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16
Central Boiler / Re: CB3200 Leaking
« on: December 08, 2012, 02:22:50 PM »
Central Boiler is the biggest maker of outdoor boilers. I've been considering one for a bit. There is a dealer about 10 miles down the road from me.
After reading this post, I looked at the Central Boiler website. Most companies that build boilers brag about their great welds. I saw none of this in their literature. They only slammed stainless steel, no doubt to discourage purchasers of their close competitor, Heatmor. Then I browsed the web a bit. It looks like Central Boiler has a big problem with welds. I saw a lot of complaints of leaks. I wonder if their factory is automated with robot welders or whether the welding is done by hand.
Since they are the biggest in the business, it would be expected that there would be some more complaints about their product, but there seems to be a disproportionate amount. I also know a guy who bought one of their units and had bad welds.
These complaints are bad advertising for potential customers like me. These things are expensive and labor intensive to install, I'm thinking most potential buyers will check out websites like this one prior to making a purchase. I hope Central Boiler has a change in position and will pay for some welding on site. Good luck!
After reading this post, I looked at the Central Boiler website. Most companies that build boilers brag about their great welds. I saw none of this in their literature. They only slammed stainless steel, no doubt to discourage purchasers of their close competitor, Heatmor. Then I browsed the web a bit. It looks like Central Boiler has a big problem with welds. I saw a lot of complaints of leaks. I wonder if their factory is automated with robot welders or whether the welding is done by hand.
Since they are the biggest in the business, it would be expected that there would be some more complaints about their product, but there seems to be a disproportionate amount. I also know a guy who bought one of their units and had bad welds.
These complaints are bad advertising for potential customers like me. These things are expensive and labor intensive to install, I'm thinking most potential buyers will check out websites like this one prior to making a purchase. I hope Central Boiler has a change in position and will pay for some welding on site. Good luck!
17
Central Boiler / Re: Pics of my install as I go
« on: December 08, 2012, 11:06:47 AM »
Maybe Central Boiler should use your pictures as promotional material. They are good!
The baffle you put in makes a longer path for the smoke (exhaust). I'll bet the smoke stays in the boiler just a little longer. This gives it more time to transfer the heat to your boiler. I also wonder if you have better combustion since the smoke has to go to the top part of the boiler where it's the hottest. The unburned gases in the smoke may then have a chance to burn giving you more heat and a cleaner burn. My wood stove has a sliding baffle and I really see a difference when it's pulled out.
I hope you give an update and pictures on how it works on a really cold day. I wonder if heat loss from the Pex will melt the snow above.
The baffle you put in makes a longer path for the smoke (exhaust). I'll bet the smoke stays in the boiler just a little longer. This gives it more time to transfer the heat to your boiler. I also wonder if you have better combustion since the smoke has to go to the top part of the boiler where it's the hottest. The unburned gases in the smoke may then have a chance to burn giving you more heat and a cleaner burn. My wood stove has a sliding baffle and I really see a difference when it's pulled out.
I hope you give an update and pictures on how it works on a really cold day. I wonder if heat loss from the Pex will melt the snow above.
18
Site Suggestions / Re: What part of the country?
« on: December 03, 2012, 09:10:41 PM »
The U.P. of course. (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) Yah, part of da Nort Country, eh!
19
General Discussion / Re: Don't Own One
« on: December 02, 2012, 09:50:49 AM »
I put my original post out in 2010 and every Winter I wonder whether I should get an outdoor boiler. I did get a log splitter which has really been a help in getting enough wood. Prior to this purchase, I'd be splitting wood in below zero weather by placing the cord-wood in a big tire and splitting it with a Monster maul. I had some very large diameter gnarly logs that just laughed at my attempts to split them by hand. The splitter just eats them up.
One disadvantage I missed in my original post was the fact that outdoor boilers can freeze up in cold weather if they are not fed every few days. I'm wondering if adding a room to my basement and putting in an indoor wood boiler may work better. In this situation, my propane furnace would kick on, at say, 55 degrees F and keep the whole shebang from freezing. I could also have a big underground insulated tank like the GARN for thermal storage and not worry about stuffing wood in it so often.
I guess I can just keep watching what's out there for a while. The technology is improving giving you more BTUs for your wood. I can also see what furnaces seem to be in the business for a long time like Central Boiler and Heatmor. Some, like the "Free Heat Machine," did not seem to be such a good deal. It seems as though the units built in Northern Minnesota are generally quality units.
One disadvantage I missed in my original post was the fact that outdoor boilers can freeze up in cold weather if they are not fed every few days. I'm wondering if adding a room to my basement and putting in an indoor wood boiler may work better. In this situation, my propane furnace would kick on, at say, 55 degrees F and keep the whole shebang from freezing. I could also have a big underground insulated tank like the GARN for thermal storage and not worry about stuffing wood in it so often.
I guess I can just keep watching what's out there for a while. The technology is improving giving you more BTUs for your wood. I can also see what furnaces seem to be in the business for a long time like Central Boiler and Heatmor. Some, like the "Free Heat Machine," did not seem to be such a good deal. It seems as though the units built in Northern Minnesota are generally quality units.
20
Fire Wood / Re: Seasoned firewood
« on: November 18, 2012, 09:50:51 AM »
I have wood about 4 years old. That wood sitting on the ground sure does absorb moisture. We had some good rain the week before last. Some of my wood wasn't covered with a tarp. I split this wood. The outside was slimy from sitting on the wet ground, but the inside felt dry. Hey, I figured. Big log. Water won't soak through. Wrong! It felt dry inside, cold but dry. I put it in the stove. Stove wasn't heating up. I looked at my wood. There were boiling bubbles at the end of the wood. Water had been sucked into the wood. The wood couldn't heat the stove if it's heat was used to boil off water.
Birch and poplar are really bad for sucking up water. They also rot quick if you don't burn it.
Tarps are a worthwhile investment.
Birch and poplar are really bad for sucking up water. They also rot quick if you don't burn it.
Tarps are a worthwhile investment.
21
Shaver Furnace / Re: Failed tests?
« on: November 17, 2012, 09:11:42 PM »
Indoor furnaces are more efficient than outdoor boilers. The heat is transferred to the air in the house and it's done. Outdoor boilers need to transfer heat to the water and then to the air in the house. In addition, outdoor boilers will have heat loss to the outdoors. Outdoor wood boilers also lose heat from the tubing to the ground. Indoor furnaces or boilers will have heat loss too, but it's inside the house so it helps to heat the house. Many people will have short hot burns with indoor furnaces. This will make better use of the gases in the wood. In addition, many indoor furnaces and boilers will make better use of secondary combustion (gasification). Outdoor furnaces sit and smolder for long periods of time. This makes less use of the gases in the wood. Some outdoor furnaces do gasification but they still have the other losses. Indoor wood furnaces cost a lot less than outdoor wood furnaces, but may not have the extended burn times.
I'd really like to see efficiency comparisons based on the BTU output of say Northern Red Oak to compare the various wood burning apparatus. I've been thinking of getting an outdoor boiler for some years, but I don't burn as much wood with my indoor furnace and so find it hard to justify the convenience of longer burn times. Does anyone have a valid set of efficiency numbers for wood burning appliances?
I'd really like to see efficiency comparisons based on the BTU output of say Northern Red Oak to compare the various wood burning apparatus. I've been thinking of getting an outdoor boiler for some years, but I don't burn as much wood with my indoor furnace and so find it hard to justify the convenience of longer burn times. Does anyone have a valid set of efficiency numbers for wood burning appliances?
22
Equipment / Re: My new splitter
« on: January 12, 2012, 09:01:22 PM »I just got a new splitter too. Mine is an electric. It is a type that can be purchased either gas or electric, 16 tons. People shy away from the electric ones and I wonder why. It seems that an electric motor will be much less hassle than another engine. Of course if I decide to haul it around I'll have to lug a 3 kVA generator to power it, but I'm OK with that. It's a reason to buy a neat toy. The splitter is US built so I expect it will hold up.
However, it wasn't as good a price as the one at Menard's that began this posting. I guess I didn't save big money.
I don't have an outdoor boiler. (yet) I burn inside and so need less wood than you guys, but I still need enough. I'm tired of the big red monster maul. I never make enough in the warm weather and so find myself splitting out in the cold. This year will be different.
It's sitting in the driveway and is waiting to be assembled. Any suggestions?
23
Site Suggestions / Re: Manufacturer List
« on: December 25, 2010, 12:16:16 PM »
I don't own an outside wood boiler, but have been reading about them for some time. One that seems to be the best, but is like a Rolls Royce is the Garn. It's big bucks. This one is a little different in that you have a good burn once a day and then just use the hot water until you burn again. They are huge. They have really big tanks. the Garn unit has been around for years and is a very interesting machine. I suggest you make a site for these. I found no reference to the Garn on your site.
24
Home Made / Re: My homemade/modified forced air wood furnace
« on: December 25, 2010, 11:53:23 AM »
Commercial units similar to this one include the Wadena home furnace, the Fire Chief made in Missouri, US Stove makes one and the previously mentioned Lil House heater. All have the advantage of being cheaper and simpler than an outside wood boiler.
25
General Discussion / Don't Own One
« on: December 25, 2010, 09:38:55 AM »
I don't own an outside boiler. Don't worry I'm not a person who is going to cause trouble for those who do own them. I kind of like them, but I'm looking for a justification for me to get one. Comments would be appreciated.
I have an indoor wood furnace. I have a small house. The furnace keeps my house warm. I burn a little propane when my furnace dies out at night, but not much. So, I guess I don't need one. In fact, I spoke with the local Wood Master dealer and after talking a bit, he told me that I wouldn't see much difference between what I have now and a wood boiler. (I found an honest man - I can put the lantern away.)
Bad thing is that I've become fascinated with them. I even got the DEB boiler do-it-yourself plans. There's a part of me that would like to get one of these. They are interesting machinery.
I see some advantages and disadvantages.
Advantage - small savings in insurance.
Advantage - a lot less splitting of wood.
Advantage - Only one or two fill-ups a day.
Advantage - Burn green wood even though everyone tells you not too.
Advantage - constant house temperature
Advantage - wouldn't need to sweep wood bark and wood pieces from my basement floor.
Disadvantage - lots of money and work to put one in.
Disadvantage - burn a lot more wood. Maybe I'd get better thermal efficiency with a really good boiler that has great secondary combustion or gasification, but with piping losses, pumping losses and heat losses from the outdoor boiler to the great outdoors, I'm sure more wood would be needed.
Disadvantage - more things to break
So - did I miss anything? Are there any good reasons that I missed that I should get an outdoor boiler? This is a weird post, but I'm sure there will be good answers.
I have an indoor wood furnace. I have a small house. The furnace keeps my house warm. I burn a little propane when my furnace dies out at night, but not much. So, I guess I don't need one. In fact, I spoke with the local Wood Master dealer and after talking a bit, he told me that I wouldn't see much difference between what I have now and a wood boiler. (I found an honest man - I can put the lantern away.)
Bad thing is that I've become fascinated with them. I even got the DEB boiler do-it-yourself plans. There's a part of me that would like to get one of these. They are interesting machinery.
I see some advantages and disadvantages.
Advantage - small savings in insurance.
Advantage - a lot less splitting of wood.
Advantage - Only one or two fill-ups a day.
Advantage - Burn green wood even though everyone tells you not too.
Advantage - constant house temperature
Advantage - wouldn't need to sweep wood bark and wood pieces from my basement floor.
Disadvantage - lots of money and work to put one in.
Disadvantage - burn a lot more wood. Maybe I'd get better thermal efficiency with a really good boiler that has great secondary combustion or gasification, but with piping losses, pumping losses and heat losses from the outdoor boiler to the great outdoors, I'm sure more wood would be needed.
Disadvantage - more things to break
So - did I miss anything? Are there any good reasons that I missed that I should get an outdoor boiler? This is a weird post, but I'm sure there will be good answers.
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