I need to make up my mind! Gasification Boiler with Storage for New House

henfruit said:

Maple, If you have no controls at all, how do you control the draft if it is very windy?

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Standard barometric damper. So if you consider that a control per se, well, it is controlled then.

Lets not let this get off on a personal rampage against or for our boilers.

I just wanted to post some pertinent information that directly relates to the OP

WoodWacker let us know what you choose.

TS

For what it's worth, my boiler's ID fan is about as loud as the refrigerator.

Entire system (boiler ID fan, controller, Taco 0010, 3 Caleffi 24V zone valves, Taco 006 injection pump at 60%, and Taco 008, and the two timers and control relays) all draw a total of 366 Watts (3.05A x 120V). And you saw my electric bill, so don't be scared.





TS

I spent 4.5 years researching Gasifiers before I finally got brave enough to jump in the game. I am a very happy user now. I narrowed my choices down to 2 brands that fit my plans of current and future uses. Ultimately my first choice was not my first pick. I based my decision on multiple factors listed as my highest priority to lowest. I am just as satisfied with the end result as I would have been with my other choice. Here is how I prioritize .
1st: I considered overall complete design and effectiveness of the boiler
2nd: I considered the manufacturer and local dealers in all aspects
3rd: I considered the efficiency of the boiler
Last : I considered the cost of the boiler
Both brands in my opinion were equal in complete design, effectiveness, efficiency and cost. Both have 20 or more year warranty in some fashion. Both manufacturers are TOP NOTCH!!
I honestly was leaning toward a proud AMERICAN -NEW YORK STATE produced boiler (Econoburn) and I am greatly saddened by the fact that my first choice was not my first pick. It came down to other costs as the Great Divider. Not the cost of the boiler, because they were relatively close in cost. It came down to complete installation costs by my bidding contractors. The winning bidder was a retired gentlemen whom is a Tarm/ Scandec/ Froling dealer on the side as a hobby. Hence , I got a very good deal on the entire package. Don't get fixated on one particular boiler, especially if it only comes down to fan wattage. I always believe you get what u pay for. This type of long term investment should be money well spent. I wish you only good luck-----------

bmblank said:

I love my Tarm. I'm surprised how much heat it puts out. I wouldn't run a Gasser without storage though. I have ~1600 gallons unpressurized and I make a fire every other day for the most part. Pretty much two firebox-fulls will get me to the next fire. Right now my system isn't built right, so my storage is going from about 120 to 165, sometimes if I don't mind it idling I can load it up and get it to 180.

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Interested in your 'home Made' storage. Is it in ground or in a purpose built boiler shed? Basement? Just curious. And did your really get a 24-48 hour turn over on one burn this past winter? That would be amazing! What part of Michigan are you in? I'm in the northern lower and am interested in your setup.

I'm in Cadillac. My storage is a repurposed fuel tank that was dug out of the ground. The end was cut off for scrap reasons, but we welded one back on. We put what is essentially a extended man hole cover into it to make sure we can get as much water in there as we can. Insulated it with a closed cell spray on foam. The foam gets a hard shell. We buried that outside the basement wall. There are three coils inside the tank (soon to be 4 hopefully). 2 of the coils are in parallel inside the tank, those are the heating coils, and then there is a domestic coil. Everything is plumbed to Tarm's diagram stss-2 I think it is. I'll see if I can find that diagram. And maybe I'll see if I can find some pictures to load.
Edit: oh, yeah. In the winter I've been making a for every other day or so. Sometimes I could stretch it out, others times I end up with a cold shower. But mainly I'd make a fire when I get home and burn hard, refilling every 3 or 4 hours. Load it up one last time before bed at 11 or 12. If it needs it maybe I'll fill it when I wake up, or some time during the night, but that's usually enough.

bmblank said:

I'm in Cadillac. My storage is a repurposed fuel tank that was dug out of the ground. The end was cut off for scrap reasons, but we welded one back on. We put what is essentially a extended man hole cover into it to make sure we can get as much water in there as we can. Insulated it with a closed cell spray on foam. The foam gets a hard shell. We buried that outside the basement wall. There are three coils inside the tank (soon to be 4 hopefully). 2 of the coils are in parallel inside the tank, those are the heating coils, and then there is a domestic coil. Everything is plumbed to Tarm's diagram stss-2 I think it is. I'll see if I can find that diagram. And maybe I'll see if I can find some pictures to load.

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I like the idea of using something in ground like that. How thick is your spray foam on the tank? Seems like it would need to be plenty thick to avoid heat loss. Do I assume there isn't any snow melt above the tank? Also, what type of home do you have? Just trying to compare, my home is an old, moderately insulated two story farm house with forced air.

The spray foam is 6 inches I believe. The snow is thinner, but doesn't melt completely, except over the manhole cover. I just need to insulate that better.
My house is a new ranch style. Insulated concrete form (ICF) basement, 6 inch stick built first floor. Staple up radiant heat, no forced air for this guy. Right now the basement gets whatever doesn't go up, but I'm looking to put some insulation under the pex. Basement is just unfinished right now. Probably stays about the same temp as the main floor currently.
The house is decently insulated, but it's not air tight or anything.

I was wondering about what would happen with no foil heat barrier underneath the pex.. good to know. But sounds like your place is hands down more energy efficient than mine. Checked out tarm's site and they have 0 dealers in Michigan. You must have gone to Wisconsin huh? What kind of coils did you install in the tank? Thanks for the info!

Oh, yeah, I do currently have the bubble foil under the pex.
We got the boiler right through woodboilers.com.
Baby's crying, gotta go.