"Should I Keep My Outdoor Furnace Pump ON All Summer?"

Should I Keep My Outdoor Furnace Pump ON All Summer?

"What Can Be Done To Extend The Life Of My Pump? 

 Summer Shutdown time is over! But, you may have asked yourself these questions:

- Should I keep the boiler pump on all Summer? 

 - What are the advantages of allowing the pump to run all Summer?

 - What can I do to extend the life of my pump?

 - What is the silver button on the front face of the pump and how does this help me?

 Here are the answers to these important questions:

 First, the answer is YES, you should keep your circulator pump on all summer. Here are two reasons why: 

1 - Pumps last a long time if they are run continuously. It will also keep its high efficiency.

2 - If you heat your domestic water with your outdoor wood stove, your hot water heater will use less fuel if you keep the pump on. 

Why?

Let's say the water in your outdoor wood boiler is 80 degrees because your boiler sits in the hot sun all summer long. That 80-degree water is being circulated into your house and your plate heat exchanger. When you use hot water for a shower or to wash dishes, cold water is added to your hot water tank.

Most well water and city water comes out of the ground at around 52 degrees, even in the summer. Your hot water tank must heat that water from 52 degrees to 110 degrees using lots of fuel (electricity or propane or whatever).

If your pump is on, the warm water in your outdoor wood furnace will heat that 52-degree water to about 80 degrees FOR FREE, thus cutting your fuel cost by HALF for your hot water heater during the summer! 

Please make sure your outdoor wood burner has PROPER WATER TREATMENT (click HERE for our Liquid Armor Water Treatment) for the summer months. Whether the pump is on or not, you are the only one who can be responsible to protect your investment in your outdoor boiler.  

(Read more reasons why you should use water treatment HERE (including "It is like driving a car without oil!")

What is that silver button on the front of the pump face? In the photo above, you will see on the front CENTER of the pump, a round silver button. That can be removed with a flat-head screwdriver by turning it. If the pump is not functioning, you can remove that button to see if the shaft of the pump is spinning.

If you are not sure, or if it is stuck, turn off the power to the pump. Then, you can insert an Allen wrench into the pump shaft and turn it a few times. If it is caught on something or has some sediment buildup, the pump will not circulate - but by doing this simple repair, you can usually save the pump! 

As always, let us know if there is anything we can do for you! Just call our office at (231) 861-8200 M-F 9 am - 8 pm, even during the summer! If you know that you can no longer save the pump and that it is damaged and cannot be used, you can visit our website OutdoorBoiler.com for replacement and browse for more outdoor wood furnace parts.