anyone been happy with there homemade boiler?

back in the day there were several companies that make all metal welded boilers that were small, size of a big cooler. they would burn wide open and help supplement the gas boilers. Guess you could make one of these.

Better check codes for installing a wood boiler/open flame unit in a garage, especially an attached one. Most insurers don't allow it unless you have a completely separate fireroom with a sealed bulkhead. A home made boiler not certified to safety standards could be an insurance issue.

My first thought is why would you want to bother with a new house, low heat load and high efficiency gas in place already?

I'm on my second winter with a cobble job of a boiler fashioned from a medium propane tank, a bunch of fire brick and a cast iron gas boiler core. It supplements the solar, or the solar supplements it. I'm satisfied with it, but next year I hope to put something outside instead, if I eliminate the fire indoors I can feel comfortable reducing the air infiltration and use less wood even with the losses to the outdoors. I couldn't recommend any sort of homebuilt boiler for your situation, and I doubt you'll get anyone else to. Just look at the cost of a chimney and see how much gas you could buy with the $$$.

I Know a couple guys on here made there own. Must not be happy with them ?

Working on my 3rd season with mine....very happy

paid for itself in one season...

find a cheap used one on ebay, craigs list or on the side of the road. I found mine on the side of the road for $100, unbelievable luck. you could spend $500-$700 on a used one and be better off. I built my own and it was ok. Add up material cost for building your own then go shopping for used would be my advice.

Very happy with mine. Almost forget that I'm even burning wood. Probably why I don't talk about it much anymore. Will talk more when I build another bigger one.

I'm on my second winter with my home built boiler and I smile each time the propane truck drives by the driveway. It has been over a year since filling the propane tank and still have 60%. That said, I have upwards of 7K into my install.

Built mine in 05 . Been very happy . I couldn't justify the cost when we
looked at the big boys. Did alot of research & a lot of pics figured that
we could do better. Everything needed to build & maintain one is available
if you look around. Took about 4mo. to assemble it. & put it in place .