Outside Wood Boiler

   / Outside Wood Boiler #1  

bubbles

New member
Joined
Nov 24, 2011
Messages
10
Im looking to buy a outside wood boiler this fall. I am tired of buying propane to heat with but there are so many diffrent makers and models to chose from. I need some good feed back on the pros and cons. I know i need to burn seasoned wood which is no problem. around hear in southern KY. there is a shaver, taylor and a central boiler dealer I really need some opinions.
 
   / Outside Wood Boiler #2  
I have looked at the central boilers and they seemed ok. In southern KY I would imagine it would take a long time to make up the cost of an outdoor boiler. If you are getting wood for free, then I guess it would be less. Here in northern IL, I think I could pay one off in 3 years or so.

I am now looking into wood add-on furnaces as they are cheaper and you don't have to go outside to fill it. Of course then that leaves the mess in your house and you have the hassle of having to run triple wall chimney through your house. And of course these only work if you already have for air heating already. The boiler is good if you already use a boiler I guess. Just a thought.
 
   / Outside Wood Boiler #3  
Im looking to buy a outside wood boiler this fall. I am tired of buying propane to heat with but there are so many diffrent makers and models to chose from. I need some good feed back on the pros and cons. I know i need to burn seasoned wood which is no problem. around hear in southern KY. there is a shaver, taylor and a central boiler dealer I really need some opinions.

I have a classic central boiler and it is great. I heat the house(3500 sq ft 1832 farm house) and my water. The classic is not epa rated and does smoke a bit when first loaded, however I think the smoke issue is a little over blown. If your not right on top of your neighbors it's not bad. It is very simple to use, I load it twice a day, but most days I could get away with one. The down side is they use a lot of wood, but if you have a free wood source, who cares. We keep between 72 and 75 degrees all winter and the wife loves that.
 
   / Outside Wood Boiler #4  
No reason to burn "seasoned" wood in an outside boiler,they work better with green wood.My son has a Central,burns about 30 cord a year in upstate NY.Central makes a more efficent model for more money but is only suppose to burn 10-12 cords per year.If you have to buy wood.................may not be the way to go.
 
   / Outside Wood Boiler #5  
I have a Central Boiler since 2004. I heat my 1900 sq ft home, hot water, spa, 900 sq ft attached garage as well as my 5000 sq ft pole building with about 12 cords a season. If I did not heat the pole building I am sure I could get by for about 8 1/2 cord. If your son is burning 30 cord there is something amiss. Any chance he is talking face cord? That would make sense.

Seasoned wood is far better than trying to burn green wood. Maybe that is why he appears to be burning so much. Seasoned wood produces FAR less smoke and you are not wasting energy burning the moisture out of the wood. Plus we need to keep as low a profile as possible as far as smoke is concerned, the less smoke the better. The greenies are hard at work trying to shut us down.
 
   / Outside Wood Boiler #6  
The green wood in outdoor boilers thing--everything I have ever read says Storm56 is right, burn seasoned wood. Green wood has to have the moisture cooked out of it which reduces efficiency.

On the other hand, the guy I hire for excavator work swears green is better. His outdoor boiler heats his house, his MIL's house and his workshop. His wood is free as he collects it in 20 foot lengths that fit into his dumptruck from his various jobs. There are very few excavator jobs that don't involve trees here :laughing: He takes it all, soft or hard wood and de-branches the logs onsite using the excavator bucket with the thumb.

I am curious why people have come to think green is better in these boilers. Any thoughts?
 
   / Outside Wood Boiler #7  
Outside wood boiler?

Doesn't matter if you boil your wood outside or inside, it is still too tough to eat.

Makes it easier to bend, though.

:)

Bruce
 
   / Outside Wood Boiler #8  
The green wood in outdoor boilers thing--everything I have ever read says Storm56 is right, burn seasoned wood. Green wood has to have the moisture cooked out of it which reduces efficiency.

On the other hand, the guy I hire for excavator work swears green is better. His outdoor boiler heats his house, his MIL's house and his workshop. His wood is free as he collects it in 20 foot lengths that fit into his dumptruck from his various jobs. There are very few excavator jobs that don't involve trees here :laughing: He takes it all, soft or hard wood and de-branches the logs onsite using the excavator bucket with the thumb.

I am curious why people have come to think green is better in these boilers. Any thoughts?

I have had mine for five years and in my experience, seasoned is better. I think there is less smoke and the cycles are shorter. Wet wood takes longer to get the boiler water up to temp. and therefore less efficient than seasoned.
 
   / Outside Wood Boiler #9  
I have a Central Boiler since 2004. I heat my 1900 sq ft home, hot water, spa, 900 sq ft attached garage as well as my 5000 sq ft pole building with about 12 cords a season. If I did not heat the pole building I am sure I could get by for about 8 1/2 cord. If your son is burning 30 cord there is something amiss. Any chance he is talking face cord? That would make sense.

Seasoned wood is far better than trying to burn green wood. Maybe that is why he appears to be burning so much. Seasoned wood produces FAR less smoke and you are not wasting energy burning the moisture out of the wood. Plus we need to keep as low a profile as possible as far as smoke is concerned, the less smoke the better. The greenies are hard at work trying to shut us down.
Sure, makes sense that if your using all that heat energy driving the moisture out. Good call on the smoke as well. It's not the "greenies" that are going to shut you down, it's your neighbors.
 
   / Outside Wood Boiler #10  
Sure, makes sense that if your using all that heat energy driving the moisture out. Good call on the smoke as well. It's not the "greenies" that are going to shut you down, it's your neighbors.

I have no close neighbors so that is not too much of a concern in my case, but you are absolutely correct in that they can make "smoke" for you in return! What I was referring to are the "do gooders", you know, the extreme save the planet environment types. I have no problem with reasonable regulation but this over the top stuff has got to be curtailed a bit. Extremism is problematic whether it is left or right.
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2009 Lexus RX 350 SUV (A50324)
2009 Lexus RX 350...
(4) Beams (A50121)
(4) Beams (A50121)
2012 Chevrolet Cruz Sedan (A50324)
2012 Chevrolet...
Club Car Electric Utility Cart (A51694)
Club Car Electric...
12' Disc Harrow (A50120)
12' Disc Harrow...
2015 Chevrolet 3500 HD (A50120)
2015 Chevrolet...
 
Top