6 DIY wood fired pool heater mistakes to avoid

This video is a complement to my how to build a wood fired pool heater video and to all the other videos out there on the subject.
I have made plenty of mistakes that you don't have to with a little bit of knowledge. Stay safe and efficient with your GHG reduction projects!

[@SynthOSphere]

Amazing video! Great info, enough details but not too much. Thanks for sharing!

[@sculptureforasmallplanet]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@mahakarsha]

Hi, this is really cool. I already got a wood pool heater and want to get a dedicated pump for it. What should be the gph rating i should look for?

[@sculptureforasmallplanet]

Hello, Depends on the design of the heat exchanger but in general you want to move a lot of water through it because the heat transfer with contrast in temperatures. You won’t get a high reading on the output but it’s about getting every calorie of heat out of the fire and into your pool. Hope this helps!

[@GreatBigBoat]

First thing to do is make sure you DO NOT connect to the main pump. You need a separate pump to run the heater. You need to be able to turn the main pump off and of course if it fails on you there is no way to circulate the water so the piping will blow steam.

[@sculptureforasmallplanet]

If you do a suggest getting a high quality one. I had lots of problems running separate pumps. Two times they failed and one time the extension cord got splashed and tripped the gfi. Only problem with the running main pump was I forgot to override the timer and it clicked it off. That’s why I have the check list. Let me know how it turns out. Thanks,

[@guillaumepare9651]

@@sculptureforasmallplanet I'm just about to try the Beluga adaptor. Might give it a try too.

[@sculptureforasmallplanet]

@@guillaumepare9651 that looks like an good way to get a separate system from the main pump. I just used T s and valves with the stock in and out penetrations. Hope it works for you. Thanks,

[@lii1Il]

Just wondering, what do you think of aluminum for the heat exchanger? You could use recycled auto heat exchangers if it fits in your system.

[@lii1Il]

And ty for posting this!

[@sculptureforasmallplanet]

In my experience Aluminum doesn’t like fire and the super harsh environment like this. Let me know if you try it and how it works. Thanks,

[@lii1Il]

@@sculptureforasmallplanet TY, with that said I shall avoid aluminum with direct fire.

[@lii1Il]

@@sculptureforasmallplanet As an interesting side note, water has one of the highest volumetric heat capacities of any substances though mostly limited to boiling point. Ever considered using something large like a pool but insulated to keep the heat in to heat your home or a building? I would think and the math seems to support that a well insulated large body like that could keep heat for months? A heat pump could remove the heat and heat a large space at least in theory and I've crunched the numbers. (As an obvious side note, your setup as is could not hold heat and water also has one of the highest thermally conductive liquids). I was just curious from one with experience what you take on storing heat in a large body of water? Anyway, TY!

[@sculptureforasmallplanet]

@@lii1Il very interesting idea. I could see something like this working with thermal solar for heat gain and then going to a home at night. Probably would take a hole lot insulation thought?!? Thanks

[@analogieswithg7398]

What type of copper tubing do you use? L OR K?

[@sculptureforasmallplanet]

Hello, I use type L. They only sell type M and L in my area. I would probably use type K if it was easy to get but I find that L works fine. Only had the one problem of a freeze burst. Not sure if the heaver K would of prevented but maybe. Best just to drain before it gets cold. Thanks,

[@richardmarazzi1791]

I live in a warm environment on a big piece of land and I want to build a decent size pool. I am thinking to build a concrete furnace with door, Have pipes around the perimeter and fire in the middle. a trap door that I can drop a log in from time to time. Does the material need to be copper, I am thinking straight stainless pipes with L brackets.

[@sculptureforasmallplanet]

Hello, Stainless is good because it is durable but kind of hard to work with. Threaded fittings will need to be super tight because all the pipe joint will burn out overtime. But if you have the tools and experience of working with it stainless is a good choice. Especially if you could weld all the joints that will be near the fire. Hope this helps!

[@sculptureforasmallplanet]

Hi, One more thing, if you haven’t yet check out my video “How to make a real wood fired pool heater” and how to heat your “How to heat your pool with the sun”, as you’re designing your pool setup. Thanks,

[@tommyguimond5289]

Graphite thread sealant is what you need for temperatures up to 750f

[@sculptureforasmallplanet]

@@tommyguimond5289 Cool, thanks for the tip!

[@tuckerroveto3586]

DO you want to cut wood or swim? Love it XD

[@sculptureforasmallplanet]

Thank you!

[@jarrettfullerton2580]

Too* small. Double "o" on that one :)

[@sculptureforasmallplanet]

Yeah, spelling has never been my thing. But the other info is all correct 👍 Thanks,

[@WildLifeBackyardCamera]

rocket stove

[@sculptureforasmallplanet]

Yeah, kind of. But this can hold big logs and the two internal heat exchangers. Thanks,