EKO 60 - Used

[LuckyLane]

Hello All,

I'm fairly new to burning round-the-clock for heating purposes having installed a Pacific Energy insert last winter.

Despite the newness, I've been reading/learning here about gasification boilers after talking to a freind about a Garn they bought used. The more I read the more I'm intrigued and continue to research to understand further.

The cost of buying new keeps me from jumping in but I've watched the used market within a few hours distance and I've seen both an EKO 80 and now an EKO 60 pop up for sale. The 60 is located close enough that I'm seriously considering at least looking at it. Before I do, I'd like to find out what I should be looking for when looking at something used?

Wear items? Expensive known problem areas? Other thoughts?

I have a newly built pole barn (avatar photo) of which 800 sq ft is shop space with tube in slab for radiant floor heat. I have no heat source yet so my thinking is a boiler would fill that need and could be plumbed to the house. Also, we have a green house attached to our garage that at some point we could heat for use during cold months.

 

[700renegade]

If they didn't use a mixing valve to ensure 140* return water and run boiler chemicals tested regularly, walk away.

I bought a two year old EKO 40 and wish I had just paid the few thousand more and gotten a brand new 60. Of course you can't buy a 60 right now due to the shennanigans going on with the importer, so if that is truly the size you need, used is your only choice in EKO.

 

[stee6043]

Look for damage to the nozzles and as stated above check for any corrosion. Nozzles can be replaced but it would be a bit of a pain to have to do that right away.

Ask them why they are selling it.

If run properly that thing should last forever. EKO is a great boiler...but I'm biased.

 

[goosegunner]

Just curious, what is going on with the importer?

gg

 

[Mushroom Man]

Hello All,

I'm fairly new to burning round-the-clock for heating purposes having installed a Pacific Energy insert last winter.

Despite the newness, I've been reading/learning here about gasification boilers after talking to a freind about a Garn they bought used. The more I read the more I'm intrigued and continue to research to understand further.

The cost of buying new keeps me from jumping in but I've watched the used market within a few hours distance and I've seen both an EKO 80 and now an EKO 60 pop up for sale. The 60 is located close enough that I'm seriously considering at least looking at it. Before I do, I'd like to find out what I should be looking for when looking at something used?

Wear items? Expensive known problem areas? Other thoughts?

I have a newly built pole barn (avatar photo) of which 800 sq ft is shop space with tube in slab for radiant floor heat. I have no heat source yet so my thinking is a boiler would fill that need and could be plumbed to the house. Also, we have a green house attached to our garage that at some point we could heat for use during cold months.

I bought a used EKO 60 about 5 years ago. It has worked nicely. I had no idea what I was buying except I knew I wanted a gasifier and a big one as I needed to heat 6000 sq.ft.
The EKO is a popular brand as evidenced by the attention it gets on this forum. I assumed that because many of the most knowledgeable posters to this forum had EKO boilers it must be good. As it turns out, most of the gasifiers are good and the effectiveness of the solution lies with the operator. His design as it relates to his needs, his installation, his maintenance, and his burning procedures all combine to produce a pleasant or unpleasant surprise. Each installation is different and so is each operator.

That being said, the integrity of the box is the primary issue, everything else is secondary. If the boiler was protected from low return water temperatures by a termovar or danfoss valve, it is likely that the integrity of the box is intact and corrosion is of little concern.

The refactory elements are repairable with locally available materials and from the distributor if in really bad condition. The refactory nozzles do wear and the efficiency declines with that wear. You end up with more charcoal when cleaning out the secondary than ash. If that charcoal remains up top, it burns up and produces heat. My refactory nozzles in the primary chamber need attention now after 5 years of pretty heavy lifting. It looks like a dirty job. Cast iron inserts with many holes might be a fitting alternative to replacing the refactory. I am going to look into that.

The controller is pretty reliable but a spare would let me sleep better. I had to make a repair in heating season on mine and I was worried what would happen if I wasn't able to repair it. It worked out OK this time.

I think an EKO 60 is credible if you are the right operator for it. It is kind of like a Ford or Chevy pickup; not fancy but a workhorse.

 

[mikefrommaine]

^^^
Please no, not the ford/Chevy debate. Next we will have henfruit claiming the one he sells is an Italian sportscar. Even though it's made in eastern Europe. Just like my BioMass Wood boiler -- the BMW of boilers

 

[Fred61]

Yugo

 

[henfruit]

Mike you must mean the M T R Caldarie from Verona Italy

 

[mikefrommaine]

Mike you must mean the M T R Caldarie from Verona Italy

Gotta say I had to google that... Do u mean the m t r caldaie? Are you selling that too? If so might want to make sure you're spelling it right. Brand awareness and all

 

[mikefrommaine]

Looks interesting. What makes it special? Kind of has that boxy look of a fiat though.

 

[huffdawg]

I think there must be a few users on here that dont use the chemicals . I havent used any myself. But if the boiler was used on an an open system the chemicals are essential.

 

[mwk1000]

I have an EKO 60, It does generate quite a bit of heat. I would probably get an Empyre if I was in the market again for ease of cleaning and I like the design -- but I have no real compalints , it has paid for itself and every year now it keeps money in my pocket. I would not have this unit inside my home ( Mine is in my shop ) without some sort of draft assist since when you open the door there is no lip to contain the smoke and it is higher than the rear flue.

I charge 1500 Gal every night so the boiler does see a lot of Hot/Cold cycles and the firebrick blocks in the base are about done after 4 seasons, cracked in half in many places, The nozzels are starting to show wear, I run at 50% fan speed that seems to give me the best and longest burns. I would pressure test it for leaks before I bought a used one. Mine (new) leaked after one season and was reapired by a friend the weld work is avgerage on the unit he said ( He is a welding inspector as well )

 

[evamaxx]

Just curious, what is going on with the importer?

gg

hi everybody just chiming in ipicked up a bio 60 in dec and it runs pretty good after the learning curve a little different from the tarm i had whats up with new horizin? do u think there going out ?should i get some spare parts now thanks I WANT TO MENTION ON THE LAST LOAD UP AT NIGHT ive been shoveing in 25 lbs stove coal and the burn is good i puta peice of hardwere cloth over my ash can about 3/4 square to recyle the un burnt coal since ithe 60 dont have a shaker any way my question was should i use chemicals since i have no presure storage thanks mark

 

[mikefrommaine]

Every few months someone "in the know" peeps up with some sly innuendo about so and so going out of business / committing fraud / stealing candy from babies etc.

Been going on for years here. I don't have any idea if it's true. But usually when asked directly the poster slinks away into the darkness or deletes their posts.

I think every boiler owner regardless of brand should plan for worst case -- their importer/dealer/manufacturer going out of business. That's why I have two spare nozzles in the basement. Anything else I can fab myself or replace with off the shelf components.

If energy prices drop I suspect more than one company will close up shop. If Enron can disappear overnight so can your friendly boiler guy.

 

[huffdawg]

Energy prices drop! Thats a wetdream! lol.

 

[stee6043]

Energy prices drop! Thats a wetdream! lol.

Natural gas has done nothing but drop since I installed my boiler 5 years ago. Down down down...

 

[JP11]

Natural gas has done nothing but drop since I installed my boiler 5 years ago. Down down down...

I would bet the vast majority of us burning wood do not have a natural gas pipeline anywhere around. There's still something to be said for being independent of the geo-political swings of the price of oil.

 

[ihookem]

Huffdawg, I don't have any additives except the 10 gal of "anti freeze" the first year I installed it almost 4 seasons ago. Although, the pressure valve leaked out at least half of it the first year. I thought EKO recomended just plain water that is not softened. I am going to drain it this spring and put in another 10 gal though. I also was told by a dealer that EKO was out of business when I called him to see if my wacked out controller was under warranty. He said the importer didn't pay EKO so they are gone. He gave a number for spare parts but never answers. My natural gas price is .52 for gas,.21 for distribution, and 9 bucks facility charge. It came to 17.99 for 12 therms used, so 1.50 a therm when it's all said and done. If I used 15 million btu's a month it would come to about 118 bucks for nayural gas to heat my home plus about 25 for stove, hot water, and dryer. That's 138 bucks for January. If I knew how well a properly insulated house reduced enrgy costs I would have never spent 9,400 bucks on a wood boiler.

 

[700renegade]

Hasn't everyone been curious why the EKO 60's and 80's are no longer available from the importer and the 40's are continually "On-Sale"?

Perhaps you never visited a Kmart before they went bye-bye, and didn't connect the dots.

 

[henfruit]

Now you are seeing the big picture.

 

[charly]

Hello All,

I'm fairly new to burning round-the-clock for heating purposes having installed a Pacific Energy insert last winter.

Despite the newness, I've been reading/learning here about gasification boilers after talking to a freind about a Garn they bought used. The more I read the more I'm intrigued and continue to research to understand further.

The cost of buying new keeps me from jumping in but I've watched the used market within a few hours distance and I've seen both an EKO 80 and now an EKO 60 pop up for sale. The 60 is located close enough that I'm seriously considering at least looking at it. Before I do, I'd like to find out what I should be looking for when looking at something used?

Wear items? Expensive known problem areas? Other thoughts?

I have a newly built pole barn (avatar photo) of which 800 sq ft is shop space with tube in slab for radiant floor heat. I have no heat source yet so my thinking is a boiler would fill that need and could be plumbed to the house. Also, we have a green house attached to our garage that at some point we could heat for use during cold months.

I believe the 60 was never even used... Worth a call... He use to be a dealer for AHONA..they could both be new...They are probably 4 years old.. worth a phone call... Lenny is who to ask for...who knows, you might get one or both dirt cheap... I know he'd love to get rid of them.. He had to buy 4 to become a dealer,,, I bought a 60 from him and someone else local bought a 40... the other two he apparently never sold...
(broken link removed to http://www.wantaddigest.com/forsale/wantad.asp?onlineid=AJYHL00&adid=A00062&classifieds=Heating&eclass2=Heating%20and%20Cooling)
Eco Orlan, 1-40 @ 136k BTU, 1 60 @ 205k BTU, can install, $5000 Firm
Coeyman Hollow NY (518) 756-7700 6/26/2012 (broken link removed to http://www.wantaddigest.com/view/forsale.asp?cat=HEAT&eclass2=Heating%20and%20Cooling)

 

[ihookem]

I heard EKO was out of businiess. I heard it from Burner Boys in Wisconsin. He said the importer didn't pay EKO so they went out. I was told there is no warranty on my bad controller cause there is no company left to warrant the controller.

 

[charly]

I was told by AHONA who was good friends with the EKO people , that the son had updated the whole factory and then a year later the economy was bad and they went under... Mark at AHONA could fill you in... he also designed a controller that fits multiple boilers and allows you to control more parameters then the stock controllers did. I know he was also making his own castings for the nozzles as well. I believe Mark could still keep you up and running...

 

[huffdawg]

Natural gas has done nothing but drop since I installed my boiler 5 years ago. Down down down...

Gone straight up since I bought my boiler. propane was .49 per litre and now .90 natural gas .40 per litre and now in the high .70's. No natural gas line to my place anyways.