Advice/recommendations on brand/type of electric boiler for backup

[Perfect Heat]

I am in the process of installing a wood gasification boiler. At this time my backup is a oil fired forced air furnace. I am considering changing my backup to an electric boiler. What should I be looking for in an electric boiler? Are there certain brands/types better than one another? Any and all comments/experiences and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Terry

 

[Nofossil]

I am in the process of installing a wood gasification boiler. At this time my backup is a oil fired forced air furnace. I am considering changing my backup to an electric boiler. What should I be looking for in an electric boiler? Are there certain brands/types better than one another? Any and all comments/experiences and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Terry

I don't know if electric units have the capacity. I'm replacing my oil backup with a direct vent tankless propane water heater.

 

[Perfect Heat]

Nofossil,
I considered the propane option but the WAF part regarding the tank not matching the landscape made me consider electric. Jury still out. Does propane have a storage shelf life like oil? Since my wife is semi retired we use the wood 90% of the time so any backup will see limited consumption.

 

[Nofossil]

Nofossil,
I considered the propane option but the WAF part regarding the tank not matching the landscape made me consider electric. Jury still out. Does propane have a storage shelf life like oil? Since my wife is semi retired we use the wood 90% of the time so any backup will see limited consumption.

Our use would be less than that. However, we both cook a lot and both vastly prefer our propane cooktop to the electric alternatives. Therefore we already have the propane tank, making the decision process much easier.

 

[Willman]

I considered the propane option but the WAF part regarding the tank not matching the landscape made me consider electric

You can bury the tank. Call your propane company.
Will

 

[webbie]

EFM used to make these - I think.
http://www.efmheating.com/electthermboilers.html

I suppose a lot of the tankless units might do the job. With the current prices of LP and Electric, an electric unit does not look too bad. If it is for backup only, it may be able to be undersized.....in other words, if the main job is to keep the house perhaps as much as 40 degrees above outside as opposed to the usual designs of 70+

Depends a lot on the insulation level of the home.