Outdoor Wood Furnace Info
All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: slimjim on May 16, 2014, 05:21:57 PM
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Thank you again Neal for the idea of this new thread, I would also like to thank you Roger who started the thread about Summertime Blues, it all blends together in a moment. I would like to start a thread that lasts for many years where we can all talk about our background, a bit about what the boiler replaces in oil, gas, coal and electricity as well as the added comfort that our boiler gives us in our own home. I would like it to be a conversation that will stand the test of time to promote this INDUSTRY and not a particular company, only the concept of burning wood inside, or outside,Brand names would be fine but could we please not make it a pissin contest about the best boiler. Make it a true story of your encounter with the wood burning philosophy. Give us your true payback time in real dollars as well as emotions!!!!
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Sounds like a great thread I like the idea of it being about wood burning in general not brand vs. brand :post:
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Great word Slim let me start off by saying I run two outside wood boilers one is at our Antique store and the other is at our farm house they are 4 miles a part the store is a gasifier and the house is a conventional boiler the store used 2200 gal oil and 300 gal propane for the season 11000 sg ft the house 3600 sq ft 1200 gal oil and 4 cord wood in the fire place the store on wood 17 cord house on wood 20 cord 37 cord @130 a cord =4810.00 wood oil and propane 3700.gal×$3.50=$12950.00 a savings of $8140.00 good points my wood is all paid for and my MONEY STAYED LOCAL THANK YOU GOD AMEN that is my testimonial and I didn't need any help from the Government in God we trust all others pay cash I thank you all for burning wood
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Oh there's some more house temperature on wood 75 degrees and all the HOT Water you want with no restrictions store on wood it's warmer and no back up heat just keeping it short thanks
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We always wished for an outdoor wood furnace. After 25 years of burning wood in the basement through our Wilkening home heater fireplace the firebox finally failed. Backup is forced air fuel oil. Found a new outdoor wood stove on CL for 3000 dollars....never heard of the shaver brand but didn't care its a start! Did a self install in 2011 using the stoves water coil for DHW, Badger 5 wrap pipe and a water to air HX for home heat and are thrilled with the results. The furnace just got us through one of the toughest winters ever here in N Minnesota it easily easily heats our home and hot water and probably paid for itself in its first year. We think the stove works superbly and have had no issues. Even if as predicted it some how turns into junk we are in the position now to set something else on the slab and just hook it up. Its outdoor wood furnace forever for us!
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Your're welcome! :thumbup:
Wait a minute.....
Neal
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Heated my shop and house w/ a hardy h2 and after 10 years of use I sold it for 2900.00. I bought the stove for 3300.00. All my wood is free just my time to cut and haul it which I love to do anyway. Now I will be using a new cb 6048.
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To All,
Been heating for 4 or 5 winters now with a Shaver 165. Seems I'm always looking for a better way. Really like this furnace. It has saved us a lot of money in heating bills. I enjoy cutting and splitting wood. Do it less now since I had a hip replacement a year ago. I am taking a stab at Vacuum Solar Water Heaters, they seem to work well and I like the way you can hook them to existing wood furnaces of any kind or just your DHW or your furnace and your DHW.
Next I am looking into doing the Voltaic Solar systems, you do not have to have a bank of batteries to deal with and I like that part of it. You can have batteries if you desire. The Voltaic is a lot more expensive, but its got a good payback and 30 % tax credit.
No matter what brand you buy the rewards are great. Gets you off the couch. Gets the children off the computer. Had my Grandsons helping me a while back, they enjoyed it and so did Grandpa Great family time working with wood.
I might of bought another brand, but when I was looking I found this one new and had never been hooked up. That's how I got started with Shaver, I'm been with them ever since!
Hope the EPA does not change the rules so a lot of Furnace Companies have to close their doors. We already haven't got enough jobs and it would drive the unemployment up more then it already is.
If anyone has any questions about burning wood feel free to call no matter what your brand of furnace. So many times the problems are operator error on any furnace, and a forum is a good place for answers.
Thanks to all for Posting!
Greg Steinacher
618-401-0726
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Built mine 14 years ago after the previous winters $350-400 a month natural gas bills. Had a wood furnace in the basement but the wife due to previous health issues including cardiac issues is extremely prone to getting bronchitis and having a wood burner in the house was aggravating the situation so we only used it when it was bitterly cold out.
Had around $2700 in the first one including piping, pumps and HX. So almost paid for itself that first heating season. If you include a happier healthier wife then it more than paid for itself that first winter. Endless hot water for starters and this house has been in the family since 1954 and none of them when visiting could ever remember it being this comfortable in the winter and that was even before I started remodeling and adding insulation and windows.
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When everyone talks about pay back most forget to add more in savings because now with owb
the thermostat can be turned up more. Personally with me I keep my thermostat at 62 to 65 when using propane not 70 or 75. I think the little lady being happy because she's warm is a savings for me too if she ain't happy nobody's happy.
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KEEP IT UP GUYS, this is exactly what I personally want to see in the industry, lets expand the market and we will not only survive but can all prosper!!!!!
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Speaking of temps, we keep the house at 72 during the day and drop to 67 at night. Both the wife and I like a cool bedroom to sleep in. Programmable thermostat so warm house when we wake up.
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I agree cooler temps at night is a must. I want to invest in a programmable thermostat myself. I would imagine that would help with wood consumption as well.
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Thats somewhat debatable, while you would obviously use less at night with a lower house temp, it can take quit a bit in the mornings to get back up to temp.
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I save approximately $4500.00/year with my OWB. I used to pay out a bit more than $5100.00/year using oil. This year I used a bit more wood (about 8 cord due to the cold and long winter) but it's still cheaper for me to use the OWB. As I've mentioned before, I'll be saving my pennies for a solar collector to heat my DHW in the spring, summer and fall when the OWB is not being used.
I used to lower the night time temps to 65 and have the programmable thermostats to bring the temps up to 70 before getting out of bed. I no longer do that, I now keep them at 70, 24/7. I have seen no change in wood usage. Roger
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I built my own and have been running it for two winters. It heats the house 2400 sqft and the garage/shop/apartment 1400 sqft.
Build and install cost $5500. Propane was an average of $3600 a year(around $300 a month on the budget plan)
This winter would have been over $5000 for propane, so I have to say mine is paid off in two winters.
95% of my wood is free unless you count saw and splitter gas and maint.
On propane we kept the house at 63-65 now wife is lots happier keeping it at 72. And the hot water, ohhh the lovely hot water. We have three teenage girls, so hot water is like gold around here.
I would fill the boiler five times a day if I had to as long as it keeps that dang propane truck at bay.
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Including the cost of 20 cords of log load oak, boiler (indoor gasser) and system components (self install) the break even will be just under 4 years. After that it will average $360 per year if purchasing logs, compared to $1700 for average propane usage previously. Or free if logging my trees. Just as others, I now keep a constant 70 instead of propane 65. Very happy using zero propane for heat this passed winter, probably woulda cost $2100 at prepay pricing plus the additional needed.
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I've been around inside wood boilers all my life - 34yrs. This is currently the type I use and love it.
It's a conventional but is still a lot more affordable than electric, gas and oil. I paid $6,500
for the stove and $3,600 for the solar panels installed. The exact brand and size were in my shop
previously but gave up after a few decades. My lines and electric were already there, I just had them
add on to the shop and install solar panels onto of the addition.
My payback will be around 6yrs on the stove and close to the same on solar panels.
Overall I'm very happy with my purchase.