Experience with, and opinions of, outdoor wood boilers.

[rckclmbr428]

The smart guys around here put up a cheap carport with the stoves opening inside, then rig up a lights on the carport and stack all the wood inside the carport. Stay dry while loading and mostly out of the weather and the wood is never far from where it's being burned.

[keith]

I have an out door wood furnace and there is some things that arnt that good , they burn more wood than an indoor one and and the size of the wood makes it not very good for woman the cheap ones do smoke more than is really necessary, but saying that I love mine, all the wood is outside (no mess) they are big pieces so just throw in a few pieces and good for the day the extra wood is a bit more but you don't have to split and pile it saving a lot of time I use it to heat my hot water tank and my hot tub and I put in about 4 pieces a day ( over 30 inches long) but that is alot of wood but I live in Canada trees all around and snow coming down

[allen84]

I helped a guy I used to work for (also a good friend) build and operate a waste oil heater that also burned wood, to heat our shop. Waste oil is easy to come by, you just need storage and a way to transfer from containers. Mixed gas can be a concern. Our setup would get hot enough to melt the stove. I'll see if I can find a pic. A more efficient version of what we had would be "cool"... far away from the house.

I also assembled a manufactured waste oil heater for another employer. It was a complicated mess to put together. Needed fine tuning sometimes but was awesome when it was running right. I'll try to remember who made it.

I'd guess the manufactured heater was less efficient (more costly) than what we made due to the electrical cost. The one we made from scrap was gravity fed and no electricity other than a blower.

[Opie21]

I helped a guy I used to work for (also a good friend) build and operate a waste oil heater that also burned wood, to heat our shop. Waste oil is easy to come by, you just need storage and a way to transfer from containers. Mixed gas can be a concern. Our setup would get hot enough to melt the stove. I'll see if I can find a pic. A more efficient version of what we had would be "cool"... far away from the house.

I also assembled a manufactured waste oil heater for another employer. It was a complicated mess to put together. Needed fine tuning sometimes but was awesome when it was running right. I'll try to remember who made it.

I'd guess the manufactured heater was less efficient (more costly) than what we made due to the electrical cost. The one we made from scrap was gravity fed and no electricity other than a blower.

I would love to see what you had for waste oil heaters. I've been stockpiling oil and looking at options. Thanks.

Sent from my SM-T377V using Tapatalk

[allen84]

I can't remember which model but it was one of these that I assembled at the sign shop. http://www.energylogic.com/waste-oil-heaters/
LOT'S of assembly required, had to be dialed in just right or it would burn out, required regular cleaning/maintenance and seems like it wasn't nearly as efficient as claimed (burned a lot of oil, also may have been undersized for our situation).

I watched the video on their website, I think that may be the auto shop down the street from the shop I worked at. I don't believe for a second they had that thing up and running in "about half a day" or they're working some long days.

[thoner7]

I did some more research and I think what I was calling a wood boiler is actually a Dual-stage wood gasification boilers (http://www.health.ny.gov/environment...b/purchase.htm)

I like the idea of adding a large water storage tank to hold heat but I am not sure if its needed or not.

[gepper]

I just bought a Central Boiler for my "under construction" pole barn and soon to start construction log home. I learned that there are two kinds...old school and new school (with gasification). The EPA is outlawing the old-school type as of April 2015 (Yes, that's why I bought one). Word is the new gasification units are more efficient meaning they burn more completely and give off less emissions. However, they are nearly twice as expensive and are quite finiky on the wood used, creosote buildup, etc. I don't even have it hooked up yet so I can't verify but that's what I was told when doing my research.

[Timberwolf]

Been there, done that, got the sooty t-shirt.

They have their merits, however you can pretty much count on.

The old style ones (had a central boiler) were horribly inefficient. If you need an extra hobby (a smoky smelly one), this could be for you. 24 hour burns are possible, in warmish weather (think around freezing) but not when it's -20c or lower. I used between 20-30 full cords of wood a year to heat a 1500 square foot bungalow (with basement) and DHW for a typical Ontario winter (did not use it in the summer).

Expect clouds of smoke during spring thaws when the boiler goes to standby then fires up for a heat load.
Expect to replace an older style unit in under 10 years when it rots out (the quality of your water will factor in here).
Expect to pay ALOT of money for the new gasifier version (last quote i got was 18K!!)
Expect a lot of maintenance.
Expect alot MORE maintenance for the newer gasifier models
Expect to burn out a couple of expensive pumps
Expect overboil during sudden temperature increases
Good luck finding someone to load the thing daily if you decided to go on a vaction in the winter if you don't want it to freeze (or get a dual fuel system for more $$).
If you have neighbours within 500ft downwind, expect complaints.

I love radiant heat, but there are better ways to get there (and a DHW tank won't likely get you there either).

[eduncan911]

What is a DHW tank?

[rreidnauer]

Domestic Hot Water (potable)