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[Ievko82]

I am looking into purchasing an owb to heat my 3000sf home. I currently use a fireplace insert and I have a propane furnace for backup. The insert is nice but it really only heats the main floor causing the basement and upstairs to be pretty cool. The house is fairly new ( built in 2002 ) but has large windows and 10 ft celings which causes my insert to work pretty hard to keep it warm.

I have a few questions

1. Is there an advantage between gasification and non gasser wb?

2. One thing I hate about my insert is that it's a gasser and if the wood is not totally bone dry it dosnt burn. I try to season my wood as much as possible but sometimes even dead fall cherry that was bucked and split 6 months previous doesn't want to burn. Would I have this same issue with a gassification owb?

3. What is a avg burn time for one of these units? I live in northern wv where an avg winter day is around the 20 deg mark. We have a 1 year old girl and one on the way so having my wife fill it with wood while I'm gone for 10 hrs at work might not be the easiest thing right yet .

I'm sure ill have more questions but these are the ones I'm thinking of right now.

[fryedaddy]

Ievko,

There are many OWB's that can fill your needs. I can speak for a conventional style boiler and say you should be
able to have a 10hr+ burn time. Gassifiers burn less wood but require more maintenance. Conventional are a less
picky on the type of wood required but use more wood.

Conventional or Gassers wouldn't have a problem burning the type of wood described.

My selection was based on the location of the manufacturer and longevity of equipment. I'm neighbors with the owner
and have friends and family with his product.

I live in N.C. at the foothills near the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our temps are in the 20-30's during winter and I've never had
a problem with burn times. If I fill my stove I get 12-14hr burn times during the coldest days and nights.

[franky1]

www.portageandmainboilers.com

[Scott7m]

There are many options available to you, system deisgn and set up is likely more important than the brand you choose.  I'm not far from you and can say that getting burn times over 12 hours wouldn't be w big deal as long as your stove was sized accordingly. 

[kybaseball]

I have over 12 hour burn times. I leave the house at 5 in the morning and I load it and don't touch it again until 5 that afternoon. I am like you really don't want the wife filling the stove so that works great for me. You will learn that the temp outside decides how much wood is needed to be out in. I don't like to overload the stove. It don't hurt nothing just lets the stove burn cleaner and better wood consumption. I tend to think that bigger is better cause it don't as hard and you never know you may need it later.

[rick n kristi]

Ievko82
If you are ever considering adding a garage or a shop to the system you should buy enough boiler now! I have a Natures Comfort 325G that is heating a similar house as yours (3600SQ/FT + basement) on 20 to 30 degree days in southern Ohio with 24 hours between fills using the wood you described. This boiler is not finicky as I have burnt green wood that I really should not have in a pinch. The better seasoned the better results. The 325G is a different animal. It combines gasification in an up draft style boiler. Very low maintenance with better efficiency. We have been burning it for 3 years and are getting good results with coal also. You are in coal country, Natures Comfort also offers this unit with “shaker grates” designed to make coal burning easier. May be worth a look since you are in cheap coal country.

[baldwin racing]

I am looking into purchasing an owb to heat my 3000sf home. I currently use a fireplace insert and I have a propane furnace for backup. The insert is nice but it really only heats the main floor causing the basement and upstairs to be pretty cool. The house is fairly new ( built in 2002 ) but has large windows and 10 ft celings which causes my insert to work pretty hard to keep it warm.

I have a few questions

1. Is there an advantage between gasification and non gasser wb?

2. One thing I hate about my insert is that it's a gasser and if the wood is not totally bone dry it dosnt burn. I try to season my wood as much as possible but sometimes even dead fall cherry that was bucked and split 6 months previous doesn't want to burn. Would I have this same issue with a gassification owb?

3. What is a avg burn time for one of these units? I live in northern wv where an avg winter day is around the 20 deg mark. We have a 1 year old girl and one on the way so having my wife fill it with wood while I'm gone for 10 hrs at work might not be the easiest thing right yet .

I'm sure ill have more questions but these are the ones I'm thinking of right now.

do you have a insuled shed or grage? have you ever thought of a indoor model, you will get the coventional heat off boiler even if in a insulated jacket....heating up your area plus getting the hot water for heat as well? my want to lookinto thermal-control (nationalstoveworks.com) i know tim the owner very well and can give you direct contact info....his boilers come with 20 year nonprated warranty as well

kelly 

[jborden3]

I get 12 hour burns easy out of mine heating a 3600 square foot house and i have a 1200 square foot shop i keep at 60 unless i am out there working talk to any dealers around you and go see all of them that you can and see wgat you like the best from each owb. I looked for over a year before i bought one there is a ton of great info on this site that will help you good luck.