Snorkel Stove Pond Heater

[doctinker]

That's funny about the swimming pool. I guess you do what you gotta do if you want something but don't have room for it.

 

[roadhunter]

LOL - Yep, they are spoilt. So are our chickens. They have an insulated and heated house too. If one of them gets sick, they get to come in and hang out with us, watching TV and basking by the woodstove. Some of them like to come inside with us. They will even walk up to the side gate and tell us that they want to join us. If a groundhog gets into their house, we have a hen who will walk up to the side gate and talk about it until the Mrs goes out and chases "Chuck" out.

I know some people in Texas who had a duck that would travel with them in the car from town to the lake every weekend during the summer. Those things are surprisingly good pets.

 

[doctinker]

 

[doctinker]

Meet Otis

 

[pmsmechanic]

We used to keep the pond open all winter when we had ducks and geese. Just an air line from the shop regulated to about 10 lbs or less and an air stone in the bottom of the pond and there was open water all winter. I like your idea but I would get tired of keeping the wood stove fired up.

 

[caver]

Do you have to pull it out of the tank to empty the ashes?

Yes but I pull it out of the tank anyway after it's cooled down overnight. I fill mine with a spring and just set the stock tank wherever I want. I have a 40 gallon larger tank now than what is in this picture.
https://caver.smugmug.com/CrabbySpringAcres/Crabby-Acres/i-cJbMCnQ/A

 

[caver]

Do you have to pull it out of the tank to empty the ashes?

Yes but I pull it out of the tank anyway after it's cooled down overnight. I fill mine with a spring and just set the stock tank wherever I want. I have a 40 gallon larger tank now than what is in this picture.
https://caver.smugmug.com/CrabbySpringAcres/Crabby-Acres/i-cJbMCnQ/A

 

[doctinker]

We used to keep the pond open all winter when we had ducks and geese. Just an air line from the shop regulated to about 10 lbs or less and an air stone in the bottom of the pond and there was open water all winter. I like your idea but I would get tired of keeping the wood stove fired up.

I tried the compressed air, using a pipe with holes drilled in it, a few years ago. It kept a hole open but not large enough for the ducks. I thought about getting an air stone but didn't want to spend money, if it wasn't going to work. I tried running the heater all winter a few years ago but it wore me out and ate up too much wood. Now I just use it to open the pond early. Without it, the pond takes a long time to thaw out once the weather starts warming up. I have a pump circulating water by it and once the air temperature is above freezing during the day it seems to keep the ice from forming, once the heater has done it's job.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I tried the compressed air, using a pipe with holes drilled in it, a few years ago. It kept a hole open but not large enough for the ducks. I thought about getting an air stone but didn't want to spend money, if it wasn't going to work. I tried running the heater all winter a few years ago but it wore me out and ate up too much wood. Now I just use it to open the pond early. Without it, the pond takes a long time to thaw out once the weather starts warming up. I have a pump circulating water by it and once the air temperature is above freezing during the day it seems to keep the ice from forming, once the heater has done it's job.

Ok I see what your doing. Makes sense.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I tried the compressed air, using a pipe with holes drilled in it, a few years ago. It kept a hole open but not large enough for the ducks. I thought about getting an air stone but didn't want to spend money, if it wasn't going to work. I tried running the heater all winter a few years ago but it wore me out and ate up too much wood. Now I just use it to open the pond early. Without it, the pond takes a long time to thaw out once the weather starts warming up. I have a pump circulating water by it and once the air temperature is above freezing during the day it seems to keep the ice from forming, once the heater has done it's job.

Ok I see what your doing. Makes sense.