Comments on: Solar Furnace – Results

By: Carol

Carol — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:25:12 +0000

That sounds like the ideal thing here in FL. Believe it or not..we just put in a woodstove. We have 5 acres of wooded land and several big trees that came down during the hurricanes..we’re working on those. Most of it looks good. I have been thinking of doing something similar (have Jim do it, lol) to preheat the water before it goes into the hotwater heater.

Anxious to see more of your projects
Carol´s last [type] ..Getting the hives ready

By: warren

warren — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:24:30 +0000

Hey Chris – sorry we didn’t have any sun while you were here. It has felt a might scarce lately. Next time you are in town, gimme a message and I’ll let you buy me lunch!

Karl – thanks for visiting…I had considered the drier flap but my fan just isn’t powerful enough to open it. I may add another cheap solar panel to boost the current a little and that may take care of it. I like the idea of insulating the hot pipe. I was looking at the pipe insulation they sell and it only goes up to 1″ standard so I would probably have to get a couple of pieces and piece it together. I think it wouldn’t be as nice as a single piece of insulatiopn but it would certainly work. Anyhow, thanks for visiting. I have been snooping on your site for a month or so too. I found you on Ron’s site, HomesteadingHickoryHills.com

By: Karl O'Melay

Karl O'Melay — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:16:37 +0000

nice blog, first time visitor. funny perspective and nice topics–right up my alley.

to prevent back flow you need a check valve. if your pipe size were larger i’d say use an external drier vent with a flap. but any swinging piece of plastic that opens under flow and gravity seals it back up when no-flow.

insulating your hot-out pipe will kick it up a notch–even further than painting it black.

solar thermal works even through clouds–not all clouds though. congrats on the solar heater.

karl

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 04:51:37 +0000

Warren, I have been in WV for the last few days and I have not got to see all the cool and warm things you have going on. I think you are well on your way to a pretty nice solar furnace. The next one will work even better I’m sure. Nothing like a second chance to make some adjustments. Oh, BTW, my brother in law lives just off the Mink Shoals exit. He’s one of those lawyer guys…lol

By: warren

warren — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:30:45 +0000

Grey Wolf, I didn’t think the sun shone in MI during the winter. I grew up in NW PA and it rarely showed itself there! I checked it again yesterday and has a 32 degree increase in temp…63 inside, 95 coming out. It was 45 outside…

By: farm mom

farm mom — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:59:47 +0000

Oh don’t feel bad warren, I’m technologically challenged. And thanks for the offer, I’ll let him know.

By: Grey Wolf

Grey Wolf — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:42:52 +0000

You have the right to be exited. It makes me want to try building one too. If only we had more sun in the winter here in MI. But I imagine that it would still be worth building for fall and spring use. Please keep us posted with your findings. These postings are not boring and there are probably a lot of people following your progress without commenting. Low building cost, free heat has to be a good thing!

By: warren

warren — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:33:45 +0000

Nuts, farm mom…I was hoping I wouldn’t make this too confusing. I had hoped to make things clearer but my wife assures me I can complicate any topic beyond comprehension! If Eric wants other pics or to have a discussion, gimme a holler!

By: farm mom

farm mom — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:27:38 +0000

I’ve gotta tell you, you’ve lost me on the technical side on these posts, but Eric has been following and enjoying them in my place. Glad you’ve had sucess!!

By: warren

warren — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:59:12 +0000

I am pretty happy with how this has turned out. I feel like I have been posting about it a lot but it is pretty exciting to me. I don’t know the end result of how it will effect our bottom line or our comfort bottom line, but it is bound to make some difference…though we are und conatsnt cloud cover lately it seems. Anyhow, if I can get this thing to perform even better, I’ll post again!