Help with Woodburner and leaking wetback please?

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MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1813100 5-Jul-2017 10:31

Axeman480:

These guys here made up our last wetback for our old fire . http://www.superiorheating.co.nz/wetbacks.php

That's who I bought wetbacks off when i lived in Blenheim. Good guys. Helped me figure out how to get two wetbacks on one fire.

Mike

jancor

28 posts

Geek

#1813104 5-Jul-2017 10:38

Thank you so much for all your replies. Firstly I can't see where the wetback booster is installed. Looks like it is in the back of the woodburner. BUT the weirdest thing has happened. I lit the fire last night with mains water off. Once it got hot the pipes made massive noises and the copper pipe that takes the hot water to the ? became so hot I was scared of a house fire, so ended up turning the mains water back on to be safe. Opened the woodburner door this morning expecting the burner to be full of water - it was dry!!! No leak over night so I am now more clueless as to what has happened. I haven't cancelled the plumber as I really need his advice as to what to do? Try and remove the booster, leave it alone till it leaks again, or plug it anyway?

I have been through all the paper work here and have not kept the details of the burner other than the receipt so have no clue what it looks like.

jancor

28 posts

Geek

#1813107 5-Jul-2017 10:40

Thanks for that link Axeman480, I will email them and see if they can help.

Sidestep

1013 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1813132 5-Jul-2017 11:32

Didn't keep any pics of those repairs, but here are a couple pics that might help. These are the mid 80's to early 90's type (similar to the extant rural woodfire)
Later models are listed here: http://www.kent.co.nz/technical

The 1st is one of ours installed (& burning) today. The 90° brass fittings are screwed onto the wetback threaded ends that extend out the back of the fire.
You can't see the attachment flanges as they are under the rear sheetmetal.

The 2nd shows the neighbour's Kent fire (I'm rewelding his firebox) with the cover and wetback removed - you can see where it mounts.

jancor

28 posts

Geek

#1813142 5-Jul-2017 11:55

This shows mine, sorry can't get any clearer than this. The closest pip is the cold in, the other is the hot out.

wellygary

8328 posts

Uber Geek

#1813145 5-Jul-2017 11:59

jancor:

Thank you so much for all your replies. Firstly I can't see where the wetback booster is installed. Looks like it is in the back of the woodburner. BUT the weirdest thing has happened. I lit the fire last night with mains water off. Once it got hot the pipes made massive noises and the copper pipe that takes the hot water to the ? became so hot I was scared of a house fire, so ended up turning the mains water back on to be safe. Opened the woodburner door this morning expecting the burner to be full of water - it was dry!!! No leak over night so I am now more clueless as to what has happened. I haven't cancelled the plumber as I really need his advice as to what to do? Try and remove the booster, leave it alone till it leaks again, or plug it anyway?

It is likely that by removing the water flow, you have allowed the wet back to get hot enough to reflow some of the welds/solder joints that may have been the source of the leak,

However there is no guarantee that next time you stoke up a fire that the newly sealed leaks will not open up again

They might stay sealed for sometime or they might not, or new holes might continue to develop.

For a long term fix you will have to replace the wetback unit,

jancor

28 posts

Geek

#1813150 5-Jul-2017 12:20

wellygary:

jancor:

Thank you so much for all your replies. Firstly I can't see where the wetback booster is installed. Looks like it is in the back of the woodburner. BUT the weirdest thing has happened. I lit the fire last night with mains water off. Once it got hot the pipes made massive noises and the copper pipe that takes the hot water to the ? became so hot I was scared of a house fire, so ended up turning the mains water back on to be safe. Opened the woodburner door this morning expecting the burner to be full of water - it was dry!!! No leak over night so I am now more clueless as to what has happened. I haven't cancelled the plumber as I really need his advice as to what to do? Try and remove the booster, leave it alone till it leaks again, or plug it anyway?

It is likely that by removing the water flow, you have allowed the wet back to get hot enough to reflow some of the welds/solder joints that may have been the source of the leak,

However there is no guarantee that next time you stoke up a fire that the newly sealed leaks will not open up again

They might stay sealed for sometime or they might not, or new holes might continue to develop.

For a long term fix you will have to replace the wetback unit,

Yes I agree that it a guess how long it will last. I think I will see what the plumber suggests, but personally I think I will get it plugged as soon as it leaks again, then save up for a replacement. That link (above) have replied and can supply a new one. I just have to send them mine so they can match it. Sounds like a great job for the Summer.

Bung

6488 posts

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Subscriber

#1813195 5-Jul-2017 13:45

If the fire needs replacing and you are in an Urban/clean air zone there are limits on which fires can still have wetbacks.

Before putting too much money into a wetback that might last longer than your fire you should check that you'll get some use out of it. Maybe look at approved wetback fires for your area.

jancor

28 posts

Geek

#1813210 5-Jul-2017 13:54

Thanks, it isn't a problem where I live. I have decided to just plug up the pipes and think about long term decision in the Summer. Will miss the constant hot water but this is the best solution for now.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1813496 5-Jul-2017 23:39

jancor:

Thank you so much for all your replies. Firstly I can't see where the wetback booster is installed. Looks like it is in the back of the woodburner. BUT the weirdest thing has happened. I lit the fire last night with mains water off. Once it got hot the pipes made massive noises and the copper pipe that takes the hot water to the ? became so hot I was scared of a house fire, so ended up turning the mains water back on to be safe. Opened the woodburner door this morning expecting the burner to be full of water - it was dry!!! No leak over night so I am now more clueless as to what has happened. I haven't cancelled the plumber as I really need his advice as to what to do? Try and remove the booster, leave it alone till it leaks again, or plug it anyway?

I have been through all the paper work here and have not kept the details of the burner other than the receipt so have no clue what it looks like.

Those massive noises would have been steam bubbles forming and collapsing again. Are you sure that your cylinder didn't drain out somewhere while the water was turned off? How much water went through the water meter when you turned the water back on? I take it that your wetback is a normal direct circulating low pressure hot water type? Or do you have mains pressure hot water?

MrAmerica

128 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#1813522 6-Jul-2017 06:27

This is interesting, I always thought thermosyphon couldn't run downhill but looking at the wetback pipes I am obviously wrong. Is it just the cold that run down and up again?

Sidestep

1013 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1813529 6-Jul-2017 07:15

MrAmerica: This is interesting, I always thought thermosyphon couldn't run downhill but looking at the wetback pipes I am obviously wrong. Is it just the cold that run down and up again?

The cold feed comes up the lower pipe from the floor, goes into one side of the heat exchanger.
Heated water comes out the other side, rises up the other pipe.

I tested with a flowmeter and was surprised how well it works.

jancor

28 posts

Geek

#1813586 6-Jul-2017 09:56

No,the cylinder didn't drain. The cylinder is the original cylinder 1988, so not a new fancy one. Second night of a fire last night without a leak!!

networkn

Networkn
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#1813599 6-Jul-2017 10:02

Your story worries me, I half expected to see a story about a house burning down in the news today. I really think you need to get someone reputable and knowledgeable in and follow their advice. Pretty sure my insurance says stuff like "if repairs and maintenance are required, and aren't carried out in a timely fashion, by suitably qualified people, and your house burns to the ground, we won't pay out".

I am not saying the advice here you have been given isn't correct, but these are people who have not seen your particular problem in person, and have no stake in your house not burning to the ground. 1 Small omitted detail could be disastrous.

jancor

28 posts

Geek

#1813604 6-Jul-2017 10:15

Plumber is here now to rectify the problem. No worries of the house burning down as I turned the water back on. It's an old set up and very basic. I appreciate all the replies here, they helped very much.

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