Help Find Good Outdoor Wood Gasification Boiler?

[LegendsCreekFarm]

Hey everyone!! I own a farm in Foster, RI. I have been heating my home with a wood stove in my house, using wood from my property for 2 years. I am sick of the mess inside my house, and want to install a outdoor wood boiler.

I am looking to heat my 1200 square foot home, and 1200 square foot attached barn. I have forced hot water radiators I want to use, and no forced air ductwork.

I am looking to burn a mix of hardwood and white pine as I have tons on the property. Due to budget constraints, I am looking for the best price for the best efficiency.

Can you please make recommendations?

I have a backhoe, so digging a trench for the pipes won't be an issue. thanks!

 

[SIERRADMAX]

Welcome. I live a town north of you.. Check with your town. I think Glocester banned owb's!

 

[LegendsCreekFarm]

I already checked with my town, there are no regulations thankfully! Thanks for the welcome!

 

[Coal Reaper]

Welcome! Everybody got budjet constraints dont they now? Look at portage and main for OWB but they are $$$. Why not put in barn? For me indoor boiler and storage was same price as P&M.

 

[LegendsCreekFarm]

You will have to forgive me as I am new to this, and don't know your abbreviations and terminology. I am not opposed to putting one in my basement or barn, but the issue is that I want to burn semi-wet wood, and don't want creosote to burn my house down. Is this an issue with gasification?


I will also add that wet wood is not something I intend to do for a long time, I just am getting a start with purchasing the right equipment so that I can harvest wood more efficiently. It's been a slow going financial process, but I am getting there!

 

[arbutus]

I'm newer here as well.

Wet/green wood will not work with gasifiers, and will not work well with traditional outdoor wood boilers.
Problems include lots of smoke, creosote, and corrosion of firebox and flue.

You will see repeated time and again, DRY WOOD is of utmost importance. 20% moisture content or less, with less being even better.
You may even receive the suggestion that you keep your current setup an extra year, stock pile next year's wood right now, and save your money up for a gasifier installation next spring or summer when they are on sale.

 

[SIERRADMAX]

Start cutting/stacking/drying now. I would suggest an OWB if you plan on burning pine.

 

[Coal Reaper]

Owb- outdoor wood boiler
P&m- portage and main
Bottom line is that gasification requires dry wood. Around 20% moisture content. Ask and soft maple and some dead wood is a year c/s/s (cut split stacked), most other woods two years, and oak three years. This is a general guideline most use and longer is better. Wind and sun aides drying as does single row stacks off the ground. The best part is how little wood a gasser will use. Use the search function on here and do a lot of reading. I reasearched for over a year before i had a solid gameplan put together.

 

[LegendsCreekFarm]

Thanks for all the excellent info. I have plenty of wood that is down and aged, but I need to get to it with the backhoe which I am sure I can do in time for the winter.

Are there any OWB that are $5k or below?

If I have to buy a few unsplit cords this year I can also, I have a splitter, it would be a heck of a lot cheaper than a tank of oil!

 

[Coal Reaper]

Down and aged means nothing if still in rounds. It dont really start to season until its split. I got some ash rounds this year from a buddy that had sat on top of a rock wall in full sun that were still at 28%mc. A $5k owb will likely be needing replaced within a decade. EKOs can be had for about that cost and last three times as long if not more. Several guys here running them for sure. My vedolux was $5800 on sale. But thats only half the cost after you figure in plumbing, storage, insulation, etc. be sure to check out the sticky up top about underground lines.

 

[Dan Rondeau]

Brand New Econoburn Wood Boiler For Sale - Located in Putnam, CT

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/econoburn-150-brand-new.109661/

 

[LegendsCreekFarm]

I did see that one on Craigslist, but it's out of my budget. The reason I wanted to install this year is to utilize my refinance that was just approved. I may end up having to buy a new indoor wood stove and using that this year instead. I don't know. Right now the stove is 60 years old, and a coal stove. Inefficient and not for wood, and no blower fan. The only issue would be my attached barn. I really want the goats to be warm, and even better if I can keep the dogs out there all winter too.

 

[mikefrommaine]

I would suggest an OWB if you plan on burning pine

Why?

 

[curtis]

If your budget is 5K, I would say wait until next year or when ever you can save up more money. Because you are not going to be able to setup a gassification boiler in a remote building and have it piped into your house properly for 5K. Im sure you could get a owb setup for under 5k but in my opinion it would be a waste of money if you really want a gassification boiler.

 

[Dan Rondeau]

I understand. I am willing to barter or trade for it if you have anything of interest. I would need to get at least 1/2 in cash but I would take guns, snowmobiles, ATV's, newer equipment on trade...what do you have?

This will make a great deal for someone, we are going to be moving in December and didn't have a change to hook it up.

I have (2) 100' and (2) 20' sections of 1" wirsbo hePEX for sale as well that you could use for your attached barn and putting in a space heater. This heater in the garage could be controlled by a thermostat and also be the dump zone for any extra heat in the system. Price for the Pex is $250.

 

[Dan Rondeau]

I also have 30+ cord of 2-Year Seasoned Hardwood in Putnam, CT for sale. Call or Text Dan 860.234.0225 No delivery, pick up only. $180/cord

 

[LegendsCreekFarm]

Dan. I have a few firearms but they wouldn't be of interest to you as they are junk cheapos I bought to learn how to fire. As for heave equipment, I am buying a backhoe today, but it won't be for sale. I maybe intererested in some of your wood though. I do all my shopping in putnam.

 

[Dan Rondeau]

Give me a call when you are in the area and come check out the boiler and wood. A backhoe is exactly what I am looking for as well. What are you getting? I have a mini 2007 Kubota L3400 w/ 186 hours, loader, backhoe, 4wd, 35hp, 3pt hitch....like new for sale. $20,000. I am looking for a:

JD 310,410,510 w/ under 2500 hours and 2006 or newer. Cat as well.

 

[LegendsCreekFarm]

Dan, I am not looking for a tractor that large, and am just buying a Massey Ferguson GC2310

 

[Dan Rondeau]

If it is around $20k, check mine out on Craigslist...great deal on a bigger kubota!

 

[arbutus]

I'll recommend a used modern EPA approved wood stove to replace your current stove for a year or two while you get the funds built up. That will cut down on wood use and should improve heat output (size the stove appropriately), and will be cost effective if you shop for a good price on a used stove, you can likely sell it for close to what you paid when you move the wood burning outside.

 

[Dan Rondeau]

The only problem with buying used is that you always run the risks of issues. Why is the other person getting rid of it? These stove also have the potential to build pressure. You don't want to buy a pre-owned unit for this reason alone. You need to make sure that you have a professional install the unit because if installed improperly, it could be a dangerous situation. When shopping around to get a good plumber to install the unit, I found the cost to be right around $1000 to install it next to my oil furnace, and $1500 to install in my uninsulated garage 100' away from my oil furnace.

 

[arbutus]

Hmmm. I read that Legends has been using an old coal/wood "stove" not boiler, and advised that he save for a good complete boiler setup before abandoning the stove. My apologies if I was mistaken. Your concerns regarding used are warranted though. Check operation if possible, inspect for cracks and warping well, look for signs of overfiring, as well as for signs of general care.

 

[LegendsCreekFarm]

The coal stove I have been heating with (using wood) is in my dining room of my 1200 sq home.. I would need to replace it with an efficient wood stove, but I am not sure what you mean about hiring a plumber?

I would be willing to buy a new one, for the right price, and have a new insulated chimney stack installed while I save for the proper exterior boiler, and build up my wood reserves. I think. Still hoping for advice from you all!

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

I would suggest putting a new wood stove and liner/chimney. run that this winter. less wood burned = less mess and see if your happy. pine? dry hardwood-yes

if you want a owb then you got to save your pennies because the cost is greater. good underground pipe will be 10-16 dollars a foot.

lots of great ideas on this site. I'm sure if you search around the site you will find a reasonable solution to your desire to have the mess outside.

What ever your wood species is ; it must be dry.