Heiss Masonary Wood Heater/Boiler

[gregoryMI]

First I live way out in middle of nowhere I have a 5300sqft home that's hell to heat. I been looking around and seen a lot of heaters for this house I have a boiler in my basement that's gas it costs about 800$ a mth to run. so i did my inspections and found everyone complaining about what they bought from different company's....I have never had a wood boiler and have no clue about them. so what i tell you here is from my experience with Heiss heater boiler..

Day one, Met with owner at my house, communication was easy showed up on time and very polite and accommodating to my needs with my financial ability. Quick and to the point about all my issues and concerns and rebuttals to complaints online with proof to its fixes on their stoves. He told me the minimum size to heat my house and what he would have put in to be the best for it. I still went with the minimum size boiler to heat as I am not rich. I was sold on the Model 3000 for my home and told a delivery date and install date. The Stove arrived in excellent clean non cracked, they set it in place and told me what needed done by date to install. I am one day from install on this boiler. YES they require antifreeze and well why wouldn't you water freezes. You Have to use theirs and only theirs for some reason. I am concerned about the Hard water issue I have seen in other posts about pump problems and will see what they say to do about it... the door Is adequate for the fire box I believe. the fire box is massive I mean huge.... I fit inside crouched... well I haven't any complaints thus far and they have been very on point with my calls and reply's in texts or Calling..

stay tuned.

 

[maple1]

You are very brave - I have no experience with them but with what I have read, I think that would be my last recommendation. Just how much did you research them first?

I will be tuned in.

And good luck - I hope you won't need it, but...

 

[stee6043]

Way out in the middle of nowhere? I think the folks from the UP would laugh if they heard a downstater living 40 miles from Ann Arbor say they lived in the sticks! Welcome to the board by the way. Great place to be.

I agree with Maple, you've made a brave decision.

What you've essentially done is gone to the "Amazon.com" of boiler reviews and information (hearth.com), searched for boilers and picked the one with the one star rating and a handful of negative reviews. I'm not saying you're going to have a bad experience. But based on the amount of information available to someone internet savy (as you are) your decision is somewhat puzzling.

If this post isn't spam I'll be surprised. But, I've been surprised before...today even. Good luck with your boiler either way.

 

[arbutus]

Stee has it right. I grew up in that area. Gregory isn't that far out.


Good luck with the Heiss heater. Post a picture when it's installed, and keep us updated this winter.

 

[heaterman]

Gregory? We installed a Garn down that way a couple years ago.

 

[hobbyheater]

First I live way out in middle of nowhere
stay tuned.

What did you pay for the boiler?

 

[gregoryMI]

What did you pay for the boiler?

Just under 6k. Im legit im not a spam ham.. I realy bought one.. Your making me nervious.. Yea they got one star yea a handfull of complaints but met a few shops and owners they likem so I said for the money I cant beat it im disabled vet USAF SFS. so I budget everything. I will post pics.
I know from alot of forums folks just live on and dont realy care if its not causing issues they dont complain. But yeah if stuff sucks well thats all u see. Not the good.. I will be very ontop all aspects of the whole opperarion. Good and bad..

 

[rkusek]

Thanks for your service! Looking forward to reading about your new install and hope it fits your needs.

 

[stee6043]

Good or bad, we'll be happy to help you through your install and operation. And as stated above, thank you for your service. We all owe you one.

 

[gregoryMI]

well the heater has been delivered installed and hooked up...the company has also been replying to every text and call I've made very quickly. They have gone out of their way to find me parts I need for my back up gas boiler. the company is overworked and needs more employees..the heater fired up on its break in fire very well it heated the water with only a small campfire kind of fire in the fireplace up to operational temperature oddly the in side kept warm water and hot in side stove for six days after I last stoked it..three split 12-15 inch leanth logs 10in in diamiter thats using only one sixth of the firebox.but yes its middle of summer as well. as far as wood consumption for this unit 3000 series I do not know yet. it looks well in the yard and have had many compliments...the company is yet to come out and add the entries required by warranty as I have not made a date yet. so far with what I have seenI would give them a 5 star rating for company service. as for this winter will tell on the actual working of the wood stove outside.I haven't had any bad incidences with them for the stove yet still a thumbs up needless to say I'm excited for winter. Stay tuned for more with pictures!

 

[BoiledOver]

Welcome to the hearth boiler room.

My 2 cents on this subject:

I ran a similar home built unit for most of one season, not nearly as advanced as the Heiss unit appears. It worked very well and the flywheel effect is amazing. I believe the theory behind these stoves is sound. The biggest worry while operating this stove was pump failure. Ya gotta know how hot things can get without the circulating water to draw off the heat.

Fortunately in the respect of stove tending, I was here to keep an eye on it. Without anti-freeze. Translation = Slavery. There was never a thought to leave it running while away. Flash to steam is a term that had me sick with worry. Remember that this unit was a modified homebuilt wood stove with secondary combustion chamber and most important, natural draft. Meaning it could runaway, and did, after warping the firebox door frame. Very hot! Does the Heiss have safeguards in place? Pressure relief, intake damper closeoff....

I do not know the folks behind your heater but have seen reviews just as you and others. Maybe there were design flaws early and maybe there was operator error too. Anyway the reviews are what they are, don't worry too much about that. I was considering a purchase myself when shopping and chose the small EKO due mostly to price at the time. Today I would give them consideration if shopping for a heater, even after reading the reviews. If water thermal storage is impossible, then this unit should do a better job than a gasser without storage. Just my opinion there.

For anyone running a wood fired water heater, it is a very good idea to keep spare components on the shelf for a quick switch. In the case of the Heiss design, spare pump should be at the top of the list.

Good luck with the heater, and keep us posted one way or the other. If I get back that way maybe you would allow a look at the unit. We could head over to the damn site and kill some time too.

 

[gregoryMI]

Welcome to the hearth boiler room.

My 2 cents on this subject:

I ran a similar home built unit for most of one season, not nearly as advanced as the Heiss unit appears. It worked very well and the flywheel effect is amazing. I believe the theory behind these stoves is sound. The biggest worry while operating this stove was pump failure. Ya gotta know how hot things can get without the circulating water to draw off the heat.

Fortunately in the respect of stove tending, I was here to keep an eye on it. Without anti-freeze. Translation = Slavery. There was never a thought to leave it running while away. Flash to steam is a term that had me sick with worry. Remember that this unit was a modified homebuilt wood stove with secondary combustion chamber and most important, natural draft. Meaning it could runaway, and did, after warping the firebox door frame. Very hot! Does the Heiss have safeguards in place? Pressure relief, intake damper closeoff....

I do not know the folks behind your heater but have seen reviews just as you and others. Maybe there were design flaws early and maybe there was operator error too. Anyway the reviews are what they are, don't worry too much about that. I was considering a purchase myself when shopping and chose the small EKO due mostly to price at the time. Today I would give them consideration if shopping for a heater, even after reading the reviews. If water thermal storage is impossible, then this unit should do a better job than a gasser without storage. Just my opinion there.

For anyone running a wood fired water heater, it is a very good idea to keep spare components on the shelf for a quick switch. In the case of the Heiss design, spare pump should be at the top of the list.

Good luck with the heater, and keep us posted one way or the other. If I get back that way maybe you would allow a look at the unit. We could head over to the damn site and kill some time too.

Yea sounds good to me stop on over.. Its a closed system as well. It has a pressure release valve on the in house gas boiler of thirty lbs. I know most boilers are open systems with a water tank it makes me a little bit weary of pressure and overheat..as the heater is away from the house in a faith explosion area the worst I need to deal with is a plastic pipe in the basement popping and flooding the basement that's why we have home insurance. extra pump is a good idea I will look into it.. on the system itself outside I do not see any pressure release or valve...so.. I dono what it will do if it gets hot? Lots of what ifs.

 

[Ken C]

First I live way out in middle of nowhere I have a 5300sqft home that's hell to heat. I been looking around and seen a lot of heaters for this house I have a boiler in my basement that's gas it costs about 800$ a mth to run. so i did my inspections and found everyone complaining about what they bought from different company's....I have never had a wood boiler and have no clue about them. so what i tell you here is from my experience with Heiss heater boiler..

Day one, Met with owner at my house, communication was easy showed up on time and very polite and accommodating to my needs with my financial ability. Quick and to the point about all my issues and concerns and rebuttals to complaints online with proof to its fixes on their stoves. He told me the minimum size to heat my house and what he would have put in to be the best for it. I still went with the minimum size boiler to heat as I am not rich. I was sold on the Model 3000 for my home and told a delivery date and install date. The Stove arrived in excellent clean non cracked, they set it in place and told me what needed done by date to install. I am one day from install on this boiler. YES they require antifreeze and well why wouldn't you water freezes. You Have to use theirs and only theirs for some reason. I am concerned about the Hard water issue I have seen in other posts about pump problems and will see what they say to do about it... the door Is adequate for the fire box I believe. the fire box is massive I mean huge.... I fit inside crouched... well I haven't any complaints thus far and they have been very on point with my calls and reply's in texts or Calling..

stay tuned.

I purchased my boiler this past summer after much research and a trip to Grand Rapids to see the “nuts and bolts” of the business and the units. Customer service is excellent with everyone in the company devoted to quality and customer satisfaction. This boiler is definitely the next generation of outdoor heating units. The non-rust, lower cost of the unit and smaller size far exceed any other unit on the market. The boiler has been providing heat and hot water to my entire house since early September and I have already seen a 15% drop in my power bill, while maintaining a 72-74 degree temperature in my home. I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a dependable, efficient wood boiler for home or business.

 

[gregoryMI]

Im not saying its bad. But there's a few oddities I've seen. The system works well for my home. I haven't had to may issues, only that air in the old boiler lines not moving and needing a bigger pump. Some tweeking will happen after the warranty is off in two years. I think a combination of natural aspiration and blower should be used.. It doesnt always need a leaf blower on the fire to gain a few degrees.. Eats the wood quick. Its easy to clean and such.. The blower kicks on and starts back draft on wet wood dry wood big wood or small.. Its heat in the box is to much for the little hole the air blows thru.. I've opened the rubber flap manually on side of blower cage and it gains heat well with out force.. Or cho chooo chooo affect.. It does back draft through the squirl cage blower. Gumming it up with creosote... In time will need replacing... I do need to get extra parts on shelf.. As far as safety yes on my boiler in home the gas unit has a 30psi pressure valve and a air bleeder... The only thing I see on the boiler any were is a air bleeder on top of stove.. Becides that nothing.. More pics soon to come..how ever that being said these issues are mine and not due to the boiler 3000series it does work dam well to heat this big house..

 

[gregoryMI]

 

[atvalaska]

them lines are missing something...........

 

[gregoryMI]

them lines are missing something...........

Yes believe u me I know.. I put patio bricks and filled with dirt...

 

[tom in maine]

Good place to plant for early Tulips.

 

[BoiledOver]

them lines are missing something...........

Yeah, what the heck are they doing right there where your feet want to be? And the big box too.

Glad to hear that the stove is heating your home and you are working through your learning curve. Hey that is one good looking puppy.

 

[Mike Fromme]

Very nice! The heiss, free heat machine and vigas boilers were all at the top of my list when I was researching boilers.

 

[Floydian]

Oh man, don't ever let a thermal imaging camera take a peak at that setup.

IMO any company that sells an outdoor unit should be required to provide the standby heat loss of the unit. Eye opening to say the least. And the Heiss may just the grand "winner" unless they are using some newfangled castable refractory that defies the laws of physics....

Noah

 

[stee6043]

Oh man, don't ever let a thermal imaging camera take a peak at that setup.

IMO any company that sells an outdoor unit should be required to provide the standby heat loss of the unit. Eye opening to say the least. And the Heiss may just the grand "winner" unless they are using some newfangled castable refractory that defies the laws of physics....

Noah

I try to keep holding my tongue every time a Heiss thread comes up. But I must say that a standby heat loss estimate from some of the bigger Central Boiler rigs would probably make this Heiss look like downright sensible just based on the shear size of some of the CB's. To each their own I guess. More unusual to me over the years has been the number of first time posters that drop by to sing the praises of the Heiss setup.

 

[gregoryMI]

Easy fellas. This stove is by no means perfect yes the black box is a pain in the but its constantly catching chips and in the way.. The inside is hot as hell. Ive read up on it yea lots complain about cement cracking.. I burned for three months now and no cracking has occurred.even if it does nones complained well the crack is leaking water.. Or any such issue. The out side of this thing is a cool light warm its only draw is this dam blower.. Its started making noise this morning from the chugging backdraft ..I've done as the comp said and put bigger wet logs in and she still chugs. I think its two much air force. A slower fan maby needs here.

 

[BoiledOver]

With most wood burners the owners are making tweaks and mods where the manufacturers could have gone further but didn't. Combustion air control is a rather important aspect in getting efficiency to its sweet spot. It looks like you could wire in a fan controller pretty easy, just want to get one with a sufficient amp rating for the blower. My thinker is wondering why the blower is laying at ground level. Mice like warm places and also enjoy a good meal of wire insulation, thinking the whole blower and piping thing could be better located.

Yeah that blower could be relocated easy enough if you are so inclined, and that would give room to insulate and cover the piping. Keep us posted.

 

[stee6043]

..I've done as the comp said and put bigger wet logs in and she still chugs. I think its two much air force. A slower fan maby needs here.

The company told you to put bigger "wet" logs on the fire to help with the fan problem? Oiy...

I hope you'll stop in throughout the winter and post updates. I'd also be interested to know how warm the outside of your boiler is during a peak burn. Do you have a thermometer you could tape to it for an hour or two?