Boiler recommendation

[gorsuchmill]

I'm getting ready to bite the bullet and purchase a 140k btu gasifier. I've narrowed my choices to the EKO, Biomax and Tarm. The summary is as follows:

EKO ~ $6k plus shipping = $6400
Biomax ~ $5700 plus shipping = $6100
Tarm ~ $6900 less $500 sale = $6400 (free shipping)

The EKO gets great reviews here, the Biomax has a negative draft to reduce smoke in the house and the Tarm has the longest warranty and experience in this country.

I'm leaning to the Tarm. Anyone care to confirm or convince me otherwise.

Thanks for your help.

 

[free75degrees]

Not sure if it matters in your case, but I went with the Tarm because it is tested to UL standards (tested by Omni labs). I think EKO is working on getting tested and I am not sure about Biomax. My inspector said my boiler would have to be tested to UL standards but you case might be different.

 

[Nofossil]

I'm not sure that there's a wrong choice in the list.....

Throw in an OWB, a barrel stove, and a few others to make this easier for us.

 

[woodmaster]

Ive been happy with Tarm - knowledgable staff and quality product . They are close by and lots of people run them around me.

 

[ISeeDeadBTUs]

Go with the barrel stove I say.

 

[Reggie Dunlap]

I went with the Tarm because they have been around the longest and they are only a couple of hours south of me. I figured if I ever needed future support or parts Tarm was more likely to still be in business. Also, Tarm's customer support after the sale is very good. I'm very happy with my boiler.

The EKO's are nice and they have a couple of features that the Tarms don't, but if I had to do it again I'd still buy the Tarm.

It's interesting to see the EKO and the Tarm are now equal in price.

 

[chuck172]

Does Tarm charge sales tax?

 

[woodmaster]

I have always picked up there , so no. But I suppose if it was shipped to you they probably would.

 

[free75degrees]

Well... you are supposed to pay sales tax on big ticket items on your end of year income tax returns if you bought them in a state with no sales tax, but i promise not to tell anyone ;^)

 

[chuck172]

I just called Tarm. They don't charge sales tax on shipped boilers.

 

[chuck172]

The price I have listed from Tarm on the Solo 40 is $7,100 list, not $6900.
Thats before $500 off and free shipping

 

[EricV]

I'm getting ready to bite the bullet and purchase a 140k btu gasifier. I've narrowed my choices to the EKO, Biomax and Tarm. The summary is as follows:

EKO ~ $6k plus shipping = $6400
Biomax ~ $5700 plus shipping = $6100
Tarm ~ $6900 less $500 sale = $6400 (free shipping)

The EKO gets great reviews here, the Biomax has a negative draft to reduce smoke in the house and the Tarm has the longest warranty and experience in this country.

I'm leaning to the Tarm. Anyone care to confirm or convince me otherwise.

Thanks for your help.

I agree, that's what I did and I am very happy with my unit. I'm sure the others are great too but your line of thinking was mine as well.

 

[EricV]

Go with the barrel stove I say.

But add the double barrel option, it might gasify!!

 

[EricV]

Does Tarm charge sales tax?

No, if shipped out of Vermont

 

[gorsuchmill]

Thanks everyone for your input. It looks like the Solo 40 will be my choice. I was quoted $7100, less $500 for a sale. That makes it $6600 total, including shipping, a complementary Termovar bypass valve and 1/2 gallon of Maple syrup.

Woodlot here I come.

 

[jebatty]

Let us know how much gas that maple syrup produces.

 

[chuck172]

GORSUCHMILL-
I'm placing my order in this morning. Exactly the same. Are you getting storage? I'm waiting till next year.
Are you ordering any accessories with the boiler?

 

[gorsuchmill]

Chuck -

I'd like to. It will either be an old propane tank if I can locate one or a home-made cage in my basement with an epdm liner. For exchange I'll either use plate exchangers or some old cast iron radiators I have here at the house. The cast may not work, but I can always pull them out and install better exchangers after the fact. Regarding accessories, it looks like the Termovar bypass valve or loading unit and an automag for overheat.

How about you?

 

[jebatty]

Air scoop, expansion tank, circ pump(s), aquastat(s), zone valve(s), thermostat(s), heat delivery system(s), isolation valves, possible bypass valves.

 

[gorsuchmill]

Jebatty -

It appears many of the items you've listed are for an installation where no system is in place. Am I mistaken? I intend to plumb the woody in parallel to my oil boiler in a 5-zone system with radiators and coils already in place. The system already has an air vent, expansion tank, and thermostatically controlled zones with separate circulators. Certainly, I'll need more isolation valves, maybe another circ pump and other miscellaneous stuff, but I feel I can get that stuff cheaper locally. As for the boiler supplier, should I be looking for more than the boiler, automag and Termovar?

Thanks.

 

[jebatty]

Everything else is readily available, if needed. The Termovar and Automag are easy to get from the boiler supplier. You will need some additional controls as to prioritizing your two boilers. Look at piping diagrams available from various sources and this forum for help in identifying what is needed. You likely need a larger or additional expansion tank, unless your existing tank is sized large enough to handle the approximate 50 gallons the Tarm holds plus extra plumbing. Consider ebay, etc., for good pricing on parts needed.

 

[chuck172]

gorsuchmill- I did it. Bit the bullet and ordered the solo 40 this morning. The accessories I'm getting are:
Immersion Well
L4006B Circ. Control Aquastat
Probe Thermometer
Free Termovar 3-way valve.
No storage this year,
Man, I have my work cut out for me now!!

 

[sweetheat]

It seems if you wait another year the prices will increase even more. With the oil going up and up in price a complete gassifier with storage is going up too. I'd say buy now. I waited a year for my stss storage tank and have paid an additional $1000. for it. For those who install homemade tanks, you still need to buy accessories to make it work.