Hello all. I found this forum a couple of weeks ago and reading the various posts here sure has got me interested in a Gasification Boiler. I downloaded the Slant/Fin ((broken link removed)) Heat Loss Software and that tells me my peak heating load is 65,000 BTU for my 4,000 square foot three level house here in Maryland based on 0 degree outside temperature and 70 degree inside. I assume that means a smaller boiler would be appropriate for me, like a Tarm 30 or EKO 25 or 40. I currently have two Heat Pumps, one supplying the Basement and 1st floor and one supplying the 2nd floor. I am comparing the costs of the following two scenarios:
Option A - Installing a Wood boiler system tied into my two forced air heat pump systems and also plumed to provide DHW. I would also use it to feed a radiant floor heating loop I want to install in about 140 square feet of bathroom and closet that is positioned above my garage.
Option B - Install a second wood stove in my basement with a new (start from scratch) chimney and also install a Solar Hot Water Heater to provide DHW. This system would also require that I install an air duct from my basement to the second floor to connect to the cold air return on the second floor heat pump in an attempt to mechanically redistribute warm basement air to the second floor. For safety, the stove would use an outside air kit and the return air duct would be 10 feet away from the stove and equipped with a smoke/carbon dioxide alarm and an automatic fire damper.
A quick back-of-the-napkin calculation shows the costs of the boiler system would be about 10% more but I'm sure it would also result in a much more even and comfortable heat distribution throughout the house. However, the Boiler would also require me to construct a small out-building to house the boiler and water storage tank. That could drive the costs up considerably but the building could serve a dual purpose boiler room / shed role so I am not factoring that cost too heavily at this point. The outbuilding would also sit pretty close to the house, about 25 feet, so I'm assuming that it wouldn’t result in too much of an efficiency penalty.
How does one go about designing a wood boiler system? I inquired with a couple of manufactures for local installers but so far no luck. In any case, I guess I'd also like to do as much of the work I can myself but I would plan on hiring a local HVAC contractor for assistance in installing the water/air heat exchangers in my air ducts. I'm comfortable doing plumbing work but it would seem a system of this type has to be designed properly to work well if at all.
I would only want to feed the boiler once a day during the heating season, maybe twice a day if it's really cold or we are using more heat then usual. Is that a reasonable expectation? Assuming you are using properly seasoned wood, how easy is it to start a cold boiler? Can I just load in a few cubic feet of wood, some kindling and paper, light a match and walk away? Do they need any attention during the burn cycle? What kind of maintenance does a boiler require?
Thanks for your help.
Option A - Installing a Wood boiler system tied into my two forced air heat pump systems and also plumed to provide DHW. I would also use it to feed a radiant floor heating loop I want to install in about 140 square feet of bathroom and closet that is positioned above my garage.
Option B - Install a second wood stove in my basement with a new (start from scratch) chimney and also install a Solar Hot Water Heater to provide DHW. This system would also require that I install an air duct from my basement to the second floor to connect to the cold air return on the second floor heat pump in an attempt to mechanically redistribute warm basement air to the second floor. For safety, the stove would use an outside air kit and the return air duct would be 10 feet away from the stove and equipped with a smoke/carbon dioxide alarm and an automatic fire damper.
A quick back-of-the-napkin calculation shows the costs of the boiler system would be about 10% more but I'm sure it would also result in a much more even and comfortable heat distribution throughout the house. However, the Boiler would also require me to construct a small out-building to house the boiler and water storage tank. That could drive the costs up considerably but the building could serve a dual purpose boiler room / shed role so I am not factoring that cost too heavily at this point. The outbuilding would also sit pretty close to the house, about 25 feet, so I'm assuming that it wouldn’t result in too much of an efficiency penalty.
How does one go about designing a wood boiler system? I inquired with a couple of manufactures for local installers but so far no luck. In any case, I guess I'd also like to do as much of the work I can myself but I would plan on hiring a local HVAC contractor for assistance in installing the water/air heat exchangers in my air ducts. I'm comfortable doing plumbing work but it would seem a system of this type has to be designed properly to work well if at all.
I would only want to feed the boiler once a day during the heating season, maybe twice a day if it's really cold or we are using more heat then usual. Is that a reasonable expectation? Assuming you are using properly seasoned wood, how easy is it to start a cold boiler? Can I just load in a few cubic feet of wood, some kindling and paper, light a match and walk away? Do they need any attention during the burn cycle? What kind of maintenance does a boiler require?
Thanks for your help.
