outdoor boiler

[magicheater]

I think what people don't realize about Outdoor boilers is that they are operated 24-7. It's not like you can just let the fire go out cause you don't feel like loading. Any others out there with outdoor boiler/heater experience?

I put one in after trying to heat my house w/2 masonry stoves. Granted I only had to build two fires a day in each, for <2 hrs. a shot, but that gets old after awhile. I opted for a Seton Boiler, lots of firebrick mass and is a water tube not water jacketed boiler as many outdoor units are. I put it in my garage and got as an unanticipated consequence, heated garages. My "ranch" is spread out and very hard to heat with conventional methods. However with the boiler and the addition of some more sand beds for mass it is comfy cozy in the winter and I only burn the boiler for 6-10 hours a day. I do burn a little more wood than with the masonry set up but am heating more area as well, and don't have to split most of it! I like it cause I can burn junk wood as well as sale-able wood. It is not as automatic as some but I would not trade it for anything else. I still have one of the masonry stoves for the times it is just cold enough to need a bit of heat but not enough to light off the boiler. The solar in the floors shaves off another two months of the heating season.

 

[Storm56]

I have had a Central Boiler for 6 years now and am thrilled with it. If I just did my house (1850 Sq Ft), attached garage (900 Sq Ft), hot water and spa, I use about 6 cord a year. I also added a 4400 Sq Ft insulated pole building with 14 Ft ceilings that I keep at 50-55 degrees all winter. That is an additional 5-6 cord.

So if you buy the right unit, set it up properly and learn how to burn it, I think they are pretty efficient. I have 282 acres of which most are woods so other than my time I heat for free. Saves me a gym membership too!

My unit sets about 40 feet off the back corner of my home. It just has the standard 2 section chimney that CB provides. My house is pretty high as I have a 10/12 pitch roof line. I have no issues with draft etc.

 

[clemsonfor]

I have had a Central Boiler for 6 years now and am thrilled with it. If I just did my house (1850 Sq Ft), attached garage (900 Sq Ft), hot water and spa, I use about 6 cord a year. I also added a 4400 Sq Ft insulated pole building with 14 Ft ceilings that I keep at 50-55 degrees all winter. That is an additional 5-6 cord.

So if you buy the right unit, set it up properly and learn how to burn it, I think they are pretty efficient. I have 282 acres of which most are woods so other than my time I heat for free. Saves me a gym membership too!

My unit sets about 40 feet off the back corner of my home. It just has the standard 2 section chimney that CB provides. My house is pretty high as I have a 10/12 pitch roof line. I have no issues with draft etc.

6 Cords!! Do you Mean standard cords (128 cubic feet or 4ftx4ftx8ft) or face cords (64 cubic feet or 2ft x 4ft x 8ft)?

6 cords for a house that size seems like an awful lot for an efficient boiler. 2 wood stoves could keep that house in the 68 degree mark all winter and use no more than 2 cords a year.

 

[captaincrab55]

Every stick of wood I burn is a savings of Propane that benefits someone else, be it but a drop in the ocean.
I burn wood because I like the heat, like the savings to me, and like the exercise, but especially like the fact that I use it as an excuse to buy the tractor I like to pull in the logs, etc.

I like the way you think....

btw, I'll second that.....:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[Storm56]

6 Cords!! Do you Mean standard cords (128 cubic feet or 4ftx4ftx8ft) or face cords (64 cubic feet or 2ft x 4ft x 8ft)?

6 cords for a house that size seems like an awful lot for an efficient boiler. 2 wood stoves could keep that house in the 68 degree mark all winter and use no more than 2 cords a year.

Let's see - I start my stove about Sept 20 and run it through May 20. My house is always comfortable, no opening windows and crap like that because it is too hot as the heat exchanger is in our ductwork and we just use the air handler part of the furnace, all thermostatically controlled, no muss or fuss. No hot or cold spots. One stove to feed and no mess in the house. Includes my hot water and the heating of the water for the hot tub. My wife likes 74 degrees not 68. Heats my attached garage to a nice toasty 70 degrees because that is where our laundry room is. We really like getting into a nice warm car when it is crappy outside. The double garage door gets opened at least 2 times a day and we lose just about all the heat in the garage so it needs to be reheated. I really like washing my cars in a nice warm garage. And in that 6 cord figure it does not even include the savings that I get from the hot water and the heating of the water for our hot tub. Not only can you not physically do all these things with 2 free standing stoves, but even if you could ain't no way you can do all of that with 2 cords. My father in law heated with a fireplace insert and another free standing stove for years. I used to help him cut and stack the wood. He did a lot less with his stoves than I do and he used almost 5 cords, plus he had to open windows at times, let the stoves go out when it was warm, restart them and all that hassle. So I do all that I mentioned for about 6 cord, even if I bought the wood that is about $725 as wood goes for about $125 a cord in my neck of the woods. I will stand by my statement that OWB's can be pretty darn efficient.

 

[arrow]

6 Cords!! Do you Mean standard cords (128 cubic feet or 4ftx4ftx8ft) or face cords (64 cubic feet or 2ft x 4ft x 8ft)?

6 cords for a house that size seems like an awful lot for an efficient boiler. 2 wood stoves could keep that house in the 68 degree mark all winter and use no more than 2 cords a year.

Depends where you place the wood stove and locale of the house. My house is 1850 sq ft. in New England. I have a wood stove in the cellar. I go through 4-5 cords from Oct to April but I cannot keep the log house warm after 25* without an assist from the oil burner. I should have gotten a wood furnace with direct ducting instead if I was going to place the wood heater in the cellar. 6 cords for an owb seems like a good bet for all the advantages an owb gives you. Solar for hot water in the summer and a wood boiler for the winter seems like a pretty good combo. I'm assuming an indoor wood boiler goes through the same amount of wood as an outdoor. I'd have to bump up my wood production a cord or two but I'l get my dhw coming along with heating the house in the winter. Beenthere, does your boiler use that amount?

 

[clemsonfor]

Let's see - I start my stove about Sept 20 and run it through May 20. My house is always comfortable, no openeing windows and crap like that because it is too hot as the heat exchanger is in our ductwork and we just use the air handler part of the furnace, all thermostatically controlled, no muss or fuss. No hot or cold spots. One stove to feed and no mess in the house. Includes my hot water and the heating of the water for the hottub. My wife likes 74 degrees not 68. Heats my attached garage to a nice toasty 70 degrees because that is where our laundry room is. We really like getting into a nice warm car when it is crappy outside. The double garage door gets opened at least 2 times a day and we lose just about all the heat in the garage so it needs to be reheated. I really like washing my cars in a nice warm garage. And in that 6 cord figure it does not even include the savings that I get from the hot water and the heating of the water for our hot tub. Not only can you not physically do all these things with 2 free standing stoves, but even if you could ain't no way you can do all of that with 2 cords. My father in law heated with a fireplace insert and another free standing stove for years. I used to help him cut and stack the wood. He did a lot less with his stoves than I do and he used almost 5 cords, plus he had to open windows at times, let the stoves go out when it was warm, restart them and all that hassle. So I do all that I mentioned for about 6 cord, even if I bought the wood that is about $725 as wood goes for about $125 a cord in my neck of the woods. I will stand by my statement that OWB's can be pretty darn efficient.

Yes if you keep it a swealtering 74 in winter and heat the garage and your hot water (correct something an insert wont do with out mods), i could see you using that much. I have a friend who heated their home, yes there were hot and cold spots but they used no more than 1-2 cords a winter to heat the 1500 sqft home with one Buck stove.

I could not imagine coming inside from PA winter into a 74 deg house.

Granted i live in SC but i cant sleep if its any hotter than 68 degrees and then its with the quilt trown off. At 74 i'd have to be naked and have only a sheet barley coving me. We would leave sweat spots in the bed. Agreed even at 7 cords buying it you still come out cheaper than propane. or Fuel oil.

 

[Storm56]

I would not mind it 3-4 degrees cooler but my wife is constantly cold at 70. You know how that goes.

Yes HUGE difference between wood usage in a PA winter vs SC.

 

[broncorm]

Thanks Storm56 answer on using just the two chimney section. One more thing do you have a any kind of chimney cap? All the ones I see around here do not. Some poeple throw buckets over them for the summer. I was think of just putting a cap on when I install so it there when the furncae is not being used
Ron

 

[Storm56]

Thanks Storm56 answer on using just the two chimney section. One more thing do you have a any kind of chimney cap? All the ones I see around here do not. Some poeple throw buckets over them for the summer. I was think of just putting a cap on when I install so it there when the furncae is not being used
Ron

Yes I do have a cap on my stove that allows the stove to be used with it on. It also keeps the rain out and saves me the hassle of putting it on and taking it off every heating season. It is stainless and matches the chimney. It is a Central Boiler accessory. I have never tried to post a pic here, but if someone wants a pic I will try.