We had a leak in our boiler this past summer, so had to come up with a solution before heating season started again. Here’s what I came up with: a “sand boiler”.
The boiler was drained, pipes were laid next to the firebox and fire tubes, and the boiler was then filled with sand. The pipes carry water from a new water tank, through the boiler, and back to the tank.
So far the system is heating the house and creating charcoal, but the heat of the fires is warping the steel fire tubes and now creating “sand leaks”. I’ll be switching to a brick system next. Stay tuned!