Outdoor Wood Furnace Info
All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: nasman on February 11, 2011, 08:22:03 AM
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Hi All, I am new to this so bear with me. I am looking to buy an outdoor wood burner. I am looking at Heatmor and Central Boiler. Can anyone give me the "Pros and Cons" of both of these.
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I know both of those companies produce a great unit. Either one will be a good choice. I've had a CB 6048 for about 4 years now with no problems. My brother has an earlier version of the same stove for about 12 years now. Also no problems. (he burns garbage in it, boils it over about 3 times a year cuz he leaves the door open and forgets, and has only put the additive in it once.)
I know that CB doesn't use a fan and Heatmore might. Alot of people like the fan cuz it gets up to temp faster and shuts the damper faster. Makes sence to me. Some people say the fan blows alot of heat up the chimney instead of keeping it in the stove... also makes sence...
I can't give you any advice on Heatmore since I don't have one, any I'd bet you wont find someone who has had both stoves, and even if you do, that person probably hasn't used them each long enough to form a valid opinion on them since most people keep them for at least 10 years or so. And if they have used both stoves for 10 years or so, the first stove may have changed in construction so much in the past 10 years, that the new model is completely different by now. Good luck in your search and maybe someone else can chime in.
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I am leaning toward the Heatmor because they offer an option coal grate. Does anyone know if CB offers this as well?
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Don,t own either of the OWB's you are considering but have a friend that has a central boiler. He is very pleased with it. Do your research before you buy. There are so many good boilers on the market now. It is amazing how much they have been improved in the last couple of years. Wish you the best in making decision.
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Lots of good choices out there. Just stay away from Heatmaster,this one is garbage in my opinion and the company sucks!
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I haven't heard of a CB with a coal option. I looked at their website and it shows no mention of a coal option. That might just make up your mind right there... Might want to give them a call for sure though.
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Looked at outdoor for a while. In MHO you should at least consider a european style gassifier with water storage. Your wood consumption will be way less than these outdoor wood hogs. I have found at least 2 in my local area that heat there homes and DHW with 15-17 face cords of wood per year, burning 24" wood. That's at most about 9 pulpcords. Look at effecta.us or paxo. I believe there are even a few US makers but they lag behind in technology. I'm seriously considering having an Effecta Lambda 35kw with 1000 gal storage ready for next winter.
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one thing i would consider in making my decision would be to choose someone close. someone who stocks parts. there will come a time when you need something or need repair work and the closer they are i think the better it would be.
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read the posts in each mfg ,some seem to have more issues than some. if your down to the two only ,seems like central boilers is a better choice.don't see many complaints about them.
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Looked at outdoor for a while. In MHO you should at least consider a european style gassifier with water storage. Your wood consumption will be way less than these outdoor wood hogs. I have found at least 2 in my local area that heat there homes and DHW with 15-17 face cords of wood per year, burning 24" wood. That's at most about 9 pulpcords. Look at effecta.us or paxo. I believe there are even a few US makers but they lag behind in technology. I'm seriously considering having an Effecta Lambda 35kw with 1000 gal storage ready for next winter.
Do u burn now? How can u push towards one over the other if u have no experience with either. Firebox too small on most indoor units which makes PITA to cut and split wood for. If buying all your wood, maybe look for absolutely top efficiency. My opinion says, time and effort prepping wood for indoor unit is worth something. I have air tight indoor unit and an outdoor gasifier. (bases for argument on wood prep) Have burned indoor unit only 2 times this year. OWB, definately easier.
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I burn indoor, with a Quadrafire stove. And have burned for 40 years! I have several friends and relatives that burn outdoor. The indoor wood gassifiers I speak of burn one fire of 4 to 6 hours a day only, not all day long. You need to study them and consider them as an excellant option!
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Buying a outdoor wood boiler is like buying a car... Alot of money invested...Like anything all brands have pro and cons etc..Some are epa phase I or II qualified.. some arnt.....also you got to be willing to do the wood....bottom line beats paying the oil man and u dont worry about turning the dial on the wall up ;D
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I burn indoor, with a Quadrafire stove. And have burned for 40 years! I have several friends and relatives that burn outdoor. The indoor wood gassifiers I speak of burn one fire of 4 to 6 hours a day only, not all day long. You need to study them and consider them as an excellant option!
Could do the same thing in an OWB if wanted too, but I prefer not to, it can idle. While a stove is definately an option to supplement, not necessarily the best for heating a large multi-room home. If that were the case, everyone wood go for a stove only because they can be cheaper than OWB. Although Quads are a little pricey in my book. As long as you stay warm and are happy with what you have, that's what counts.
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I love my heatmaster! he 5000 3500 sq ft home heated to 75# coldest winter in along time northeast pa. Ill be using around 8 cords this year probably less due to testing coal and wood together looking really promising probably cut that down to5cord and 1 ton off coal we'll see what happens next years total.
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Another good reason to go OWB is the multiple building capability. Like most, I heat the shop, the house, and domestic water. I got a stove in the family room too, just does not get used often now.
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Tule, perhaps you have not read my previous postings. I said I was looking at having an indoor gassifier by next winter and I supplement NG with the Quad. And I know the Quad doesn't heat the whole house. I may have been born @night it just wasn't last night. All I know for sure is I'm damn glad I found out about indoor gassifiers/storage before I spent the money on an outdoor woodeater!! If a person doesn't at least look @ these he's making a large mistake!
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You can also heat multiple buildings and DHW with one of the gassifiers I am considering. All year long, No SMOKE, In winter time on 4-6 hour burn/day, and one burn every 4-5 days! Depending on area you are going to heat, I'm going to be doing 2200'& DHW on 14-16 facecords/year. That's less than 8 full cords/year. You will be hard pressed to come anywhere near that amount with an outdoor woodeater.
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There's alot that determines how much wood you will use for example.How it was hooked up, how well your house is closed up,what and how your heating your house(forced air,radiators,radiant) theres alot that affects how much you will use I can go on and on but you should check into everything and no matter what WE ALL TOOK THE BLOW AND DID IT ARRRRE WAY good luck and the heck with buying fuel.
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Tule, perhaps you have not read my previous postings. I said I was looking at having an indoor gassifier by next winter and I supplement NG with the Quad. And I know the Quad doesn't heat the whole house. I may have been born @night it just wasn't last night. All I know for sure is I'm damn glad I found out about indoor gassifiers/storage before I spent the money on an outdoor woodeater!! If a person doesn't at least look @ these he's making a large mistake!
I am all for doing one's homework. You still sound 100% against OWB over what you have decided you will do. It is agreed that indoor gasifier and storage works and works for multiple apps as well. I looked into the Euro style boilers and decided to go OWB for the reaons stated before:Sizing of wood, outside was a plus(mess, bugs, whatever), Cost. I didn't want to dedicate space in shop to use for heater. There are gasifiers thats do really well on usage. I personally don't see much diff between indoor storage and euro unit if an outdoor unit was installed inside shop(could do this if you like). Burning wood for heat has taken place for 1000's of years. Many homebuilt furnaces out there 2. Look at Jackel440. Biggest determining factor on usage in an outdoor unit, is to learn it's proper operating parameters. This is the same as any appliance. Outta time for this conversation for now.............
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I recently purchased an outdoor furnace and did quite a bit of research and ended up buying a Hawken 1100. I would definitely purchase one with a combustion fan though, this unit burns hot enough when heating to eliminate creasote problems, and also keeps a constant water temp. with a short burn cycle. During the winter I can easily get a 12 hr. burn time and in the spring and fall I can get 24 hrs. on a load. We are a family of 5 with a 3700 sf. home and we also use it for domestic hot water. I couldn't be happier with our choice.
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I do not have either of the units you are considering. My research got me to a boiler plate gasifier. I liked the efficiency of the gasifier and repairability of plate steel. From what I have been told stainless WILL crack in time and plate WILL rust, I can fix plate much easier. My gasifier has eaten about 5 full cords since Oct 2010. Not bad for a 110 year old farm house with little to no insulation (yet).
For info sake I am running a Wood Doctor HE5000. I did have a little lovers quarrel along the way with the owners, but have since got it resolved and am very pleased with my stove. I did the install myself to try and save money. As someone else stated, more and more stoves are being well built, you just have to find the one that fits your need and budget.
Good luck and welcome to our little family
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I have been looking into Outdoor Wood Stoves. I can not wait to get mine installed! http://www.profab.org/products/outdoorwoodfurnaces/index.html (http://www.profab.org/products/outdoorwoodfurnaces/index.html)