Suggestions on an OWB

Hi all - Just trying to get an opinion on OWB (like a CB 1450). My house is 2500 square feet and I've been using oil almost exclusively for heat and hot water. I do have a VC Defiant but haven't used it much as the wife gets nervous about it. My house is 10 years old, pretty well insulated, etc. Last year I used about 800 gallons of oil at around $3.70 a gallon. About the same amount the year before as well. Just doing some quick math I've spent about $6000 over the last 2 years on oil. I was looking for any opinions from current or previous owners. Good and bad. I don't mind cutting wood so that isn't an issue. I do work 12 hr shifts though and am gone from the house for 13hrs minimum when working with travel time, etc. so I'm looking for a pretty good burn time on one. Any advice is appreciated.

OK....here's my update. Brand new CB 1450 is $11000 minus $600 rebate. I pick up 1.5 hrs away. $10400 plus whatever neighbor charges to go with his truck and trailer. Same neighbor has a 2008 CB 2300 phase 2. I think it has 400+ gallon water tank in it. He wants $5000 for it. Good deal? Anyone run this particular model that can chime in? Price good for this 6 year old model? Just as a comparison the new CB 1400 is about $11500 from the dealership. Thanks for any advice.

IIuote="NE WOOD BURNER, post: 1738870, member: 25754"]Eaglerock: Welcome to the Hearth!

If you are not sold on an OWB, You are in the right spot. Read through and enjoy! The contributors here are committed to clean efficient burning.

there is high, middle and low price ranges on the indoor gassifiers. On this forum you will see all brands and they all work well. Some take more and some take less user input to get up to a satisfactory performance level.

Currently we know very little about your home you are trying to heat. known: 2500s.f.

1.most efficient: boiler and thermal storage in home
2.boiler in outbuilding divorced thermal storage in home
3.boiler and thermal storage in out building

Consideration should be given to ease of use because With your extended day most likely others will need to operate your boiler. with that in mind I would consider high end units.

Disclosure: I am not a dealer or installer. I am in market for a boiler and initially was leaning toward OWB-gasser, but $ scared me into further education. Been burning solely wood for years. Last year burned oil solely just to have a good baseline for actual heat load and ease.

Suggestion: obtain wood now if you have no dry wood ready. Cut and split and stack. I would cut 16" in case you can get by with smaller boiler.

Fire away with more details on home and enjoy the education and helpful characters you will meet.[/quote]
I

I do have 8 cord cut and split already. Rarely used the wood stove last year as my wife gets nervous about the fire in the house. Only time it was used was when I was home. I thought the 2300 might be too big as well which is why I was asking opinions on that.

My house was built in 2003. Insulated foundation so the basement is pretty warm in the winter with no heat source. I have 2 car garage under the front if the house which we rarely use. Living level is 70 feet long with 2 bedrooms on 1 end and master on the other. Large open living room with 20 foot cathedral ceiling. House is pretty air tight. I have a system 2000 furnace with in demand oil fired hot water. Wife and 2 kids of which one likes long hit showers. Guess which one.

I have no current storage but do have room. I guess I'm asking if I should just try out the 2300 since the price is right or will I have issues.
Thanks

Sorry for the typos in my last post as I'm using my phone for this.

hobbyheater said:

Some questions?
Do bylaws in your local allow OWB's?
How close is your nearest neighbor ?

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My zoning officer told me I have nothing to worry about as I'm on about 10 acres....setbacks, etc will be ok. My nearest neighbor is a good distance - probably 2500+ feet away. Plus he already has one (actually 2). He is the one that had an older CB 5036, took it out and installed this CB 2400 but now says he wants to go back to his old one. He said it isn't heating his barn the way the old one did. Which is why I became skeptical when he just threw it out there that he would sell it for $5000. I thought (from what I've read) that the 2400 would be too much for me and cause the problems that everyone has already mentioned. I guess my comparison would be burning the wood stove too cool, building up the creosote in my chimney. Of course he said no way but I know he wants to unload the unit pretty badly. He forgets I was in sales for 15+ years. I've seen the "No problem" response before. The dealer I contacted told me the 1450 is all I'd need. They haven't sold the 1400 in 3 years. So I guess I'd be looking at the 1450.

Also, from what I'm told, any "new" boilers in NY have to have that EPA hangtag of "Phase 2" which for the OWB discussion leaves me with limited selection if I go that route.

flyingcow said:

Eagle rock, are you any kind of a DIY'r? Buy a good gasser and build your own storage. Put the gasser in 8x12 insualted building, run underground to storage that is located in the house. I have my boiler next door in an unattached garage. Storage is in basement.

When you get a minute look at you tube and search for gassification boilers.

Do a google search for Tarm, Vigas, Econoburn, GARN, Eko, and others here will chime for their favorite brand of gasser.

I think even a 30k unit will work good. System 2000? Nice oil set up. How many btu's is the oil boiler you have now?

Good to hear you have 8 cord dried. Now go do 8 more cord for 2 winters from now.

Pay attention to what Hobby heater posted for his experience. He's been there done that.

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I'm a bit of a DIY'er but have limited time to get things done. Wife doesn't want involvement in it - she basically says do what you need to do but we better be warm in winter. Forgive my ignorance but I don't know the BTU's of the furnace. I know it has 4 zones of which we don't even use 1 of them (loft). Really dumb question but what is meant by "storage" in the basement? The reason I was gonna research the OWB is because of the simplicity of the set up. My run from house to boiler could be as short as I want it as I feel I could put it anyplace and still have it not be an eyesore. I figured the OWB would be the easiest route. No?

In my original post I said 13 hr days which was kind of misleading. I do have the ability to get home most work days even a few times a day as long as it isn't crazy so I could refill most work days.

Also, the dealer I spoke with stated "from his experience I should use about 4 cords per season". He said that's from previous customers that have bought the 1450. I know everyone is different but it's a starting point I guess.

Before I forget - we don't use the garage because it's already crammed with 4 wheelers, etc. Believe me, I'd love to get into a car with no snow in the dead of winter!!