Looking for wood/gas (propane) combo boiler

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gimmegas

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Nov 26, 2012
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Moving to Maine in a year or so and want to get an efficient gasifier combination wood/gas boiler to heat a new home of about 2500 sq ft. Don't know of any distributors in ME for Biomass but would like to find one if anyone knows of any up that way. Also if anyone has used the combo version, what do you like/dislike about them? Would also entertain looking at other makes/models if they can be found there (Maine). I'm new to the forum but have really picked up some great info so far. Thanks.
 
If going propane for the backup, I would get 2 separate units. That way you can buy very efficient versions of each.

The only real advantage to a combo unit is common flue when using oil/wood. Since your fossil fuel is propane, you won't need a flue as you can direct vent the high efficiency models through PVC.

ac
 
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Sounds like excellent advice,besides that would give you a true backup since there is a good chance that if there was a fault with a combo unit it would be rendered useless for both fuels.
 
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Welcome to the forum. Stick around, do some reading and ask lots of questions.
This place is great and has extremely intelligent and knowledgable people who willing to help.
I'm not sure if there is a wood/propane combo but there are definitely wood/oil and wood/pellet units out there.

Sounds like you have plenty of time to do some research so take it slow and get informed.
 
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There is a user on here that is considering becoming a dealer for biomass boilers. Located in Freeport. He had contacted me last spring not sure what he decided. I can pm you his name if you want to talk to him.
 
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If going propane for the backup, I would get 2 separate units. That way you can buy very efficient versions of each.

The only real advantage to a combo unit is common flue when using oil/wood. Since your fossil fuel is propane, you won't need a flue as you can direct vent the high efficiency models through PVC.

ac

Great advice here. To go a step further... if you are planning and building this home. Plan for an easy entrance and storage for wood to your boiler room. You could make a garage, that wasn't a garage, maybe a smaller, narrow garage type door.. wide enough to drop in pallets of wood. Plan for a nice 1000 gal tank in the storage room.

Plan for your propane backup.. and use propane for your clothes dryer and maybe even your oven. A backup generator could be pretty small if all it was powering was circulators or a small propane boiler. BONUS.. the propane is stored outdoors and doesn't take up floor space.

If I had it to do over.. I'd be that way for sure.

JP
 
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While we're planning his house, I'd add make the boiler at ground level. Either in a daylight basement or in a mechanical room off your mudroom. Ideally it would be isolated from your house but accessible without having to go outside. Add plenty of room for wood storage.
 
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While we're planning his house, I'd add make the boiler at ground level. Either in a daylight basement or in a mechanical room off your mudroom. Ideally it would be isolated from your house but accessible without having to go outside. Add plenty of room for wood storage.

That's what I was trying to say.. Garage door.. but obviously a narrow one so insurance couldn't call it a garage. Long and skinny would work. 1000 gal tank for water storage.. and could hold a couple cords right inside. Gotta have NO door from there to real garage. But made to stay inside to feed boiler in your slippers.
 
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I have a set of French doors,6' wide. Just big enough drive a utv or small trailer through. Would be great size for dropping pallets. Coupled with a pallet jack one would reduce the handling quite a bit.
 
In maine now you can use one flue for two units,,they changed the laws here.

That's not really true. They said it was not allowed anymore. Then after a few year rescinded the new law... and said if you had it prior to some year... I wanna say 90s.. then it was grandfathered.

JP
 
click on the we
That's not really true. They said it was not allowed anymore. Then after a few year rescinded the new law... and said if you had it prior to some year... I wanna say 90s.. then it was grandfathered.

JP
click on the web site site i put just above this,they will send you the new laws,I have them,the grandfather in is still there BUT you can add another unit now,its true.http://www.mainewoodfurnaces.com/ it something they just did, Has to be ul listed, a carbon monoxide by bedroom,good chimney,installed according to mf. instalation specs, they will e-mail the whole thing to you theres 4 pages i just got this last week.
 
click on the we

click on the web site site i put just above this,they will send you the new laws,I have them,the grandfather in is still there BUT you can add another unit now,its true.http://www.mainewoodfurnaces.com/ it something they just did, Has to be ul listed, a carbon monoxide by bedroom,good chimney,installed according to mf. instalation specs, they will e-mail the whole thing to you theres 4 pages i just got this last week.

Good to know.. I'll get the law. Makes my install MORE legal. still not perfect. but the solution works for me.
 
From what i read just says UL. listed, which most are anyways, I tried to post them on here but I am not good with this thing,lol. You just have to read them all over you see what I mean.
 
If going propane for the backup, I would get 2 separate units. That way you can buy very efficient versions of each.

The only real advantage to a combo unit is common flue when using oil/wood. Since your fossil fuel is propane, you won't need a flue as you can direct vent the high efficiency models through PVC.

ac
ac
Thanks. It seems as there is a lot of agreement w/ your advice. Will definitely look into the two separate unit idea.
 
Sounds like excellent advice,besides that would give you a true backup since there is a good chance that if there was a fault with a combo unit it would be rendered useless for both fuels.
Good thought, Jeff, esp. since it would need electric to operate, right?
 
Welcome to the forum. Stick around, do some reading and ask lots of questions.
This place is great and has extremely intelligent and knowledgable people who willing to help.
I'm not sure if there is a wood/propane combo but there are definitely wood/oil and wood/pellet units out there.

Sounds like you have plenty of time to do some research so take it slow and get informed.
Thanks, infinity. I really do have much to learn. This site is awesome!
 
There is a user on here that is considering becoming a dealer for biomass boilers. Located in Freeport. He had contacted me last spring not sure what he decided. I can pm you his name if you want to talk to him.
MFM, yes, I'd definitely like to talk to him. Thank you.
 
Great advice here. To go a step further... if you are planning and building this home. Plan for an easy entrance and storage for wood to your boiler room. You could make a garage, that wasn't a garage, maybe a smaller, narrow garage type door.. wide enough to drop in pallets of wood. Plan for a nice 1000 gal tank in the storage room.

Plan for your propane backup.. and use propane for your clothes dryer and maybe even your oven. A backup generator could be pretty small if all it was powering was circulators or a small propane boiler. BONUS.. the propane is stored outdoors and doesn't take up floor space.

If I had it to do over.. I'd be that way for sure.

JP
Thanks, JP. Yes, I'm in the planning stage. Planning a walk out basement w/ one end of it for the gasifier and wood storage. Putting in a bulkhead 4' wide to chuck the wood into the basement from my pick- up truck ( and to put the unit in the basement). That brings up anther question. To this point I've devoted 13' x 30' of my structure for the wood and boiler. What do you think? Enough for the winter supply?
 
While we're planning his house, I'd add make the boiler at ground level. Either in a daylight basement or in a mechanical room off your mudroom. Ideally it would be isolated from your house but accessible without having to go outside. Add plenty of room for wood storage.
MFM, I'm doing a walk out basement. My reply to JP pretty much sums it up. Would appreciate your input on space too. 13' by 30' enough for everything? I will need to go down to the basement to feed the beast. I don't mind. I'm thinking of doing radiant heat in the floor. What do think about that?
 
That's what I was trying to say.. Garage door.. but obviously a narrow one so insurance couldn't call it a garage. Long and skinny would work. 1000 gal tank for water storage.. and could hold a couple cords right inside. Gotta have NO door from there to real garage. But made to stay inside to feed boiler in your slippers.
1000 gallons? Really? Seems like a lot, but I'm a gasifier virgin. That will probably increase my space requirements? I do plan on using it for DHW too, at least in the winter. I told Mikefrommaine that I am looking into radiant floor heating. Probably on demand HW in the summer w/ gas. Does that sound good? Any thoughts?
 
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