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Natures Comfort / Re: Natures Comfort vs. Central Boiler
« on: February 07, 2015, 10:47:53 AM »
Sorry, It's been a while since I've checked this Site. If I'm heating my garage too, and the temps are below freezing, I have to fully load the boiler twice a day, (morning & evening). At the same temps, if I close or nearly close down the garage zone, I still load it twice a day, but each time it's only about half of a load instead of a full load each time. I was having some initial problems with my aquastat not triggering the blower, so when it began working, I had left the temp differential set at 5 degrees from before while I was trouble shooting it. A few days later, while inspecting everything to see why it was burning SO much wood and having really short burn times, I discovered what I had done and set it back to a 15 degrees, per the instructions. This decreased the wood consumption by quite a bit. I had a little bit of a learning curve, but I think that I've got it figured out now.
One of the 8 zones, (within the original structure), doesn't currently have an automatic zone valve on it. It has a thermostat, and wires that run into my water closet, but no zone valve. How silly is that... Anyway, as the seasons change and we turn the heat off for the year, I plan on installing one. Then we'll have thermostatic controlled zone valves on 7 of the 8 zones and my wood consumption should go down even more. I tentatively plan on installing a thermostat and zone valve inside my garage to operate the garage zone too, after I get the construction materials and tools moved out and I start spending more time in there working on my hobbies. My garage zone is controlled via a manual ball valve currently and it's tough to get a constant inside temp as the outside temps change.
I'm extremely happy with my choice to install a wood burning boiler! The propane bill would have broke the bank...
One of the 8 zones, (within the original structure), doesn't currently have an automatic zone valve on it. It has a thermostat, and wires that run into my water closet, but no zone valve. How silly is that... Anyway, as the seasons change and we turn the heat off for the year, I plan on installing one. Then we'll have thermostatic controlled zone valves on 7 of the 8 zones and my wood consumption should go down even more. I tentatively plan on installing a thermostat and zone valve inside my garage to operate the garage zone too, after I get the construction materials and tools moved out and I start spending more time in there working on my hobbies. My garage zone is controlled via a manual ball valve currently and it's tough to get a constant inside temp as the outside temps change.
I'm extremely happy with my choice to install a wood burning boiler! The propane bill would have broke the bank...
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Natures Comfort / Re: Natures Comfort vs. Central Boiler
« on: January 06, 2015, 05:34:27 PM »
Follow up: I bought the NCB-400G from RSI and installed it in November. It's a beast with a veracious appetite, but I couldn't be happier with it. RSI sold me some 5 ply wrapped / insulated pex lines with it that are the bees knees. I only have a couple of degrees temp drop in a 150' underground run. I've read about people having snow melt on top of pex buried 30+ inches underground and I don't know what product they bought, but I've got a short segment of mine that pops out of the ground to run into the house and snow sits directly on top of the external corrugated tile shell without melting.
After feeding the beast and watching smoke roll out of the chimney, then turning around to see no exhaust coming our of my gas boiler stack, gives me a big ol' smile to start my every morning.
We just got hit with 8+ inches of snow and a couple days worth of an arctic blast, and you wouldn't know it inside the house. I am super pleased with my purchase.
Thank you Nature's Comfort and thank you RSI!!!
After feeding the beast and watching smoke roll out of the chimney, then turning around to see no exhaust coming our of my gas boiler stack, gives me a big ol' smile to start my every morning.
We just got hit with 8+ inches of snow and a couple days worth of an arctic blast, and you wouldn't know it inside the house. I am super pleased with my purchase.
Thank you Nature's Comfort and thank you RSI!!!
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Natures Comfort / Re: Natures Comfort vs. Central Boiler
« on: June 11, 2014, 02:26:56 PM »
slimjim, both models racnruss recommended are absolute monsters that produce way more BTUs than I need, and are quite a bit more expensive than the Central Boiler and Nature's Comfort models I'm asking about. That's where I was interpreting the sarcasm from. I apologize if I offended anyone.
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Natures Comfort / Re: Natures Comfort vs. Central Boiler
« on: June 11, 2014, 08:07:09 AM »
racnruss and slimjim, I don't understand why the sarcasm is necessary. I'm not trying to go for complete overkill, just wanting to make sure whatever I choose will adequately meet my home heating needs.
A majority of the reviews I've read about both the CL 6048 and NCB-325G were from people heating 3k+- ft2 homes and maybe an out building or two. Out buildings don't usually need to be heated as warm as homes do, so it seems like many of the people who have either of these makes / models are only working them at around 1/2 capacity. I'm now entertaining the NCB-400G because it holds less than 10 gallons more water than, and produces the same 500k BTUs as the CL 6048.
Stainless steel is not an option, and my research has narrowed my search down to Central Boiler and Nature's Comfort. I'm posing real world questions here in an attempt to make the best possible purchase.
A majority of the reviews I've read about both the CL 6048 and NCB-325G were from people heating 3k+- ft2 homes and maybe an out building or two. Out buildings don't usually need to be heated as warm as homes do, so it seems like many of the people who have either of these makes / models are only working them at around 1/2 capacity. I'm now entertaining the NCB-400G because it holds less than 10 gallons more water than, and produces the same 500k BTUs as the CL 6048.
Stainless steel is not an option, and my research has narrowed my search down to Central Boiler and Nature's Comfort. I'm posing real world questions here in an attempt to make the best possible purchase.
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Natures Comfort / Re: Natures Comfort vs. Central Boiler
« on: June 10, 2014, 07:44:23 PM »
RSI, the NCB-400G doesn't look like it's been on the market long. Got any real world experience with it and / or feedback about it? It looks like it's just got a 10" taller fire box and larger water tank capacity than the NCB-325G. Are there any other differences? Thanks
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Natures Comfort / Re: Natures Comfort vs. Central Boiler
« on: June 09, 2014, 09:06:37 AM »
Racnruss, I didn't calculate the dimensions of the ripples in the top of the CL 6048, and I didn't calculate the dimensions of the chimney of the NCB-325G either, so my calcs are rough only. It would be nice if both manufacturers accurately calculated and made all of these data points available to the public.
I personally prefer the design of the Nature's Comfort over the Central Boiler due to the separate ash pan, forced air, and the simplistic design of the firebox leads me to believe is less likely to have weld failures. (Simplicity is GOOD!)
After a large newly completed addition, this coming winter I will be heating my 6k ft2 (more or less) well insulated home and 1k ft2 (more or less) well insulated attached garage via hydronic baseboard heat in the lower level and hydronic radiant floor & baseboard heat in the upper level, along with DHW for the entire house. I may be pushing both the CL 6048 and NCB-325G pretty hard to keep up with my heating demands, and I want to make sure I choose the better of the two performers that will last the longest with the least amount of issues over the duration.
The additional water capacity and BTU's of the CB 6048 lead me to believe that it may be the better choice for my heating needs, but I do lean towards the NCB-325G for the reasons I listed above.
Please help me make the right decision. I am having a tough time making up my mind here and need some professional advice. Thanks!
I personally prefer the design of the Nature's Comfort over the Central Boiler due to the separate ash pan, forced air, and the simplistic design of the firebox leads me to believe is less likely to have weld failures. (Simplicity is GOOD!)
After a large newly completed addition, this coming winter I will be heating my 6k ft2 (more or less) well insulated home and 1k ft2 (more or less) well insulated attached garage via hydronic baseboard heat in the lower level and hydronic radiant floor & baseboard heat in the upper level, along with DHW for the entire house. I may be pushing both the CL 6048 and NCB-325G pretty hard to keep up with my heating demands, and I want to make sure I choose the better of the two performers that will last the longest with the least amount of issues over the duration.
The additional water capacity and BTU's of the CB 6048 lead me to believe that it may be the better choice for my heating needs, but I do lean towards the NCB-325G for the reasons I listed above.
Please help me make the right decision. I am having a tough time making up my mind here and need some professional advice. Thanks!
7
Natures Comfort / Re: Natures Comfort vs. Central Boiler
« on: June 06, 2014, 09:08:57 AM »
This is how they measure up side by side:
CL 6048 NCB-325G
BTU 500,000 (I believe) 460,000
Firebox Cap 60 ft3 (my calc) 28.5 ft3
Heat Transfer Area 119 ft2 (94 ft2 my calc) 51 ft2 (my calc)
Separate Ash Pan None 39”D x 11.75”W x 4”H
Water Jacket Thickness
3/16"
Firebox Thickness 1/4"
Water Cap 393 gal 325 gal
Firebox Dim 60" x 48" x 36" 54"D x 30"W x 36"H
Door Dim 23" x 31" 27"W x 25.5"H
Weight 2,450 lbs 2,313 lbs
Current Price $8,570 $8,480
Warranty 25 yr limited 20 yr limited
The Central Boiler 6048 has much more heat transfer surface area, firebox capacity, and water capacity, but only produces 40,000 more BTU's than the NCB-325G (per the #'s).
The Nature's Comfort 325G has an oval firebox with less linear welding to fail, and minimal corner welds to fail.
I've read several reviews of both and both have similar stats when it comes to good and bad reviews.
$90, 5 years in warranty coverage, and 40,000 btus separating these two should make them pretty similar comparisons.
My question is, side by side, which is the better of these two boilers?
CL 6048 NCB-325G
BTU 500,000 (I believe) 460,000
Firebox Cap 60 ft3 (my calc) 28.5 ft3
Heat Transfer Area 119 ft2 (94 ft2 my calc) 51 ft2 (my calc)
Separate Ash Pan None 39”D x 11.75”W x 4”H
Water Jacket Thickness
3/16"Firebox Thickness
1/4"Water Cap 393 gal 325 gal
Firebox Dim 60" x 48" x 36" 54"D x 30"W x 36"H
Door Dim 23" x 31" 27"W x 25.5"H
Weight 2,450 lbs 2,313 lbs
Current Price $8,570 $8,480
Warranty 25 yr limited 20 yr limited
The Central Boiler 6048 has much more heat transfer surface area, firebox capacity, and water capacity, but only produces 40,000 more BTU's than the NCB-325G (per the #'s).
The Nature's Comfort 325G has an oval firebox with less linear welding to fail, and minimal corner welds to fail.
I've read several reviews of both and both have similar stats when it comes to good and bad reviews.
$90, 5 years in warranty coverage, and 40,000 btus separating these two should make them pretty similar comparisons.
My question is, side by side, which is the better of these two boilers?
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Natures Comfort / Re: NCB-325
« on: February 17, 2014, 09:02:59 AM »
racnruss, I live between Altoona and Pleasant Hill. I would gladly take as much wood as you'd be willing to get rid of, as long as it's not all sticks and small limbs and such. Thank you! I can take the small stuff too, but I build brush piles for the little critters with it.
I decided to pass on the 325 at this time, at least until I am able to gather enough positive feedback about it to justify the purchase. I don't feel confident it will meet my heating needs, and believe it is still a bit high priced for the year and model, being a used unit. I've got between now and next heating season to make my purchase, so no need to rush into a decision that may cause me headaches in the future.
I really like the new Nature's Comfort NCB-325G. The Central Boiler CB-6048 sounds like a good boiler too that would meet my heating needs.
I decided to pass on the 325 at this time, at least until I am able to gather enough positive feedback about it to justify the purchase. I don't feel confident it will meet my heating needs, and believe it is still a bit high priced for the year and model, being a used unit. I've got between now and next heating season to make my purchase, so no need to rush into a decision that may cause me headaches in the future.
I really like the new Nature's Comfort NCB-325G. The Central Boiler CB-6048 sounds like a good boiler too that would meet my heating needs.
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Natures Comfort / Re: NCB-325
« on: February 15, 2014, 12:04:09 PM »
I live just East of Des Moines. The living area of my current home is right around 3k sqft, and I'm building an addition that is more than doubling the size of my current home, plus a large attached garage. I plan on stubbing radiant heat water lines into the garage, but don't plan on heating it initially in order to make sure the boiler can handle the load of the rest of the house. My house is a two level walkout ranch style built into the side of a hill, so in the back there is one level above grade and in the front there are two levels above grade. Baseboard heat in the lower level and radiant floor heating plus baseboard heat in the upper level. It's a brick home with R21 fiberglass insulated 5.5" external timber framed walls, quality windows, and R60 blown in cellulose insulation in the attic. I will run R30 fiberglass insulation in the garage ceiling, (due to living area above garage), and R21 fiberglass insulation in the wall that separates the garage from the mud room. So, it is and will be a pretty well insulated structure. The radiant floor heating system in the upper level covers a lot of square footage and is great at distributing the heat evenly. The baseboard heat in the lower level doesn't do as good a job as the radiant floor heat, but because it's 1/2 under grade, it's relatively pleasant on the lower level year round without running heat or AC.
I am currently running a Viessmann Vitodens 200 propane boiler that will remain hooked up and become strictly a backup system in emergencies. The Viessmann is super high efficiency and sized right for my current home, and yet my monthly budget billing for propane is still $200 per month, 12 months a year. That's ridiculousness in my opinion and doubling that to heat my home after the addition is completely outrageous. That's why I'm moving to an OWB and want to make sure I'm spending my money wisely and not inheriting a huge headache and buyers remorse with my purchase. I've got plenty of timber to cut and already have a couple years worth of dried hardwood stacked and ready to burn. I've wanted to get an OWB since we bought our place 4 years ago, but decided to wait to buy one big enough to heat everything after we had finished doing what we wanted to do with our home.
That's the long version of my situation. The short is that I will be heating a 6k+ sqft home, via radiant floor heating and baseboard systems, plus DHW. I really like the current NCB-325G model boiler and believe it would do a fine job heating my home without needing to feed it more than twice a day, (on average). The older NCB-325 model from pre 2009 is the unit that I am questioning specifically. It's only been used for two heating seasons, (2011-12 & 2012-13), and is priced under a new largest Ridgewood model. Is the older used NCB-325 model a good quality boiler that will heat my home and preform the way I want it to, or should I spend the extra money and get a new NCB-325G?
I've gone the route of buying, selling and replacing things in the past and I don't enjoy the additional hassle. I'd rather buy once, cry once if it means I'm making the right buy the first time. I've got my hands full with building my addition right now that I am looking forward to relaxing a bit after I'm done. If the boiler ends up being too small to do the job, my relaxation will be cut short.
Thanks again, BID
I am currently running a Viessmann Vitodens 200 propane boiler that will remain hooked up and become strictly a backup system in emergencies. The Viessmann is super high efficiency and sized right for my current home, and yet my monthly budget billing for propane is still $200 per month, 12 months a year. That's ridiculousness in my opinion and doubling that to heat my home after the addition is completely outrageous. That's why I'm moving to an OWB and want to make sure I'm spending my money wisely and not inheriting a huge headache and buyers remorse with my purchase. I've got plenty of timber to cut and already have a couple years worth of dried hardwood stacked and ready to burn. I've wanted to get an OWB since we bought our place 4 years ago, but decided to wait to buy one big enough to heat everything after we had finished doing what we wanted to do with our home.
That's the long version of my situation. The short is that I will be heating a 6k+ sqft home, via radiant floor heating and baseboard systems, plus DHW. I really like the current NCB-325G model boiler and believe it would do a fine job heating my home without needing to feed it more than twice a day, (on average). The older NCB-325 model from pre 2009 is the unit that I am questioning specifically. It's only been used for two heating seasons, (2011-12 & 2012-13), and is priced under a new largest Ridgewood model. Is the older used NCB-325 model a good quality boiler that will heat my home and preform the way I want it to, or should I spend the extra money and get a new NCB-325G?
I've gone the route of buying, selling and replacing things in the past and I don't enjoy the additional hassle. I'd rather buy once, cry once if it means I'm making the right buy the first time. I've got my hands full with building my addition right now that I am looking forward to relaxing a bit after I'm done. If the boiler ends up being too small to do the job, my relaxation will be cut short.
Thanks again, BID
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Natures Comfort / Re: NCB-325
« on: February 13, 2014, 10:33:35 AM »
I live in central Iowa. Is the older model 325 worth more than it's weight in scrap metal? Will it heat my 6k+ sqft home without me needing to feed it more than twice a day?
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Natures Comfort / Re: NCB-325
« on: February 12, 2014, 06:09:39 PM »
Yes, I've seen the new 325G video. It looks and sounds like a really nice boiler. Of course, they want a premium for it too. The used one I'm in the process of buying is I believe a 325, (no "G"). I'm attempting to find out what it's build year is because it was purchased new from the dealer late in 2011. If I could get a 325G at this price, it would be a no brainer. Just trying to make sure I'm not getting a bad boiler that's not worth it's weight as scrap.
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Natures Comfort / Re: NCB-325
« on: February 12, 2014, 08:33:52 AM »
Just got off the phone with the Technical Department at Nature's Comfort. They told me that the old 325 model with the dimensions I provided him hasn't been built since 2008 or 2009.
He told me the following: The old model had a longer and smaller 'Round' firebox. Smaller blower. Smaller upper oxygen feeder pipe. Smaller loading door. Exhaust pipe didn't stick down as far. Water jacket didn't encompass the exhaust pipe. Roughly the same BTU's as the new 250 model. Had troubles burning wood at the back of the firebox. In short, that there was a reason they no longer make it and have replaced it with the better 325G model.
Everything he told me made perfect sense, but it was coming from a possibly biased source, with interest in promoting new boiler model sales.
What are your thoughts? Should I stay away from this older 325 model no matter what the price? If it's in new/factory running condition, will I have issues with it heating my 6k+ sqft home and not need to feed it more than twice a day?
He told me the following: The old model had a longer and smaller 'Round' firebox. Smaller blower. Smaller upper oxygen feeder pipe. Smaller loading door. Exhaust pipe didn't stick down as far. Water jacket didn't encompass the exhaust pipe. Roughly the same BTU's as the new 250 model. Had troubles burning wood at the back of the firebox. In short, that there was a reason they no longer make it and have replaced it with the better 325G model.
Everything he told me made perfect sense, but it was coming from a possibly biased source, with interest in promoting new boiler model sales.
What are your thoughts? Should I stay away from this older 325 model no matter what the price? If it's in new/factory running condition, will I have issues with it heating my 6k+ sqft home and not need to feed it more than twice a day?
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Natures Comfort / Re: NCB-325
« on: February 12, 2014, 07:46:11 AM »
Thanks RSI! Is the old 325 model a good / sturdy / reliable boiler as compared to the new model?
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Natures Comfort / Re: NCB-325
« on: February 11, 2014, 07:15:40 PM »
Just found out that the 3 year old used NCB-325 I'm buying has the following dimensions: 96" L x 46 1/2" W x 90" H / 2626 lbs / 342,000 BTU / 8,000 sqft / as compared to the new NCB-325G: 85" L x 50" W x 89" H / 2313 lbs / 460,000 BTU / 10,000 sqft.
I know that the NCB-325 firebox used to be built from 3/8" steel as compared to the 1/4" steel used today, so I'm assuming that's where the difference in weight and BTUs, (heat transfer rates of different steel thicknesses), is coming from. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Are there any known issues / flaws with the older / thicker steel firebox NCB-325 model? What are the differences between this used model and a new model, other than the firebox thickness? The large difference between the BTU's has me concerned there are some major differences.
Thanks again in advance.
I know that the NCB-325 firebox used to be built from 3/8" steel as compared to the 1/4" steel used today, so I'm assuming that's where the difference in weight and BTUs, (heat transfer rates of different steel thicknesses), is coming from. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Are there any known issues / flaws with the older / thicker steel firebox NCB-325 model? What are the differences between this used model and a new model, other than the firebox thickness? The large difference between the BTU's has me concerned there are some major differences.
Thanks again in advance.
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Natures Comfort / NCB-325
« on: February 11, 2014, 08:21:45 AM »
I'm in the process of buying a 3 year old NCB-325. I've done a ton of research and am confident I have made a good choice for heating my 6k+ sqft home, (after the addition is complete this summer). The question I have is, what differences, (if any), are there between a NCB-325 2010/11 model and a 2013/14 model? Thanks in advance!
This Website has been invaluable to me in researching OWB and I greatly appreciate all of the contributors and moderators!
This Website has been invaluable to me in researching OWB and I greatly appreciate all of the contributors and moderators!
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