Planning for Outside Wood Gasser

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Gomez

Member
Nov 19, 2007
65
Pineville, PA
I've been heating our house with a Lopi freedom insert as much as possible since 2000. When I'm not able to feed it, the oil burner takes over. I am planning on putting up a ~30x40' garage (maybe steel building or stick built, (but that a different site and /or thread). I recently been thinking more seriously about installing some kind of gasser to heat the garage/house, make DHW and possibly heat our 25,000 gal pool.

My initial thought is, if money was free, to get a Garn and install it adjacent to the garage.

Of course, money is not free, so what other choices should I look at?
 
If you look at EKO, Tarm, etc you'll likely find that your total installed cost (if you include thermal storage) will likely be roughly the same as a Garn. If I had room for a Garn I may have gone that route. But EKO and Tarm seem to be very popular on this board and very well built. I'm extremely happy with my EKO 40 and would recommend them to anyone...
 
Gomez,
I'd look at Econoburn, Tarm, Woodgun & Orlan EKO and Paxo. In the off-season right now you can get a pretty good deal on an EKO & Econoburn has rebates going on. I'd plan on storage at some point & put it in the basement if possible.
I have my boiler in an out-building & like the setup. Plan for enough space for the 6 or so cords you'll need for the heating season next to the boiler.
happy searching!
 
stee6043 said:
If you look at EKO, Tarm, etc you'll likely find that your total installed cost (if you include thermal storage) will likely be roughly the same as a Garn. If I had room for a Garn I may have gone that route. But EKO and Tarm seem to be very popular on this board and very well built. I'm extremely happy with my EKO 40 and would recommend them to anyone...
Click to expand...

I would second, in our case the Boilers is no more than 25% of the total install cost.
 
In my case, self-installed Tarm, with no existing hydronic to tie into, total cost including 1000 gal pressurized storage, was a little more than twice the cost of the Tarm. If tying into an existing system, cost may be somewhat less. About $1500 of the total cost was related to adding the pressurized storage with expansion tank.
 
Money is not free.
Wasted money is too expensive.
OPM does not exist.

Having said that, my only advice is do NOT base your purchase on price. Nearly every unit you can buy has strengths and weaknesses. You need to pair those with your needs.

I included GARN in a very short list when I was in the market a few years ago. As others have said, I doubt the GARN is any more expensive when you compare "apples to apples".

Jimbo
 
from all the information ive dug up on here the past two years: I'd recommend.

1) go with a gasifier

2) have it indoors

3) don't be afraid to spend the extra to get/make what you want
 
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