Sime Boiler/Furnace

[gac17]

Hi all,

Earlier this year I discussed with several of you some heating options for my new home. I still haven't made any decisions but an opportunity has come up to buy what has been described to me as a "Sime indoor wood furnace from the 1990s capable of working with a oil burner". Very little info and even less available online.

This might be a good chance to invest in some of the plumbing, storage, outbuilding without blowing the bank, until I can save up for a nice gasifier.

Does anyone know anything about these units? What to look for? How to set up? Good to use storage? Good For an outbuilding? Etc.

Thanks again for all your help. I'll update if I get more info.

 

[brenndatomu]

Sime? Never heard of it...

 

[gac17]

Sime? Never heard of it...

From what I understand it’s an older cast iron unit made in Italy.

 

[PassionForFire&Water]

"Invest" in technology from "1990" "for your new home" "without breaking the bank" ............ ???
Run, and don't look back, from this "opportunity"

My advise to you: do it once, do it wright or don't bother
Keep reading this forum

It's 5:23AM

 

[gac17]

"Invest" in technology from "1990" "for your new home" "without breaking the bank" ............ ???
Run, and don't look back, from this "opportunity"

My advise to you: do it once, do it wright or don't bother
Keep reading this forum

It's 5:23AM

Ya I hear you. Thought it might be an ok idea to spend up on building a nice outbuilding, getting the pipes in and some storage, realize a year or 2 of savings, then get the good boy boiler.

Your attitude is usually how I think, I’m just excited to get started on this, and just forked over a bunch of money today for propane and heating oil.

 

[peakbagger]

There is fundamental disconnect between buying an indoor wood boiler and then installing it in an outbuilding. Sure it will work but realistically it takes a 2 to 4 hour period to charge up storage, during that period you will need to be going in and out to the boiler every 30 minutes to an hour. Not very practical in winter. I would suggest possibly adding an addition to the house to put the boiler and the storage into so that you can feed it from the indoors.

That said, I have an ancient old technology wood boiler that I salvaged for free. I did install if without storage and I could use it in very cold weather or when I was away and wanted to heat the house up. I did not use it in shoulder seasons as once that air damper closes its a smoke dragon/creosote maker. It did cut my wood usage in my woodstove. A few years later I bought storage and once hooked up I haven't bought oil since. Realistically with storage, you can get most of the bang for the buck from an old tech wood boiler as when you are using storage even an old boiler is pretty efficient as long as its on full fire.

A significant caution is if the boiler doesn't have certification plates, you probably can not install it in many areas and your insurance will most likely not cover it.

By the way generally a wood furnace refers to hot air system and a wood boiler and storage apply to a hydronic system.

 

[gac17]

All great points. Like I said I Know very little about that unit didn’t know exactly what it did.

Anyway, more and more I think I am just going to end up with an outdoor unit like a heatmaster and put a nice roof over it for wood storage and protection from elements. Might as well use a unit built for that purpose As much as I’d like to put an indoor unit in my basement, I know that will lead to me making a mess and storing wood down there. Not to mention the wife doesn’t want it down there.

Thanks again for the great discussion.

 

[peakbagger]

Make sure OWBs are legal in CT, they are banned or seriously restricted in many New England States. Definitely look into state and local ordinances and be careful as some wood boiler sellers are not up to speed on the laws. Be careful with used units as they may not meet the current standards.

 

[maple1]

There is fundamental disconnect between buying an indoor wood boiler and then installing it in an outbuilding. Sure it will work but realistically it takes a 2 to 4 hour period to charge up storage, during that period you will need to be going in and out to the boiler every 30 minutes to an hour. Not very practical in winter. I would suggest possibly adding an addition to the house to put the boiler and the storage into so that you can feed it from the indoors.

A disconnect & the practicality thing depends what you would be comparing it to. If you also might have an outbuilding that you could want to use and keep some heat in all winter, and maybe also has room for the winters wood, and you definitely want the fire & wood out of the house, then it could start to look very practical and not too disconnected if comparing to a typical OWB.