DRAFT Wood Doctor OWB Start-up Proceedure

[Ben Cheek]

The Wood Doctor Outdoor Wood Boiler (OWB) manual located in the “Wood Furnace” paper file in Maintenance does not include a step-by-step start-up procedure. I’m going to document my procedure here, along with any observations and changes so a final procedure can be developed.

The only advice I gleaned from the manual was to keep the system circulators off until the furnace reaches 180 F.

My proposed procedure:

1. Make sure electrical power is off at all circulators: Spruce Lodge circulators are powered through the West wall service panel in the back room of Cleanliness. (Check where for Maintenance circs.)

2. Remove the off-season chimney cap. If the chimney was not swept at the end of last season, sweep it now.

3. Turn on the fill valve in the Cleanliness back room with the system circulators for Spruce Lodge. Allow Wood Doctor to fill until water flows out of vent pipe by chimney. Turn off valve after full.

4. Fire the boiler without using chemical accelerants. Start a small fire and build. Allow temperature to build until blower shuts off (at least 180 F). As the boiler reaches temp, water will boil out of the vent pipe. Once this stops, the stove will be at optimal water fill for operation.

5. With the boiler at temperature, turn on circulators (electric first, then thermostat) and monitor the system as it reaches and keeps temperature. Start with the Spruce Lodge system circulators first and bring on the Maintenance circulators later.

[Ben Cheek]

Another step:

6. Oil the circulators for Spruce Lodge using 10W-40 motor oil in a pump can. The B&G bearings on each side to the motor have a tube extending up to the top of the motor housing. Three squirts of the can is about 10 drops. Each circulator also has an impeller with an oil tube with a hatch-type cover. Lift the hatch and 6 squirts is about 20 drops. This should also be done towards the end of the season.

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