Which Boiler to buy

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jdtuttle

jdtuttle

Member
Jul 28, 2010
10
Finger lakes, Ithaca
Hello everyone,
First post here and it looks like there are alot of knowledgeable people. So maybe you can offer me some advice on my situation.
I have until recently always had a wood stove. After a few years of paying the fuel bill & recently getting our new monthly payment I decided to go back to wood. I have a portable sawmill and small custom molding shop so I generate alot of wood waste that could be utilized for heat. I am thinking about buying an outside wood-boiler to hook-up in conjunction with my existing boiler. I would like something that I can move in a couple years and use it for my lumber kiln. I have plans for an addition on the house which includes a wood boiler room.
There are so many types of boilers and money is always an issue. I am looking for a well built unit. The EKO 40 136k btu is the size range that will work for my needs. Any suggestions, opinions, ideas. I see in the classified section there are some used boilers and new ones that were never installed. Never owning a wood boiler I have warranty concerns and like good customer service.
Sorry for rambling and asking so many questions.
Thanks,
JDD
 
Are you looking for "an outside wood boiler" or are you considering building a shed to enclose an indoor unit? The EKO, Tarm and others like them will need an enclosure. If you're looking for a stand alone outdoor unit you'll be looking at Classic boilers and the like....
 
You are looking to move an OWB in a few years...will you be digging new trenching and installing new piping??...that's expensive! or, will you be able to somehow re-use the old lines?
 
That's a lot of money to have two boilers. Have you considered buying one unit now that could potentially serve both needs in the future? Sounds like a Garn might be right up your alley...but you'd have to build a shed around it.
 
I ran numbers in my position and couldn't justify a wood boiler. I'd have to buy a majority of my wood, and in that situation wood is expensive. Even the wood I do burn in my stove was free, but after I haul it, split it, dry it, and finally burn it I have a hard time calling it cheap. I would want a gassifier because 40-60% eff in a owb is about as good as 90% in an oil boiler. I would also want at least 24hrs storage capacity, so I wouldn't have to keep loading it. 135k btu/hr isn't much when your home's heat load is 60-90k/hr. Plus with the storage it gives you the opportunity to use setback controls and indirect coils for hot water. Personally, I think storage is more important to system performance than the boiler.
 
JDD
Since you are unsure what you are going to install I would suggest taking a trip out to the Empire Farm Days show held in Seneca Falls next month. All of the OWB guys will be there as well as all the high efficiency manufacturers. Take some time and look around at what is available. We will be there with most sizes of the Econoburn boilers, both indoor and outdoor models. There is nothing like being able to compare products at one place.
 
Thanks for all the good advive.
Muncybob,
I will re-use the pipe for the house and install new for the kiln.
Stee6043
The boilers will be paid for from the sawmill & molding business. It will actually be a less expensive heat source. I hope to heat the shop as well. There is a road and about 500 feet between the shop & house so one boiler won't work. Building a shed is part of the plan so the wood & boiler will be under cover.
Altheating,
Good advice on the Empire Farm days, Maybe I can convince the wife it would be a good time for a road trip & visit some winery's too.
Thanks,
JDD
 
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