Indoor boiler types of wood to burn

I have a gasifier in my basement. You can burn any kind of wood as long as it's reasonably dry. I'd plan on at least 12 months drying time after cutting and splitting, and two years would be better. I burn oak, buckthorn, white pine, red cedar, poplar. locust, birch, hickory, butternut, and so on.

You will get virtually no smoke in your basement IF:

1) You have good enough draft from your chimney
2) You have either a dedicated outside air source or a leaky house
3) You've gotten through the learning curve

If you only open it when it's burned down to coals, it won't smoke. There are a bunch of learning curve mistakes that can create a bit of smoke.

Welcome to the Boiler Room, Ed.

As long as it's dry, you can burn any kind of wood in a gasifier, or any other kind of wood-burning appliance, for that matter. Some species provide more heat per pound of wood than others, and hardwoods are generally better in that respect than softwoods. I would focus on removing trees in a way that improves the value of your woodlot (deformed, poorly growing, weed trees, etc.).

With a gasifier, you won't have any smoke in your basement during normal operation. You might get some during loading, depending on your draft and your loading practices. You can learn how to minimize it over time as you learn to how the boiler operates. Gasifiers do produce very fine ash, however, so you want to be careful when cleaning the ashes to avoid getting it into the air.

If your chimney has to flues the oil in one the wood in the other. You just cant run both up one chimney flue

A significant benefit of the indoor install is the throw-off heat from the boiler itself goes into your heating space, the result being an increase in efficiency. Ditto on the other comments.

nofossil said:

You can burn any kind of wood as long as it's reasonably dry. I'd plan on at least 12 months drying time after cutting and splitting, and two years would be better.

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TFF . . .Ok, seriously, how many people burn wood that has been drying two years after cutting to stove-length and stacking?

I know a guy who had a problem with his wood getting too old (5+ years). Plenty of people are able to burn 2+ year old wood. There is a nice sense of security knowing that you have 2+ winter's worth of heat sitting in the yard.

ISeeDeadBTUs said:

TFF . . .Ok, seriously, how many people burn wood that has been drying two years after cutting to stove-length and stacking?

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I've always cut a year ahead when I can. With the gasifier, I'm working my way up to two years ahead. Biggest hassle is keeping it dry. My brother cuts two years ahead as well.

If you have the space to stack it, it makes sense. Drier wood burns better and gives more heat. Wood cut ahead is like money in the bank. I look at my pile an know that I'll be warm next year and the year after.

ISeeDeadBTUs said:

TFF . . .Ok, seriously, how many people burn wood that has been drying two years after cutting to stove-length and stacking?

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If people don't, the reason must be that they think wood gets old like gasoline, or maybe their tank isn't big enough to hold all the wood.

ecrane99 said:

I have the oil burner in one flu and seems like the other one is for the livingroom fireplace. Can someone tell me how to be sure i have the extra flu needed for the wood furnace. Sorry... I'm a newbee at this.

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It sounds like you don't have an extra flue for a wood furnace or boiler. If that's the case, I can think of three options:

1) Replace the oil burner with a 'direct vent' oil or gas unit, freeing up the flue that it's using. The direct vent units are smaller and more efficient in any case. This option makes sense if your oil burner is a candidate for replacement now or soon.

2) Build a new chimney for the wood boiler. Typically this would be double wall insulated stainless construction.

3) Build an outbuilding for your wood boiler, or buy an outdoor boiler.

nofossil said:

ecrane99 said:

I have the oil burner in one flu and seems like the other one is for the livingroom fireplace. Can someone tell me how to be sure i have the extra flu needed for the wood furnace. Sorry... I'm a newbee at this.

Click to expand...

It sounds like you don't have an extra flue for a wood furnace or boiler. If that's the case, I can think of three options:

1) Replace the oil burner with a 'direct vent' oil or gas unit, freeing up the flue that it's using. The direct vent units are smaller and more efficient in any case. This option makes sense if your oil burner is a candidate for replacement now or soon.

2) Build a new chimney for the wood boiler. Typically this would be double wall insulated stainless construction.

3) Build an outbuilding for your wood boiler, or buy an outdoor boiler.

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nofossil, There is a 4th option... http://www.mainewoodfurnaces.com/CC500_Installation.shtml
This wood/oil boiler can share a single chimney flu.