HS Tarm Wood Boiler w/Heat Storage

[ejb]

I am starting a new thread, but it is related to the thread about wood burning...I had been planning on adding a $1500 wood boiler add-on to my existing oil burner, to help with keeping my oil costs down, but ran into problems where I only have a single flue...someone on the other thread mentioned the HS Tarm multi-fuel wood boiler so I spent sometime researching it...ordered the sales documenation, talked to the sales rep a few times etc...but there is not a whole lot of info on the web about this company.

I am looking for any real-life testimonials about this system (I am looking at the Excel 2200 in particular) or about the company.

Is everthing really as good as it sounds? The system as spec'ed out for me is going to cost close to $14K with the 800+ gallon heat storage tank a few required options...

BUT, unlike the $1500 system I was looking at, I *could* use this 12 months per year instead of 5-6, so the payback is there. (I should save $2500 to $3K per year if oil remains near these levels. l;ast three years I have averaged about 2000 gallons per year).

Apparently the heat storage tank will let you fire it up every 7-10 days in the warm weather to just keep the domestic hot water flowing...an add-on boiler w/out a tank it would be impractical to run without a storage tank just for Hot water in the warm months.

So, are they as good as they sales rep says? Are there are brands that are just as good, but perhaps a little less costly?
Anyone use on of these exact models? or know someone who does?

 

[Qrazy]

Hi EJB,
How did you make out wiht info on the Tarm?? Did you ever buy one??

Thanks!

 

[MikeD74T]

I suspect ejb got a little sticker shock when he found out the Tarm add-on is about $6500. Their wood-oil combo is over $10K. That'll buy quite a lot of oil even at today's prices. They are however a super high quality unit. MikeD74T

 

[Wood Burner]

The Tarm boiler is a great heating system. I have an older Tarm (30 yrs old) that works perfectly , probably not as effecient as the new models. The boiler is a wood/oil combination . I also have heat storage 738 gallons with a domestic coil. SO for heating when its in the 30's and 40's I generally fire the boiler once evry 24hrs. When its colder 3 times a day.

 

[MuncyBob]

I'm in the process of gathering info on both the indoor type "gassifiers" and info on the outside wood burners (OWB). Knowledge from actual users is always priceless!!! Due to space limitations whatever unit I go with will have to be outside. I have read that any unit that fires oil and also wood using the same chimney requires frequent chimney cleaning...true? At this time I'm thinking about storing the indoor type boiler in an insulated shed about 100' from the house with some sort of storage tank in the basement and keeping my current oil burner as "back up". I would love to hear from wood boiler owners on there experiences...both good and bad.....and if you had to buy something today how would you determine the right unit for you?

 

[4720 OWNER]

Not an expert, but have been reading there are lots of complaints out there about the smoke given off by OWB's, mainly by neighbors who do not have them to offset heat costs. Sounds like soon they will be regulated and have catalytic converters on them. Also have a reputation for being very inefficient. Just .02 worth.

 

[slowzuki]

Hearth.com - Information on Gas Fireplaces, Wood Stoves, Gas Logs, Pellet Stoves, Fireplaces, Chimneys and Hearth Products in the forums, the furnace/boiler section is loaded with info. Hundreds of threads.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

I researched the Tarm units at length, along with some other combo units. The Tarm is a great unit, if you can afford it. I just can't justify spending that kind of money on it. If you amortize it out, the payback takes years, many years, even at today's energy prices.

I found that the combo units tend to be inefficient. My new propane boiler will vent out thru a PVC pipe. Now that's efficient! I also didn't like the thoughts of mail-ordering any heating unit, needing a part, and being without heat until it comes in. I'm going with a propane boiler for my home with a Harman add on wood/coal unit. I'm thinking of making a storage tank for the fall and spring months when I wouldn't have to fire the boiler all the time. Maybe start a fire every other or every third day.

Slowzuki, thanks for the link, I'll have to check them out. I may change my mind....again.

 

[MuncyBob]

Yes, thanks for the links. I've been lurking around in their forum and asking some questions in their "Boiler Room". Standard OWB are very inefficient but I understand that these "gassifiers" with storage tanks are about as efficient as an oil fired boiler. We have no neighbors with a mile or so and plently of wooded areas around us...I have the tractor, truck and chainsaw so I figure why not look into it? Last oil order of 125 gallons cost me over $425! The boiler would pay for itself inside of 3 years...problem is making the best choice that I can afford!

 

[chuck172]

I'm looking real hard at the Tarm Solo 30 or 40. Yes, its very expensive. $6,700 I'm feeding two woodstoves now and paying for domestic hot water. I figure I'd burn about the same amount of wood, get free hot water. Keep all the mess at ground level in the basement, heat the whole house evenly. I'm tired of humping firewood up 14 steps.
If you buy the storage tanks, another 4,500. You can store the heat and fire the boiler up once a week in the summertime and get all the hot water you need.
Almost sounds too good to be true. You know the old saying, it probably is.
I'm close to buying it though.