Outdoor Wood Furnace Info
All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: Freekazoidd on February 17, 2012, 06:15:26 PM
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Hello to all,
I have been lurking around this site reading, trying to figure out what I think I might need and still have no clue. The more I read, the less I think I know. One thing is for sure, you all have alot of abbreviations for these boilers and its components!
I am looking to buy a wood boiler to heat my house, pole barn, and hot water. My house is 1700 sqft, the pole barn is 1000. I want a good boiler, that I don't have to monkey with alot so that it runs. Currently I am heating my house with a United States Stove Company multi fuel pellet stove. It heats the house well enough but the main furnace will still call for heat on the cold windy days/nights. I also want all the mess outside. I have seen a few OWB <---- see?) that are made in Michigan which is where I would like mine to be manufactured at. Easier to get parts etc. since I live here too. I am hopefully hangy enough to do this install. Just will need some insight on hooking things up.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Brian
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Hi Brian! You have came to the right place to get info as there is a lot of knowledge here. First you need to check local ordances to make sure you can install a owb (outdoor wood boiler) where you live. Some townships don't allow them anymore. Do you live in a rural setting or a suburban area? Do you have access to cutting your own wood or are you planning on buying it? Figure on spending around 8k for a complete system if you go non-gasser. Add another 3-5k if you want a epa white tag gasser. When I say "system" I am talking boiler, undergroung pipe, pump(s), heat exhangers (hx), domestic hot water (dhw) exchanger, pex fittings and I am sure I am forgetting a few things. Does your house currently have a forced air furnace or is it baseboard? When you are shopping for a boiler make sure you look for one that has some sort of baffle design to force the exhaust gasses to exchange as much heat as possible before they exit the flue.
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There are no local ordinances on using an OWB. I have an unlimited supply of wood pretty much from family and friends, and yes, I have a forced air furnace that uses fuel oil to heat my home. I don't care how much smoke this thing makes, as I am only 1 of 4 on my entire road. So no one should care but the oil man, and I have not seen him in two years.
About that baffle design, I don't know anything about these as to what is good or bad or what to look for. Central boiler is a known name to some I have talked to. I Basically want a OWB that is going to last me what I feel is 8k's worth of time. 20 years would be nice, 30 would be better. Otherwise I may go geo thermal. I like cutting wood an d such so I would rather go that route.
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Welcome to the site Freekazoidd
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Welcome, Where are you in michigan? I wanted to keep my money in Michigan as well but only found a couple options. There is a dealer for Burnrite(made in Mt. Pleasant) that lives 1 mile from me. I believe a good close-by dealer is very important. I did a roof for a Central Boiler dealer and made friends with him and he helped out a bunch in figuring out what I needed, as well as many people on here, and I thank them all. I chose a non-gasser and I love it, throw it in and walk away.
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I am 35 minutes north of Lapeer. And that is what I want, throw wood in, walk away. Sounds perfect. :thumbup:
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Well if you want a boiler built in Michigan, check out Ridgewoodstove.com. Built pretty good with a 3/8 thick firebox and water jacket. I have one and it works fine. And the price was right.
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Ben's Superstore sells a few different brands. Portage and Main, Wood Master, and Royal Crown that I know of, I just got a flyer today. I think it is in Brown City, You should be close to there. Right now they will pay your sales tax and give you a splitter or trailer with a stove purchase. Might be worth checking ou t if you are serious.
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Ben's Superstore sells a few different brands. Portage and Main, Wood Master, and Royal Crown that I know of, I just got a flyer today. I think it is in Brown City, You should be close to there. Right now they will pay your sales tax and give you a splitter or trailer with a stove purchase. Might be worth checking ou t if you are serious.
I will check them out tomorrow. That is only a 15 minute drive for me. Thanks for the heads up!
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I think having a good dealer nearby is more important than where the stove was made, the factory doesn't normally come out to your place to help with problems but a good dealer will.
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Guys need to be careful buying stoves from box type stores. If they don't install and service them your best to walk on by and find someone who does this for a living
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Guys need to be careful buying stoves from box type stores. If they don't install and service them your best to walk on by and find someone who does this for a living
What do you mean if they don't install and service them?
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They sell the stove and offer no support during or after the sell, they know nothing but to spout what the company told them. They don't install or do service calls, so they can afford to sell the stove bit cheaper but in turn offer no future help.
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They sell the stove and offer no support during or after the sell, they know nothing but to spout what the company told them. They don't install or do service calls, so they can afford to sell the stove bit cheaper but in turn offer no future help.
I see where you coming from..The store will tell you contact the manufacture..Just like me buying my John Deere lawn mower from home depot.. Instead of the dealership..If i need technical help I got to go to the dealership.. I see your a dealer....But if the guy buying the owb and has his own plumber, has his own or access to equipment to dig the trench and has his own electrician ..Kinda don't need the dealer.. Save on the cost of what you might charge. Doesn't void the boiler warranty
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I think like Matty. I value the dealer more for having parts. But I have friends in all trades. If they have parts and pieces, a 15 minute drive is pretty close.
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Well for one, John Deere lawn mowers don't come from a box store. Those are MTD and simply bought the rights to use John Deere logos n such.
Do you folks not remember a time when you purchased locally to support your own community, sometimes things go wrong that arent so simple configure out. It's nice to have someone with personal experience to help.
Lets say your stove leaks, that hardware store won't do anything for you, company will tell you to send it back and you end up having 500 in freight both ways, where if you had a good dealer he could have brought the stove back tom his place and fixed it for you..
Another thing, companies making these stoves often learn aboutnthere stoves from there dealers, there not then ones doing the leg work. So when changes are made it usually comes from a dealer explaining something to the co to improve the stove.
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Well that mower I bought was cover under John Deere warranty.. In it has a home service sticker on the mower by a john deere dealership same with scotts...
Totally agree with buying local.. Keep the small guy going...These days its hard.. being the cost..
I guess what Im saying theres nothing wrong with the guy doing it on his own..I don't know anyone personally that had a dealer install the OWB..Like me..I hired a electrician and a plumber..I had access to a tractor to dig the ditch..The dealer wanted crazy money to do the whole job and that was 5 yrs ago. As far as parts I either call the dealer or manufacture up or buy it online..No problem..In fact he's been over in the past when I had a problem at first..
Far as what your said about freight..bro-law had a problem with boiler..went to the dealer.. OWB had to be sent back to manufacture..Still had to pay for the freight...Maybe its different from dealer to dealer...
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I checked out the stoves they sell and don't really know what to expect. They do have a deal on a couple of their models that you can get a log splitter or a trailer with them, but no one was around that knew anything on Sunday, so I will be going back there to get the details. I saw a few that looked to be scratch and dent models, maybe were damaged in transit? Will post more on them when I get the information. All I have now is brochures. Still not sure on what types are good or bad, or what I should be looking for in a OWB.
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I checked out the stoves they sell and don't really know what to expect. They do have a deal on a couple of their models that you can get a log splitter or a trailer with them, but no one was around that knew anything on Sunday, so I will be going back there to get the details. I saw a few that looked to be scratch and dent models, maybe were damaged in transit? Will post more on them when I get the information. All I have now is brochures. Still not sure on what types are good or bad, or what I should be looking for in a OWB.
Well you will get a lot of information on here..Do you know anyone personally that has a OWB? This site lists a bunch of manufactures web sites good way of getting what each brand is like..Another good indication is when you drive out and about.. What brand of OWB's you see in people yards..Probably the # 1 brand i see in my area is Central Boiler..Then I see Aqua-Therm, Woodmaster, Wood Doctor, Hawken are the other brands that I see in people's yards..I do see a new dealership in Maine for Portage & Main..Im sure I'll be seeing them around
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Well I guess that's where I get screwed... I've been doing the complete installation including the ditch for like 600 bucks.... It is worth way more than that, but I've been trying to help the folks as much as possible
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I checked out the stoves they sell and don't really know what to expect. They do have a deal on a couple of their models that you can get a log splitter or a trailer with them, but no one was around that knew anything on Sunday, so I will be going back there to get the details. I saw a few that looked to be scratch and dent models, maybe were damaged in transit? Will post more on them when I get the information. All I have now is brochures. Still not sure on what types are good or bad, or what I should be looking for in a OWB.
Well you will get a lot of information on here..Do you know anyone personally that has a OWB? This site lists a bunch of manufactures web sites good way of getting what each brand is like..Another good indication is when you drive out and about.. What brand of OWB's you see in people yards..Probably the # 1 brand i see in my area is Central Boiler..Then I see Aqua-Therm, Woodmaster, Wood Doctor, Hawken are the other brands that I see in people's yards..I do see a new dealership in Maine for Portage & Main..Im sure I'll be seeing them around
Amazingly enough there are only a couple of OWB that I see driving 35 miles to work. I have taken many different ways in. I think most people in my travels have either propane or natural gas. The two that I do see are dark charcoal gray. Keep telling myself I need to stop in and ask.
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I checked out the stoves they sell and don't really know what to expect. They do have a deal on a couple of their models that you can get a log splitter or a trailer with them, but no one was around that knew anything on Sunday, so I will be going back there to get the details. I saw a few that looked to be scratch and dent models, maybe were damaged in transit? Will post more on them when I get the information. All I have now is brochures. Still not sure on what types are good or bad, or what I should be looking for in a OWB.
Well you will get a lot of information on here..Do you know anyone personally that has a OWB? This site lists a bunch of manufactures web sites good way of getting what each brand is like..Another good indication is when you drive out and about.. What brand of OWB's you see in people yards..Probably the # 1 brand i see in my area is Central Boiler..Then I see Aqua-Therm, Woodmaster, Wood Doctor, Hawken are the other brands that I see in people's yards..I do see a new dealership in Maine for Portage & Main..Im sure I'll be seeing them around
Amazingly enough there are only a couple of OWB that I see driving 35 miles to work. I have taken many different ways in. I think most people in my travels have either propane or natural gas. The two that I do see are dark charcoal gray. Keep telling myself I need to stop in and ask.
I can't remember exactly where you said you lived in Michigan but, if you are ever near South Haven area you can take a look at mine which is a Hawken.
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I live about 15 miles north of Marlette and have P&M 250 Optimizer (gasser) that I put in last fall and have been running all winter. You're welcome to come look at it if you want. PM me and we'll talk.
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I can't remember exactly where you said you lived in Michigan but, if you are ever near South Haven area you can take a look at mine which is a Hawken.
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Thanks, but that would be an extensive trip! I am in the thumb, 4 miles east of Mayville.
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I am between flint and Lansing. Probably an hour away.
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I live about 15 miles north of Marlette and have P&M 250 Optimizer (gasser) that I put in last fall and have been running all winter. You're welcome to come look at it if you want. PM me and we'll talk.
Check your PM's
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Another new wannabe here. I am in west central Illinois about 200 mile north of St Louis right along the big river. I saw something I have to chime in on as unfortunately I have experience with.
Guys need to be careful buying stoves from box type stores. If they don't install and service them your best to walk on by and find someone who does this for a living
I bought an Englander brand corn burner through a box store. Service from them was to give me an 800 number. The resulting service was after a couple problems they would not answer the phone or Emails. ended up it is now a garage ornament. Between the frustration of trying to get it to burn right and high grain prices it is just another of life's experiences.
Tri state stove is fairly close by as is a Yoder by Donelson Iowa. Yoder handles the Acme OWB . I have a neighbor that is on his 2nd season burning an Aquatherm. Seems with the wide open access to the stack it would loose a lot of heat.
I have base board finned tube in the house already so am looking at a boiler. My old gas forced air furnace is pretty much toast at 30 years old. We now heat with an inside wood burner but is a pain as we are sometimes gone for over 12 hours a day. I am thinking of putting up a garage with a room separate for the OWB. Any thoughts and advice is welcome as I m still procrastinating like always.:GRIN:
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Welcome to the site Drifter
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Thanks for joining drifter
Now more so than ever is finding a good dealer/manufacturer more important. Most companies we know today likely won't be here when the EPA gets there regulations set in place. So shop smart and hopefully buy from a company that already has a well developed phase 2 program whether you buy a gasser or not
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Ridgewood Stoves are great. Any issues are unlikely but the owner will help you asap, I mean asap! So affordable too
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Ridgewood Stoves are great. Any issues are unlikely but the owner will help you asap, I mean asap! So affordable too
Craig is that you?