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[oaky]

Just wanted to say, hello & to comment of this being an excellent forum, good info & friendly.

As the title says: On the scout for a new OWB. Last week, my Aqua-Therm of 13 good years, has sprung it's first leak near the feed door. Water pressure starting at, 25 down to 0, in less than 15 minutes.

For the past couple of days, I've been reading posts in the category, Central Boiler.

My layout is like this: Lived in our same Wisconsin home for over 30 years, ranch style with 1100 sq ft & another 1100 sq ft mostly finished but uninsulated basement. I think our house retains it's heat fairly well. My wife & I like our heat in the upper 70's, we have always used wood heat since the first year we moved in this house 30 years ago. Our back up heat is LP furnace which we use only in early fall then again in late spring. I estimate that we go through 7 cords of oak per season, from October - April.

I'm here to get a feel of what's available for OWB, basically a conventional design, with decent $ return in a short while from my OWB purchase. Ever moving out of our home hasn't crossed our minds, especially in our 50's, so, it's a safe bet we are to stay for the long haul with our good neighbors in this farming valley.

Central Boilers have been on my mind last couple of days, CL 4030 or CL 5036, whichever fits my needs. My old Aqua Therm was easy on me & always kept us warm, with at least 16 hours of burn time, even when overnight wind chills are at 30-50 F below zero, especially this winter. Sorry, grown a little attached to my outdoor wood cooker. Anyway, appreciate any thoughts on this search.

oaky

[atvalaska]

why would u change the boiler brand out for a different one?  I helped put a A-T in a buddys house in 91/92....still going strong today ...just sayin.

[oaky]

why would u change the boiler brand out for a different one?  I helped put a A-T in a buddys house in 91/92....still going strong today ...just sayin.

With having a 15 year warranty on the stainless steel jacket, I'm thinking the burner has neared it's trouble free life expectancy. I could have the leak welded shut, but down the road.?.

The last few years, I have been having a 15 cord load of oak logs hauled in every other year with a cost of last load, $97 per cord. Prior to 2008, I used to haul back a load of wood on my 5' x 10' trailer now & then from where I used to work at, (free). This wood was from cut-offs, of logs that would come in too long, which needed to be trimmed to the correct length for the log processor. Anyhow, as trouble free the Aqua Therm was, I wanted to start looking for more efficient burner, now that I am paying for my fuel. believe me, if it hadn't sprung a serous leak, I would kept it, may not be worth it now.

oaky

[Sprinter]

Also look at Econoburn, when you say long haul this is the boiler that comes to mind. Only OWB that is built to ASME boiler standards. A real 25 year warranty like regular ASME high mass boilers. Both outdoor and indoor models, not your average forest eater, and within price range or better

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=m-ch-fea&v=8KiAozKM0tA

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5k9rcRrYLDg


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SG36tG6PNwk    Notice the real gasification flame , color and control, much different than other brands you will see.

Econoburn manufacturing process, the real guts of an ASME built boiler with Boiler plate steel
4 part series.       http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cv2cJnNA_P4

P&M Another quality stove , check the design, 4 videos
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=osDwGXNhctw     P&M multi pass exchanger, thermal heat transfer is just as or more important than just a clean efficient burn

[slimjim]

Thanks for the plug Sprinter!

[MattyNH]

Any chance of getting the Aqua-Therm welded wheres its leaking? You still got a warranty claim on that boiler as long your the original owner..I don't see anything in my manual about a 15 yr warranty on the stainless steel….If your want something more efficient burner your gonna have to go to  the E-Classic by CB, or Portage & Main, Empyre, etc..

[jtepn87]

Have you checked out Aqua-Therm's Eco-One, or their HE models? I'm not trying to talk you one way or another, but it sounds like you had decent luck with your current brand, so why switch?

[Propster]

I do not know much about all the new, more efficient boilers available, but it seems to me that maintaining upper 70's temps while going through only 7 cords from October-April, especially considering those kind of temps and with 16 hour burn times - is already quite exceptional!

[mlappin]

Check out Natures Comfort, I drove a county over and stopped at their plant. The designer of the GT-6000 was there and was very knowledgeable about all brands, seemed to be one sharp cookie as well. Was very friendly and helpful, spent well over a hour talking to him. Unlike the guy at the CB dealer I stopped at before, guy there seemed put out to actually go outside in the cold so I could actually get a good look at an actual unit instead of looking at brochures.

At the NC plant James also showed me a modified GT-6000, they just added 18" to the entire length of it, currently heating over 20,000 square feet.

[atvalaska]

90 something a cord for oak!!! dammm ...look at this ad I just hunted up in my area >>>> aka pine  >>>>DRY!! 16" SPLIT Spruce delivered also have 24" birch DRY!! CALL// 322-55** $350 per cord...........

[oaky]

Appreciate all your brand suggestions, quite helpful. I see there will be a couple Portage & Main shows coming up in March, in Eau Claire, WI, only a 20 minute drive. Gonna check them out. I'm already feeling comfortable with P & M BL2840 purchase.

Will be putting my Aqua Therm 275 up for sale in a few days in Eau Claire Craiglist, see what I can get for her.

[CountryBoyJohn]

Just going to throw this out there since no one else has.  If you're in the market for something a little more "affordable" check out Heatmaster.  Great simple stoves, great quality, strong company backing their product.  Lot's of happy HM owners on this site. 

[slimjim]

Oaky would you do me a favor and let Dave or his accomplice know that you are looking at our stoves because you looked here as I have been trying to get him to come on here, He is a wealth of knowledge regarding the B-L series and I'm sure would get a great welcome.

[oaky]

Already done that slimjim, when I emailed this morning, mentioned, slimjim from the Outdoor Wood furnace forum, highly recommended you. Still waiting for word from Dave to return my first email I sent a couple of days ago. I'm sure he will get to me.

oaky

[slimjim]

  He really is VERY busy, try him again, do you have his cell #, if not let me know and I'll give it to you.