Outdoor Furnace

[StoneHeartFarm]

Steve,

I had a couple of additional thoughts about the wood burner situation. First, when I inquired, my insurance carrier told me it would cost about $75.00 per year EXTRA for the insurance. I explained that the burner would be outside and that didn't make any difference. So you may want to check on that to see if it will apply in your area.

Also, I guess it all depends on what you're trying to accomplish. A heat pump is pretty reliant on electric. If you're trying to be able to heat your house when the power is off, the outside boiler can be made to work. But so can an inside stove. Or, are you trying to get into a multi-fuel situation so you can pretty much burn wood if (and when) you feel like it?

My wife and I are also investigating pellet stoves. They can burn wood pellets, cherry pits and corn. I figure I can always grow corn. (All I have to do is figure out how to process it for fuel.) The amp draw appears relatively low and power could probably be run from an inverter and battery system. There are a number of alternate systems available. Definitely shop around. Those big burners are more than a furnace. They're a lifestyle.

SHF

 

[Dan_Ives]

Steve: I have a Central Boiler CL40 woodstove. I heat my house, hot water heater and a small machine shop. The wood that I use to heat my house is mostly dead wood that I get from my 10 acres of hardwoods. The nice thing about a outside wood stove is that you never have to split wood again. I use green wood, wet wood & dead roten wood just about anything. If you get a real big tree just cut them shorter so you can lift them. I spend about 4 days of hard work to get enough wood for the winter. I get my wife to drive my JD 4700 while I put the wood in the bucket and she dumps it off at the wood stove. Some people go to the health club but I go to the woods. Free work out. I save about $1000 a year in my heating cost.
The stove does smoke when it kicks in from the down mode, but only for a short time. Not a problem if you live in the country but might bother your neighbors in town. I burn mine in the summer time and if the windows are open once and a while I can smell smoke. In the summer 3 or 4 pieces of wood will last 3 or more days. Just for heating my hot water heater.
Central Boiler has a 10 year warranty, but they told me they haven't had one fail in 25 years. When I bought my stove 3 other people I work with bought a stove too. They all love them. Compared to my heat pump this heat is a more even warm heat.
One guy bought there biggest stove $12,000 he heats his house, water heater, 48x60 pole barn and his driveway. He owens a tree cutting service.

Dan

 

[Henry]

I own a Taylor WaterStove (e.g. outdoor wood-burning furnace) at our second home. The wood burner was already installed when we bought the place, so I'm not faced with the same ROI question that you've got. Based on on the reading that I've done, if you've got a reasonable cost for gas, oil, or electric, new wood stoves are hard to cost justify.....

However, just look at what's going on in California these days.... just wait, outrageous electric bills could happen to you too!

More on the upside...... the low operating cost is great, cutting and hauling wood is a great way to stay healthy (I think this is a greatest benefit of all).

Things to think about are prevailing winds (you really don't want the smoke blowing across your back porch all day), keep the wood dry (it makes a huge difference in the efficiency and smoke levels), and you can't leave a wood stove unattended in the winter time (usually).

Since I use my second home on an irregular basis, I've rigged the plumbing so that we can drain the boiler quickly and also pump a 50% pink anti-freeze solution into the interior hot water heating pipes. So far it's worked great!

Good luck!
Henry

 

[Henry]

Here's a picture of our Taylor stove

 

[HR_Mutt]

skent
Great subject for a post/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
I wish I had some wisdom to share ref. the outdoor woodstove but my unanswered questions delayed purchase also. We heat our home with 2 hi-eff. wood fireplaces.The 95% LP furnace rarely runs. One observation with wood heat, it seems like below 73 degrees in the house feels like you're standing outside!
It sure is sweet to have the gas guy stop in for a Coke and to swap tales because otherwise I'd only see him once a year/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif instead of monthly.

 

[skent]

Up until last winter, I was ready to buy a pellet stove, but last winter in our area (central MD) there was a SEVERE shortage of pellets and many stoves were cold after January. CT Farm and TSC were sold out and when they would get a truckload, it was usually 6 or 7 skids and within hours they were all sold out, and usually limited customers to 5 or 10 bags each. I worry that when pellet stoves really get popular the price of the pellets is going to go up.

Steve

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Steve,

I have heard of the pellet problem. Several people have reported a shortage of pellets in mid winter. On the other hand, I have talked with several people who have no other source of heat. I asked them how they handle the pellet problem. The answer is simple. They buy a truck load. (I can't remember how much that is, 1 or 2 tons I think). They buy in August. The price is about 1/2 of what you'd pay for an individual bag at the local Quality store. (The guy quoted $2.00 per bag as opposed to $5.00). They are buying this at a Feed and Grain store about 20 miles from here and I understand this store to have the best price on bulk. It makes sense. Nobody wants to gather firewood in the winter. Why buy pellets then?

It might be worth looking into. If this is a power off situation, the stores wouldn't be open to sell pellets anyway.

The only other tip anyone has given me about pellet stoves is buy from a Dealer who sells nothing but wood and pellet stoves. The big box stores don't necessarily sell the best product.

SHF /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[bpence]

Kind of depends on how you define a cord of wood. I always use the federal cord measurement, 4' x 4' x 8'. When I would sell wood on occasion I could get 3 face cords out of a federal cord. I'll bet that can confuse some folks.

Bob Pence

 

[heehaw]

i keep hearing folks around here say they "can" use corn if pellets get to high or in short supply; but has anyone ever tried that??
heehaw

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Skent,

This topic came up for discussion awhile back. When you get some time, go to PAGE 4 of Rural Living and open up the topic 'Experience with outdoor woodburners.' In addition to my comments, you'll find a whole host of useful input. Hope this helps.

Russ