Boiler is the way to go....I think

Jonny006 said:

First off let me just say I am no stranger to wood heat. I LOVE heating with wood and hate being cold. This is a pretty good statement no?

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This is exactly where I started.. I too always burned wood. from a central(not brand name) heating wood furnace to various wood stoves. First let me say keeping the mess in the basement WILL score points with the wife. Also having your heat hooked into your existing system...Priceless.
Now I had never burned a single pellet before last year...BUT I am SO happy with my choice. things that tipped the scale
1) direct vent..Building a 40 foot furnace grade chimney is gonna be $$$ (masonry) ...and if it has 3 sides to the weather(outside house) Its less then desirable
2)wood chimneys can have fires (been there done that)
3)After burning both I feel pellets...way safer (chimney temps seem WAY lower and much more controlled)
4) not having to build a chimney got me heating 1 year sooner
5)didn't loose living space to an indoor chimney (no way was I going to have an exposed chimney yet again)...reason they are cold and add to the creosote problem...chimney fires (scary)
6) after burning pellets , I realize just how much time I put into a wood stove (almost 100% of wood stove maintenance is when the stove requires it...not when you have time)
For me my choice wasn't even close.

JP11 said:

Give up on this winter.

Start getting and SPLITTING wood right now. Not a month from now.

Plan on 15k for a gasser and storage. All the pumps, plumbers and such all add up. Yes, you can certainly do it yourself for less.

A properly integrated wood boiler with storage, and oil boiler for backup is a WONDERFUL thing to run in the winter. Plan your whole project. Right down to where you will store your wood. How it will travel to the boiler.. on and on.

Read and Read here. Take pictures and measurements of your home and yard. Many people here will help. Go SLOW!

JP

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I respectfully disagree with this..."Give up on this winter" A direct vent pellet boiler can go in this season . I installed mine just about this time last year. Long and short of it...I burned 7+ tons last year (plus I was VERY warm) THUS I got one more year savings going toward investment payback.. Also as for changing out your oil boiler???? this wouldn't even be part of my consideration....unless you have $$$ to burn. You can figure this and that till the cows come home. pellet boilers are proven technology....Is there anyone out there who is not happy burning pellets over wood?

If I was going to burn wood again, I would go with gasification (there is absolutely NO WAY I would burn one of those smoke belching outdoor boilers)... I think its somewhat common knowledge gasification needs storage (idling not good) this complicates the install and adds $$$.
I feel good about my carbon footprint too. My pellet boiler only smokes for a few min when first lit. Otherwise NO smoke. IMHO the only wood burner that can compare(smoke wise) is a gasification boiler. Don't procrastinate!

JP11 said:

You could " power vent" your oil boiler.

Depending on your location.. Two appliances in one flue MAY be allowable. In use.. you won't run both at the same time. I have a massive amount of draft with my 45' chimney. I COULD run both and not have an issue. It's kind of foolish how the govt will grandfather something, but now allow new construction.

it's either safe, or it's not. if it's truly unsafe than they should make people change it, no grandfathering.

JP

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I power vented my oil boiler and it only goes on when I periodically turn it on to keep everything operating smoothly. I wasn't happy about having to power vent it due to problems I have heard about with these units, but for my application I think it works great.

Depending on where you are in CT, you will have issues finding an installer. Definitely do yor homework and figure out what YOUR needs are. Some will tell you not to go with storage and some will say you are crazy if you dont. I went throught the same questions and concerns. I also live in CT and having two fuels go in one flue was not permited. My local inspectors also wanted something UL Listed. Not UL approved. I'm currently trying to find an installer. Its tough getting it done. Stay the course and I'm sure you'll enjoy the final result.

I started a thread to find installers in CT.

Not a wood boiler-er, but if you do go propane, you'll need a bigger tank but you'll make room by taking out the fuel oil tank. Plus, I think they make instant, and small, gas heaters that do hot water as well as heat.

Just to throw something else into your thinking....have you considered putting the boiler outside in a small outbuilding? Solves the chimney problem, adds the underground insulated line problem, but completely removes the mess/chimney fire concern completely. Storage could be inside, just the boiler outside (and all the wood stays outside!). Many here have this setup and are quite happy. Losses in the ground are minimal if done right, but of course they are non zero.

If you are using baseboard, you likely need hot water (>140) all the time to heat unless your system was designed with excessive radiators to use lower temp water. Unlikely.

I wouldn't strongly recommend my Garn for baseboard, as the hot water doesn't seem to last forvever. I have radiant so I can heat great with water down to 120. Making DHW is another story. One fire a day in a Garn, no going out and tending. Nice. I assume the smaller garns would be in the same boat, just with less storage.

As for cost, I fifth the mention that you are looking at $15K, not $10K or less.

Keeping all the mess outside is very valuable...