I have a Varmabaronen Vedolux 37 installed and used it all last winter. It is connected to the 500 gallon tank sold by Smokelessheat.com for a total of 536 gallons. Ran 1 1/4" copper all the way from the 2-car garage into the basement to panel. Have water tempered to 140 into heat exchanger on furnace. Keep water heater at 115 degrees because sensor is 1/3 of the way up and it can heat the entire tank in about 6 minutes.
I have learned so much since it was installed- 6 months of research doesn't compare to 1 month of using it.
Since I've had it installed and used it, I am going to put in my 2 cents here for all of you. I hope it helps you all come to a decision. First of all, the boiler is a high quality product. I compare it only to other products that obviously have quality built into them. In other words, I can't compare it to a Tarm or any other boiler, only that is looks, feels and acts like a high quality product.
For the first month or so last winter I was firing it 1 time per day trying to heat the tank to 220 or 230 degrees and get through 24 hrs.. This presents several problems I discovered, only by deciding to try and fire it 2x a day- once every 12 hours and BAM!- I fell in love with it.
You see, you'll never get over the laws of thermal dynamics: The hotter one item is when next to a cooler item (the room the boiler is in), the faster the heat loss takes place. Take a simple glass and pour 180 degree water into it while in a 70 degree room. The heat loss will be much faster than if you pour in 140 degree water. This was my thinking when I started to fire it 2x a day. Just fire it to 180 and call it a day. That evening- just fire it to 180 and call it a day. This way your heat loss through fittings and exposed areas is less. And, you aren't sitting there baby-sitting it putting in more wood to get it to 220 or 230 degrees. Anywhere from 1/2 to a full load (depending on the heat-loss that day) and your're done- walk away. In the 40's I put in about 6 pieces and in the 20's about 10-12, light it in 30 seconds, shut the door and DONE! I clean the ashes out each night (don't even clean it in the morning- just throw in six pieces, light it and that's it).
I light it through the main loading door. Put a tight radius piece of wood in the center so it leaves a gap on each side of the suction hole in the ceramic grate. Then a straight piece of wood on the left and the right up against the middle piece of wood so there's hopefully no gaps. Then I take a handful of pine shavings mixed 50/50 with shredded paper from the paper shredder and fluff it on top, place a small piece of cardboard (4" x 8") on top of that. Push the start button which turns on the suction fan, hold the torch on it for about 15-20 seconds and shut the main door WITH THE LATCH IN THE WAY so the fire is getting air from the top through the main loading door. After about 1/2 to 1 minute you'll know it's firing by opening the bottom draught hatch and see the yellow flame. I start adding wood and shut the door all the way. I would say it takes me 10 min. in the morning and 10 min. in the evening.
I do the heat exchager tube cleaning with the brush every 3 days and use a wet/dry vac to get the ashes out of the top.
That's it! Hope you enjoy the install pics!
If anyone wants to know anything else about it just ask!