Multi fuel boilers worth it or "jack of all traits, master of none"?

[sardo_67]

After many years of heating with wood either growing up or now that i have my own house i am starting to get tired of all the time and effort wood heating takes and in 4 to 5 years i will be out of free wood that i can actually count on being there when i need it. After that i think i will need to buy ruck loads, the last one i got was $500 log lengths, maybe 4 cords at most and wood prices in crease every year. if i have to buy fuel again that isn't oil i want to get something easy to store, manage, small footprint, easy to move, low cost, low effort, so if i have to dump a bag or two into a hopper once a week or even 24/48hr that's ok.

i am looking at upgrading to a high end wood gassifier boiler like the Froling that HS Tarm imports, i also see they make a pellet version, then i have also found boilers that claim they can burn wood, coal and pellets depending on their configuration. From what i found on google its a pretty extensive kit to change fuel types on this one i linked here http://www.ecoheatonline.com/9_futura_econo.htm

the concept is sound, one base unit with different mods to allow different fuel types, however in reality how well does that actually work? the froling can get up to and maybe even over a 90% system efficiency when dialed in and water storage is used which is very hard to beat.

does anyone here have experience with the newer multi fuel boilers?


i have a feeling a fuel specific boiler can get around 90% while a multi fuel can get to 80% on all 3 fuel types if you're lucky.

 

[Ssyko]

You might get a better response if you posted in the boiler section. There are a few pellet heads that may dabble.

 

[sardo_67]

oh i thought this was for the other stuff but i see "stoves" now.



do i have to repost this or can an admin move it for me?

 

[Ssyko]

Moderator will probably do it when its seen. Your welcome to hang with us pelletheads for now

 

[sardo_67]

Moderator will probably do it when its seen. Your welcome to hang with us pelletheads for now

hahah it's not that i don't want to i just don't want to be the dumbass posting in the wrong area, although kinda too late for that.

there's also a pretty good chance i'll be one of you guys in a few years. my coworker here said his pellet supplier is getting set up for bulk pellet deliveries via hose and blower which interests me a lot so no moving bags around while having an even cheaper price per ton.

 

[Ssyko]

i wish we had that up here id build a hopper so fast!

 

[JRemington]

i wish we had that up here id build a hopper so fast!

Curran has one. We thought about it until we heard what a nightmare it is. I looked into it. There’s a lot of loss. Why don’t we just put a NYSERDA pellet boiler at your house.

 

[JRemington]

After many years of heating with wood either growing up or now that i have my own house i am starting to get tired of all the time and effort wood heating takes and in 4 to 5 years i will be out of free wood that i can actually count on being there when i need it. After that i think i will need to buy ruck loads, the last one i got was $500 log lengths, maybe 4 cords at most and wood prices in crease every year. if i have to buy fuel again that isn't oil i want to get something easy to store, manage, small footprint, easy to move, low cost, low effort, so if i have to dump a bag or two into a hopper once a week or even 24/48hr that's ok.

i am looking at upgrading to a high end wood gassifier boiler like the Froling that HS Tarm imports, i also see they make a pellet version, then i have also found boilers that claim they can burn wood, coal and pellets depending on their configuration. From what i found on google its a pretty extensive kit to change fuel types on this one i linked here http://www.ecoheatonline.com/9_futura_econo.htm

the concept is sound, one base unit with different mods to allow different fuel types, however in reality how well does that actually work? the froling can get up to and maybe even over a 90% system efficiency when dialed in and water storage is used which is very hard to beat.

does anyone here have experience with the newer multi fuel boilers?


i have a feeling a fuel specific boiler can get around 90% while a multi fuel can get to 80% on all 3 fuel types if you're lucky.

What state are you located in?

 

[Ssyko]

Curran has one. We thought about it until we heard what a nightmare it is. I looked into it. There’s a lot of loss. Why don’t we just put a NYSERDA pellet boiler at your house.

No boiler for me. My house wants a Maxx

 

[sardo_67]

What state are you located in?

I am in mid western CT, not too far from waterbury

 

[JRemington]

I am in mid western CT, not too far from waterbury

So you have access to anthracite. I’d take a look at the DS Aqua Gem boiler.

 

[maple1]

Have you checked out the classified section?

Someone is or was selling a Windhager pellet boiler there a while ago (a very top end boiler), and someone else just posted a couple days ago a whole wood boiler/storage system, Varm, a very good system. I think Varm has a pellet head you could swap into it but check the Smokeless Heat site or email them to find out. (Check out the Smokeless site anyway - some decent deals [and ideas] on there last I looked). Thing is, with good things like that that pop up for sale, you need to know what you want and have your mind made up, & you need to be ready to jump on it right away. But those are two deals I would be all over if I was looking for a boiler, pellet or wood.

Usually, generally speaking, one unit for each fuel choice has been the conventional wisdom, as there is usually compromises in dual fuel units. But that might be more speaking of wood/oil combos.

(If this doesn't get moved to the boiler section soon, ask a mod to move it).

 

[sardo_67]

So you have access to anthracite. I’d take a look at the DS Aqua Gem boiler.

oh i meant for bulk pellets, guy i work with buys 2 pallets from him a year and wants to go bulk but no one offers it around here yet.

my entire reasoning for going away from wood is to have basically zero handling of the fuel

 

[maple1]

oh i meant for bulk pellets, guy i work with buys 2 pallets from him a year and wants to go bulk but no one offers it around here yet.

my entire reasoning for going away from wood is to have basically zero handling of the fuel

Sounds like you still want to burn wood from your OP?

 

[Highbeam]

oh i meant for bulk pellets, guy i work with buys 2 pallets from him a year and wants to go bulk but no one offers it around here yet.

my entire reasoning for going away from wood is to have basically zero handling of the fuel

Looking for something other than firewood for my 1800 sf shop too. Have tubes in the slab. Interested in your thread wherever it lands!

 

[sardo_67]

Looking for something other than firewood for my 1800 sf shop too. Have tubes in the slab. Interested in your thread wherever it lands!

if you don't have a boiler yet then i'd say just get a pellet boiler with an auger feed system from a large hopper as i'm not sure if you can get bulk coal out in the PNW like on the east coast.

some good info here as it seems there are quite a few European countries making multi fuel boilers that work.
https://coalpail.com/coal-forum/viewtopic.php?f=71&t=49200