Outdoor Wood Boiler Fall Start-Up Checklist
Don't Miss Any Critical Steps...Use This Checklist!
Tools you will need:
- Stepladder
- Cleaning Brushes (only if the chimney wasn't cleaned in Spring)
Supplies you will need:
- Liquid Armor Water Treatment (visit OutdoorBoiler.com)
- Door seal fire rope/caulk (if due for replacement every 2-4 years)
- Water sample kit (included with every gallon of water treatment)
- Firewood/match
Fall Startup Procedure:
1.) Observe all safety precautions
2.) Ensure that the installation has been completed properly.
3.) Ensure that all fittings are properly tightened.
4.) If the boiler was not properly cleaned in the Spring, do so now (and please remember to do this in the SPRING next year!). Remove all ash and creosote. Click HERE for more info on how important ash removal is.
Brush out the chimney and deflector plate. Brush out heat exchange tubes (GX Afterburner models only).
5.) Make sure your outdoor wood furnace is completely full of water. Verify this with your water level indicator, and by filling the boiler until water flows out of the vent tube on the roof.
6.) Treat the boiler water with Liquid Armor water treatment. Follow directions on the Liquid Armor bottle. For previously treated water, add 1/2 gallon of Liquid Armor before sending the water sample to the lab.
7.) To VERIFY that your investment is protected, send a water sample to our Outdoor Boiler lab for a FREE water analysis EVERY 12 MONTHS!. Follow the steps for the FREE water test HERE.
8.) Open all valves. Allow 5 minutes for the water to fill the pump and system.
9.) Turn on the power and make sure the pump is running. Never operate an outdoor wood burner without the pump circulating water 24/7.
10.) Make sure the fan switch is operational. Turn the fan switch to the ON position.
11.) Your outdoor furnace water temperature is controlled to the pre-set factory standards. Adjustment is not normally needed. The temperature controller will automatically control the blower to maintain the water temperature between the preset range. We recommend the range of 160F to 180F for traditional outdoor wood burning boilers and 172F to 182F for GX Afterburner models
12.) Build a small fire in the primary firebox changer, and allow the temperature to slowly rise. If possible, use only charcoal from previously burned wood, otherwise, you should expect to see considerable moisture condensation inside the boiler. This is the moisture from your wood that is condensing on the boiler walls and tubes while the water jacket water is below 140F. Do not worry, this condensation is normal - your boiler is not leaking.
13.) When the boiler reaches 170F, the boiler is ready to be filled for normal operation.
Following this and all our checklists will enable you to Keep Your Family Toasty Warm and Comfortable for Decades!
Visit OutdoorBoiler.com for more outdoor wood furnace parts. For more information, please call our office from Monday thru Friday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM at (231) 861-8200.
