soot from indoor boilers?

the only thing that is unavoidable with an IWB is the mess from cleaning...when I clean the chimney and elbows most of the work happens from the backside in my kitchen.

I wouldn't say it's unavoidable for all IWBs. No mess here. Unless I do something dumb like drop a scoop of ash on the floor. Haven't cleaned my chimney in going on 4 years, that's one thing out of the equation. So likely depends on the boiler.

I have a IWB as well. Soot isn't an issue. I asked many questions in this same forum regarding which unit to buy. Ultimately I came to the conclusion I wanted something flexible. I didn't want to be locked in with wood or pellets. I chose a unit from Woodmaster called the FlexFuel. It's worked PHENOMENALLY. Wouldn't change a thing. My wife can turn it on with no issues. I have 1000 gallons of storage. I'm currentlyi n the process of installing panel radiators. I've sized them for 140° temp water. my tanks came from them as well. The round button is my igniter. It works great. I press it and it ignites lighting the wood. It has a gas extraction option that I press and hold the round button and it sucks the smoke up preventing it from coming inside when I open the door. I can change from wood to pellets in 2 minutes. It's simply changing a metal grate in the fire box. Pellets in my area are expensive. Oils is cheaper but wood for me is free. Love my options. Flexibility and ease of use were key for me and my family.

I have a IWB as well. Soot isn't an issue. I asked many questions in this same forum regarding which unit to buy. Ultimately I came to the conclusion I wanted something flexible. I didn't want to be locked in with wood or pellets. I chose a unit from Woodmaster called the FlexFuel. It's worked PHENOMENALLY. Wouldn't change a thing.View attachment 173636My wife can turn it on with no issues. I have 1000 gallons of storage. I'm currentlyi n the process of installing panel radiators. I've sized them for 140° temp water. my tanks came from them as well. The round button is my igniter. It works great. I press it and it ignites lighting the wood. It has a gas extraction option that I press and hold the round button and it sucks the smoke up preventing it from coming inside when I open the door. I can change from wood to pellets in 2 minutes. It's simply changing a metal grate in the fire box. Pellets in my area are expensive. Oils is cheaper but wood for me is free. Love my options. Flexibility and ease of use were key for me and my family.View attachment 173634View attachment 173634 View attachment 173635

RedWingsfan said:

Thanks guys, I'm glad I found this forum to help weed through that stuff. I wonder how many people are using OWBs and for those that own them if they would buy again? What IWB would you guys recommend if you don't mind me asking?

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We have used OWB's for years to heat our home and domestic water. I love them and would buy another one tomorrow if something happened to mine. I never have the mess of soot and smoke in the house. My unit puts out a fair amount of smoke but I never breath it directly. I'm sure the emissions it puts out are very negligible compared to all the cars on the road or the many wildfires that occur every year. I especially like that I can burn the southern species of pine in it. I wouldn't be comfortable burning it in anything indoors. I am probably in the minority on here when it comes to OWB's. They seem to catch a lot of flack. Their are some really good ones out there just do your homework.

RedWingsfan said:

Yes, it seems like everyone I have talked to except one person really doesn't recommend them in these parts of Michigan. Doesn't mean there aren't fans here, but I haven't seemed to run into many of them.

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I think a lot of people have been burned by shady companies that make inferior products and by shoddy installs. The company that makes the boiler I have has been in business since the late 70's, makes a good product, and has good customer service. My boiler heats my home cleanly, cheaply, and efficiently. I'm satisfied[emoji846]

RedWingsfan said:

what brand? Maybe I should take a second look.

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http://hardyheater.com/Products/products.html

People down my way use Hardy's and Central Boiler's almost exclusively. No one really does indoor boilers. Granted our winters are nowhere near as harsh as yours would be up in Michigan. I heat my house about 5-6 months and my domestic water 365 days a year with it. The house is 2600 sq/ft and i burn 5-7 chords per year. Depending on the weather. Everyone's situation is different. I have zero neighbors within two miles and plenty of land with plenty of wood on it. My boiler is situated so that smoke never gets near my house and all of the mess associated with wood heat stays outside. My favorite thing about these style heaters is that they will literally burn ANYTHING that you can fit through the door and I mean ANYTHING! I'm not suggesting that you should burn anything other than well seasoned wood on a regular basis. However it is nice to have the option to heat my home and water from time to time with "things" that would other wise go to waste. In my opinion they are the ultimate multi-fuel heater.

StihlKicking said:

http://hardyheater.com/Products/products.html

People down my way use Hardy's and Central Boiler's almost exclusively. No one really does indoor boilers. Granted our winters are nowhere near as harsh as yours would be up in Michigan. I heat my house about 5-6 months and my domestic water 365 days a year with it. The house is 2600 sq/ft and i burn 5-7 chords per year. Depending on the weather. Everyone's situation is different. I have zero neighbors within two miles and plenty of land with plenty of wood on it. My boiler is situated so that smoke never gets near my house and all of the mess associated with wood heat stays outside. My favorite thing about these style heaters is that they will literally burn ANYTHING that you can fit through the door and I mean ANYTHING! I'm not suggesting that you should burn anything other than well seasoned wood on a regular basis. However it is nice to have the option to heat my home and water from time to time with "things" that would other wise go to waste. In my opinion they are the ultimate multi-fuel heater.

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You lost me. By anything, do you mean tires, household trash, horse dung, crankcase oil, chicken feathers or whole dead chickens? Please elaborate.

i would burn chicken feathers in my IWB

Coal Reaper said:

i would burn chicken feathers in my IWB

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I can just picture you knitting several sets of underwear for your naked chickens. While you're at it, knit me a set of radial tires.

StihlKicking said:

http://hardyheater.com/Products/products.html

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Fred61 said:

You lost me. By anything, do you mean tires, household trash, horse dung, crankcase oil, chicken feathers or whole dead chickens? Please elaborate.

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I was thinking more along the lines of scrap hay, lawn clippings, leaves, tree limbs that fall that i want out of the way immediately, pine logs ect. I'm pretty sure the heater would burn anything combustible, but I'm not gonna start feeding it tires anytime soon. Crank case oil now there's a thought.............

Fred61 said:

I can just picture you knitting several sets of underwear for your naked chickens.

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They will be warm in the oven