quick email exchanges with my techs and Kedel and I changed settings to address the issue. A few clicks on the control panel brought up a line chart visually representing the prior levels and, over time, the effects of the new changes. I almost wish the Kedel would be running more often so I can see the effects immediately.
I also received an email from my techs and Kedel who have been monitoring the operation of my boiler via the network. They noticed that I had failed to turn on the weather compensation functions available after connecting the Kedel to the network. I had provided them with my access codes previously so they could make changes if necessary, so they changed it for me remotely. Some people have told me that they didn't like the idea of 'other people' being able to see what was going on in their basements. Paranoid comments regarding "big brother ." We'll fear not, I had the choice of making my information visible on the web, my location on a map was voluntary, and I did not have to give anyone my access codes if I chose not to. I didn't even have to connect my Kedel to the network if I didn't want to, and it can be disconnected just as fast. It was my choice to give access to people who know more about the Kedel than me. Why wouldn't I? It's not like the CIA, FBI, MLB, NFL or any other acronyms care what the water temperature is in my system or if I just added a bag of pellets to my hopper. If you are worried about "other people" seeing whats happening in your house don't Tweet about it, update your Facebook status with it or watch cable, satellite tv, send an email, use the internet, smart phone or use smoke signals from your chimney. Someone is watching.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Monitoring and Savings
I said before that it was fun being able to observe the boiler functions online but I could border on addictive. Perhaps it is because it is a new installation and I'm constantly watching to make sure things are going as they should and that no unforeseen problems are lurking in my basement. Or perhaps I am just still amazed that I can change the settings from wherever I am. Whatever the case, I'm still watching and analyzing.
I calculated the cost of heating my domestic hot water (DHW) by retrieving the pellet consumption data. As I am only heating my DHW right now and not my house, it is the only savings realization I can calculate at this point. From a cold start boiler my Kedel utilizes between 3 and 4 pounds of pellets to satisfy my boiler-mate. With normal weekday operation this occurs on average 3 times per day. My pellets cost 10 cents per pound ($200/ton). So it cost me, on average, 30 to 40 cents to satisfy my boiler-mate per occasion, or 90 cents to $1.20 per day.
In comparison, my oil boiler that I'd be using had I not installed the Kedel would run for approximately 30 minutes from a cold start to satisfy my boiler-mate. The oil in my tank cost $3.75/gallon last time it was delivered. So, the .85 gph nozzle would cost me $1.59 per half hour of runtime. So, to satisfy my boiler-mate the same three times per day would cost $4.77 per day. The Kedel is saving me $3.57 - $3.87 per day when compared to oil, for DHW.
This is over-simplified I know, and I've only had the Kedel in for less than a week, but I am pleased with the performance. This also doesn't take into consideration electrical consumption. I would be using electricity with any of my heating solutions so I figured it would be a minimal change although I suspect the Kedel is more economical with electrical consumption than my oil burner.
With more time and more data I'll be able to more accurately calculate the costs/savings.
I calculated the cost of heating my domestic hot water (DHW) by retrieving the pellet consumption data. As I am only heating my DHW right now and not my house, it is the only savings realization I can calculate at this point. From a cold start boiler my Kedel utilizes between 3 and 4 pounds of pellets to satisfy my boiler-mate. With normal weekday operation this occurs on average 3 times per day. My pellets cost 10 cents per pound ($200/ton). So it cost me, on average, 30 to 40 cents to satisfy my boiler-mate per occasion, or 90 cents to $1.20 per day.
In comparison, my oil boiler that I'd be using had I not installed the Kedel would run for approximately 30 minutes from a cold start to satisfy my boiler-mate. The oil in my tank cost $3.75/gallon last time it was delivered. So, the .85 gph nozzle would cost me $1.59 per half hour of runtime. So, to satisfy my boiler-mate the same three times per day would cost $4.77 per day. The Kedel is saving me $3.57 - $3.87 per day when compared to oil, for DHW.
This is over-simplified I know, and I've only had the Kedel in for less than a week, but I am pleased with the performance. This also doesn't take into consideration electrical consumption. I would be using electricity with any of my heating solutions so I figured it would be a minimal change although I suspect the Kedel is more economical with electrical consumption than my oil burner.
With more time and more data I'll be able to more accurately calculate the costs/savings.
Installation
The short wait passed quickly and installation day arrived. My technicians, though experienced and skilled, had never installed a Kedel boiler. A representative from Kedel traveled from Portland to work with the installers and show them the specifics of commissioning this specific type of boiler. I must say it went without a hitch. My previous pride in not having any of my soldered joints leak from the weekend's project turned to quiet humility as a steady drip was observed from a threaded connection on the boiler return. No problem. A couple quarter turns on the ball valves, two pipe wrenches, and some thread tape and sealant and the leak was no more.
Once familiarized with the controls and interfaces the installation went quickly and the boiler was soon humming. And when I say humming I mean that is all you hear with this boiler. I was told it would be quiet but I didn't expect it to be as silent as it was. A refrigerator makes more noise when it is running. The quiet hum of a fan and the occasional "plinking" of pellets falling from the auger as all that reminded me that the unit was working. The touch screen interface provided a wealth of information that appeared daunting at first but I quickly became comfortable with most of the terminology after brief instructions from the technicians. A quick software update also made things easier with more functionality and on screen prompts.
Aside from the technical settings of auger speeds, power settings, fan speeds, oxygen levels and the like; the Kedel also utilized easy to read bar charts and line charts to monitor most functions of the boiler as well as historical metering of pellet consumption. This was not only available on the touch screen but also via any internet capable computer. I found myself constantly checking online to see if it was running, partially because the steady drone of my previous heating system was evidence throughout the house that heat was being provided; and partially because it was just plain fun to see my boiler functions on my laptop and android phone. I also found myself comparing my pellet consumption to the other Kedel boilers which were viewable online. You can check it out at http://stokercloud.dk/?pos=us.
Once familiarized with the controls and interfaces the installation went quickly and the boiler was soon humming. And when I say humming I mean that is all you hear with this boiler. I was told it would be quiet but I didn't expect it to be as silent as it was. A refrigerator makes more noise when it is running. The quiet hum of a fan and the occasional "plinking" of pellets falling from the auger as all that reminded me that the unit was working. The touch screen interface provided a wealth of information that appeared daunting at first but I quickly became comfortable with most of the terminology after brief instructions from the technicians. A quick software update also made things easier with more functionality and on screen prompts.
Aside from the technical settings of auger speeds, power settings, fan speeds, oxygen levels and the like; the Kedel also utilized easy to read bar charts and line charts to monitor most functions of the boiler as well as historical metering of pellet consumption. This was not only available on the touch screen but also via any internet capable computer. I found myself constantly checking online to see if it was running, partially because the steady drone of my previous heating system was evidence throughout the house that heat was being provided; and partially because it was just plain fun to see my boiler functions on my laptop and android phone. I also found myself comparing my pellet consumption to the other Kedel boilers which were viewable online. You can check it out at http://stokercloud.dk/?pos=us.
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