Outdoor Furnace: Critical Fall Startup Checklist Items

Outdoor Furnace: Critical Fall Startup Checklist Items

Fall Startup Time is Here NOW -Are You Ready?

Don't Miss Any Critical Steps...

Use This Checklist!

Tools you will need:

- Stepladder

- Cleaning Brushes (only if chimney wasn't cleaned in Spring)

Supplies you will need:

- Liquid Armor Water Treatment (available HERE)

- Door seal fire rope/caulk (if due for replacement every 2-4 years - available HERE)

- Water sample kit (included with every gallon of water treatment). You can also order for Water Testing Sample Kit 2-Pack and enter the discount code "FREEKIT" at checkout for your free kit and pay only S&H.

- 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 outdoor wood 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. Brush out chimney and deflector plate. Brush out heat exchange tubes (Afterburner or gasification models only).
  5. Make sure the boiler 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 a certified Outdoor Boiler water treatment and corrosion inhibitor - Liquid Armor water treatment. Click HERE for our Liquid Armor water treatment.
  7. To VERIFY that your investment is protected, send a water sample to our lab for a FREE water analysis EVERY 12 MONTHS!. Follow steps for the FREE water test HERE.
  8. Open all valves. Allow 5 minutes for water to fill the circulator pump and your heating system.
  9. Turn on power and make sure boiler pump is running. Never operate an outdoor wood burning boiler without the pump circulating water 24/7.
  10. Make sure fan switch is operational. Turn the fan switch to the ON position.
  11. Your outdoor wood 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 boilers, and 172F to 182F for Afterburner or Gasification 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. When the water jacket temp rises above 140F, condensation will be minimal. Do not worry, this condensation is normal - your outdoor wood stove is not leaking. But to avoid this, use charcoal from previously burned wood that has already had the moisture burned off. Remember that even the most seasoned firewood still has roughly 20% moisture and that is a lot of water that will normally exit the boiler harmlessly in the form of steam once the boiler is above 140F.
  13. When your outdoor wood burner reaches 170F, the wood burner is ready to be filled to capacity for normal operation. The EPA has now BANNED outdoor wood boilers. Therefore...

PLEASE REMEMBER that the EPA has now BANNED outdoor wood boilers. Therefore...Once your boiler reaches its end of life...which hopefully will not be for decades,

...YOUR DAYS OF SAVING MONEY BY BURNING WOOD WILL BE OVER! 

We want to help you keep your boiler running for several more decades - helping you SAVE money for many years to come.

  • This is why we spend so much time on providing YOU operating tips, maintenance information, and other valuable resources to keep your outdoor wood boiler healthy and durable.

Don't miss our breaking new report on steps you can take NOW to increase the life expectancy of your outdoor boiler.  Click HERE to read this report.

For more information contact us or visit our online store OutdoorBoiler.com to browse for more outdoor wood boiler parts!