Outdoor Wood Boiler, what do you have, any problems with it?

[blucoondawg]

I am trying to gather some info on different brands of OWB's, I live in Northern Wisconsin and I know quite a few people with OWB's but they only seem to be a couple different models which are popular here, and I know many of them have had problems with the firebox rusting through and leaking. What brands/models do you folks burn, how long has the unit been in service, and have you had any problems such as rusting out or leaking? I am only looking for response from people with experience or who know someone who has had experience, I am not interested in opinions from people who are going to tell me wood stoves are bad for pollution, too much work, inefficient, dangerous, etc. I have dealt with cutting firewood my whole life, I believe in my circumstances it is much more economical than any fossil fuel heat.

I am currently running an add-on forced air woodstove in my basement with a propane furnace I use for backup, but am considering going to the outside burner next year for many reasons, mainly the wife claims her allergies are worse in the winter with the little bit of wood smoke in the house, and my masonry chimney is getting in rough shape and I don't really feel like building a new one, I'd rather get rid of the mess in the basement, also having the burner outside gives me a little added peace of mind knowing there is no danger of a chimney fire in the house.

So far I have seen Central, Johnson, Cadillac, and Aqua Therm around my area, I wouldn't touch a Johnson or a Cadillac with a 10 ft pole, these are very popular here as there is a local shop who built them, that shop went out of business and changed owners but I'm not sure if the quality of the product has improved. It seems Central and Aqua Therm have the best record from what I have seen for durability, though the Aqua Therm is a lower water capacity sealed system.

 

[Rustyiron]

I have an indoor wood boiler. It's the same idea but without the enclosure. It is what is called a gasification or "gasser". What that does in simple terms, is burn the wood and all the gasses that are created when the wood is heated up. These gasses are (very) basically the *creosote and some ash that usually are not burned with a regular wood burning device. I would recomend spending some time over at Hearth.com Forums Home and look at the "boiler room" section. Keep in mind that some over there are kinda OWB snobs, but I think that is from the reputation of the early "smoke dragons", and the folks that used them that burned everything from green wood to RR ties and tires in them. There are now OWB's that are "gassers" and they have come along way. I've read of several happy folks with a Portage & Main OWB.
Just remember to use well seasoned (dry) wood, at least c/s/s for one year, and I would recomend a gasser. When up to temp and running, there is NO visible smoke. And a pressurised unit as well. For the heck of it I'll give the link to my boiler. Keep doing your homework and good luck!

http://www.alternateheatingsystems.com/index.htm

* This is useable fuel and will greatly reduce your ammount of wood use.

 

[RickB]

My neighbor has an OWB about 120 feet away from and 25 feet uphill from my house. Air drainage in calm conditions make it the single most obnoxious thing I have to put up with. Nothing more aggrivating than having to close up the house on a nice evening just because of the neighbor's heat source. He must use it to heat domestic hot water and maybe his pool because it is used year-around.

 

[TCJatko]

Slightly off topic, but if your chimney is marginal have you thought about getting it relined? As I understand the process, a stainless steel flue is installed and the remaining space filled with high-temperature-resistant concrete. Sure beats building a new chimney.

 

[blucoondawg]

Slightly off topic, but if your chimney is marginal have you thought about getting it relined? As I understand the process, a stainless steel flue is installed and the remaining space filled with high-temperature-resistant concrete. Sure beats building a new chimney.

Relining wouldn't do me a lot of good, my concrete blocks are getting cracked up on the outside rather badly, I am going to mix up a batch of mortar and go up there and patch it up best I can for this year but it will need a new chimney if I want to keep using it. I think the biggest problem is it goes up the outside of my house rather than through the inside and out the roof, I have been told having them completely outside like this is hard on them, I assume because of the drastic temp changes every time the fire goes out and is restarted.

 

[blucoondawg]

My neighbor has an OWB about 120 feet away from and 25 feet uphill from my house. Air drainage in calm conditions make it the single most obnoxious thing I have to put up with. Nothing more aggrivating than having to close up the house on a nice evening just because of the neighbor's heat source. He must use it to heat domestic hot water and maybe his pool because it is used year-around.

If it causes you such problems why don't you call someone at your local zoning office, there is probably something that can be done about that, I know here there is no permit or anything needed to install a boiler but if a neighbor does what you are describing we can contact the county and the health department will come out and if it is a situation where the smoke is continually coming in your house they will do something about it.

 

[Domush]

If it causes you such problems why don't you call someone at your local zoning office, there is probably something that can be done about that, I know here there is no permit or anything needed to install a boiler but if a neighbor does what you are describing we can contact the county and the health department will come out and if it is a situation where the smoke is continually coming in your house they will do something about it.

Or they will come out, point you out as a nagging neighbor, do nothing about the problem and cause a neighbor feud of epic proportions, so much so you end up selling your house and moving to regain a semblance of peace and tranquility. Ask how I know..

Sent from my SCH-I500 using TractorByNet

 

[stingray1]

If it causes you such problems why don't you call someone at your local zoning office, there is probably something that can be done about that, I know here there is no permit or anything needed to install a boiler but if a neighbor does what you are describing we can contact the county and the health department will come out and if it is a situation where the smoke is continually coming in your house they will do something about it.

I would try and talk to my neighbor about this first,this would me a last resort,at least in my neck of the woods.

 

[nybirdman]

My son has a Central boiler(on the third year),they have a good reputation in our area.We have two dealers in the general area and they have sold quite a few.

 

[RickB]

I would try and talk to my neighbor about this first,this would me a last resort,at least in my neck of the woods.

I posted my experience to point out the disadvantages of living next to one of these contraptions. Local regulations are limited to the state DEC in this instance. I don't expect my neighbor to quit using his OWB and go back to buying $4.00 heating oil to be neighborly. I know people that have OWB's and other people who live next to OWB's. Needless to say, opinions vary.
An outright ban on their use between May 1 and Oct 1 or something similar would probably be something I could live with.