Pardon my ignorance but what is a wood boiler?

[Swedishchef]

Hey guys

I am relatively new to the wood burning industry. I know all about wood stoves, furnaces and pellet stoves.

However, boilers I know nothing about. Correct me if I am wrong: the heat from the boiler warms water that passes through the house to warm it? In floor heat? Do they make pellet ones as well?

Thanks in advance

Andrew

 

[BoilerMan]

Yes a boiler of any type uses the fuel (wood, pellet, oil, gas etc.) to heat water. This water can in turn be used to heat your house, domestic hot water or whatever you may need heat for. This is done through any of the following: baseboard, cast iron readitors, in-floor radiant, panel radiators, fan coils, pool heat exchangers, etc etc.

There are pellet boilers form many manufactures as well.

TS

 

[PassionForFire&Water]

Hey guys

I am relatively new to the wood burning industry. I know all about wood stoves, furnaces and pellet stoves.

However, boilers I know nothing about. Correct me if I am wrong: the heat from the boiler warms water that passes through the house to warm it? In floor heat? Do they make pellet ones as well?

Thanks in advance

Andrew

Check out this animation of the WindHager BioWIN pellet boiler

 

[Swedishchef]

What is the most popular way to heat with a boiler? In floor heating? Radiation?

Where in Maine do you live Taylor? I am originally from New Brunswick.

Thanks Marc. I can't believe a delivery truck can actually deliver pellets. Does that really happen?

 

[BoilerMan]

I'm in Mapleton, lived in the Fort Kent/Cross lake region when I was younger though. Been to NB many times.

TS

 

[Clarkbug]

What is the most popular way to heat with a boiler? In floor heating? Radiation?

Where in Maine do you live Taylor? I am originally from New Brunswick.

Thanks Marc. I can't believe a delivery truck can actually deliver pellets. Does that really happen?

I dont know if there is a most popular way, but most homes today would probably use fin tube baseboard. For years cast iron radiators were used, but the fin tube has largely replaced them. There are also hot water convectors and radiant panels. So lots of choices! In floor heating has become more popular in recent years.

And yes, delivery trucks can deliver bulk pellets. Very similar to trucks that deliver grain for farms.

 

[Swedishchef]

Too bad they don't deliver pellets like that in my neck of the woods! I must look into this boiler way of heating a home. It sounds very practical!

 

[PassionForFire&Water]

You don't necessarily need bulk pellet delivery with one of these pressurized trucks.

You can start out with manually feeding the pellet hopper.
Most pellet boilers hold 8 to 10 bags of 40 Lbs.That is 320 Lbs to 400 Lbs.
Depending the size of your house and heat load this will last 3 to 4 days before you need to refill the pellet hopper.

Another option is to build a 1 ton or 2 ton wooden pellet bin and fill this also with 40 Lb bags.
More labor intensive, but way less labor intensive then cutting&splitting wood.

 

[Swedishchef]

That is very impressive. And I find it quite interesting. Are they gaining popularity?

Andrew