Woodworks

Can't fault or GSHP. I run it at a lowish temp and top up the heat with the wood burner if we feel chilly. It does our hot water and heating and has been faultless since installing which must be nearly 10 years ago. No servicing required either. Only suitable for a well-insulated house though but that should not be a problem with a new build. Alternatively just spend more on insulation and not need a heating system at all passive house style.

In the UK our potentially coldest weather is around 4 weeks after the shortest day so I guess this would make late Jan the middle of the season. The reason is as an Island nation the weather systems reaching us are coming over the sea and sea is slow to cool so acts as a buffer. This is with all things being average but this is rarely the case so in reality how long is a piece of string is more accurate.

No experience with the Palax but the Farmi should munch through that easy enough

Local tree firm has bought one but last time I spoke to them about it they were pretty underwhelmed. Poor splitting power in the real world apparently. Not seen it in action but they have had me in with the Farmi before so I am guessing it's not as good as that even though on paper it has a higher tonnage rating than the Farmi.

Think it's effectiveness varies with soil type https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170425131407.htm

Don't do it. They would be hopelessly weak when used like that. The plastic is not thick and they are only strong when well supported. The raised bed in the picture would be hopeless if they didn't have the wooden frame around the top.

Sell them in dry spells for water storage (no idea how people support them but not my problem) Had a wildlife place buy them for making poultry houses Some very low res pictures below Raised beds Mini duck pond Logs splitting station

One thing that does strike me is we have pretty good regs for insulation but very poor follow up from building control. When building our place I had the BC out to check the laying of the concrete slab and asked him when he next wanted to inspect and he said: "when you're ready to move in". Literally never saw them through the whole above ground building process. You can have the most stringent regs in the world but if they are not overseen shortcuts will be taken by the unscrupulous and the naive. Worked on a large extension for a chap who was doing a self-build. Putting in the roof timbers in for them and they were putting in the insulation. I mentioned it was worth filling all the gaps to avoid thermal bridging and all I got back was it will be covered before BC see it. Then had to fit the skirting boards in the same place. There was a howling draught coming in from below the floor. The extension gets inspected when the shoddy work is covered up and it gets signed off!

Oh dear, so no one to blame but themselves if the insulation is at fault. Upside I guess is a large proportion of the insulation in a bungalow is in the loft so maybe they can do something about that?

Sounds like a disastrous build. Is his house still covered by a guarantee? However poor the heating system is I can't see how you should need that much wood to heat a well insulated new build or he lives in Buckingham Palace. I would be looking to have an IR camera scan of the house and spot where all the heat is escaping and then taking it up with the builders. http://www.earth.org.uk/thermal-imaging-survey-of-house.html

I have to clear my folk's system on a fairly regular basis. Drain rods is the only way I know. Good luck getting it all sorted. Not the kind of problem you need at this time. Happy Chrismas anyway in spite of the poo

Yep, that is the brand just you have the larger model. Bigger capacity doing smaller wood would probably explain why yours releases. Mine was at it's max on the job above doing willow up to 100mm and it just kept on pulling. Happy Christmas to you

Went for a Red Dragon one from Welmac UK. So this with various extras https://rebaki24.pl/en/red-dragon-standard/53-model-r-120.html

Look at ways to improve insulation first. In the long run, it will probably the cheapest option.

Yes, I guess it's the same. What's a logger in this context? Our baby tractor is not that old but fairly basic.

I do and have done with my previous branch logger but why not add another level of safety if it not too difficult? My old Urban one you could stop the wood going in easily. Doing a load of willow the other day with the new machine and the pull was pretty fierce and not sure I could have stopped it. Once the end was in it was only going one way just like a chipper. Now whether it was the wood or the larger capacity that made it pull so hard I don't know. Our tractor is like your Fergie in that if things get too tough it just stalls but the 60hp machine we used on the willow took some stopping.

Just bought a new PTO powered branch logger. It does have a safety bar fitted like a chipper but needs to have socked on the tractor which should presumably be wired to the ignition switch. Is it a tricky job to add one? Thanks

Just a couple of points from the above. Everyone goes on about how dirty China is but it's not surprising as it is such a huge country but per capita, it's very little worse than the UK https://www.ucsusa.org/global-warming/science-and-impacts/science/each-countrys-share-of-co2.html#.XB9a98_7S3I I know I have been on the wrong end of DPF problems but the idea that all the muck gets chucked out the exhaust anyway is a bit misleading. We all know that if you run your stove at low temps it chucks out lots of filthy smoke and if we run them hot our emissions are far lower. My understanding of a DPF is it saves up all the soot and then burns it off very hot. Sounds like a good idea in theory.

Had bad asthma as a youngster but slowly grew out of the worst of it but always had a blue inhaler handy. Then had the flue in 2010 and it brought it back far worse. Many triggers for me with some household cleaners being very bad like Windowlean. No problems with chainsaw dust but I do wear a mask when using the processor. Bad again recently as there has been a nasty bug doing the rounds that has affected many peoples breathing. The symptoms have lingered so any chance this is the problem? Some things that have helped me. A steamy shower helps me clear the worst of the phlegm. Buteco breathing technique. Didn't understand why but learning to breathe through the nose instead of the mouth helped. Being fit has always helped and that has slipped in recent times so part of my problems. Hi intensity work being best Hope you get it sorted

Yes, save yourself the money and the frustration. My Ipad was great when new but it gets slower and slower to the point I now just use my cheapo Android phone that's way quicker the Ipad. Think they expect you will splash out on the latest model every few years but it's backfired with this customer and Apple kit is now off the cards here.

Having a cheap Christmas this year. No young kids and the rest of us don't really need for much so we are just doing a secret Santa. £20 present done ?

30C is too hot so god knows what 40C feels like. Good job I live down on the SW moors where 30C is pretty much unheard of ?

That does sound like hell. Give me wet and windy over hot any day. Hope you get some rain soon.

No, Mark, he asked to be called strange not a weirdo. Pay attention

Nearly a dry day today with just 3mm of rain. Only one dry day this month so far. Just seen a long-range forecast for January from the Met-Office and we may have some colder weather on the way due to sudden stratospheric warming. No snow for Chrismas though