Research Before Buying an Outdoors Wood Stove Boiler
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While outdoor wood stove boilers are the next generation of wood fired heat, they can have a few trouble areas. Many outdoor boilers are made from low grade materials and use an outdated, inefficient design. Like all major purchases, shopping around is a good idea to get he most value for your dollar. Spend some time comparing the different outdoor wood boilers available online and call a few distributors to ask questions.
Rust and deterioration can be a problem with outdoor wood boilers. To a degree, higher quality materials and design can give your new wood boiler a longer lifespan. One design feature to look for is an internal chimney, rather than an external one. External chimneys will have higher creosote deposits due to lower chimney temperatures and possibly chimney fires which could result in damage to the unit. Another consideration is the length of the chimney on the wood boiler. You may have to budget a little extra to lengthen the chimney pipe to get smoke a little higher above nearby eaves. This is also where purchasing a more efficient outdoor wood boiler to start with can really pay off. Higher efficiency means less smoke. With a taller chimney, an efficient wood boiler and good quality wood, you will reduce the smoke the outdoor wood stove boiler produces.
Six Reasons to Install an Outdoor Wood Stove Boiler
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If you are looking into the viability of an outdoors wood boiler for your home, here are a few reasons to take the plunge and start heating your home with a wood boiler.
1. If you have a good source of cheap wood you can save a lot of money.
You may have wood growing on your own property, or live near a sawmill that will give you scrap wood. You might even buy entire semi -truck loads to get a good deal on wood.
2. A wood boiler can heat your home and your water supply.
Not only can you reduce your heating bill on living spaces, you can also heat your domestic water, your hot tub or your pool at a reduced cost of using natural gas, propane or coal oil.
3. The wood and mess stay outside.
You get the benefits of burning wood, yet the wood chips, ashes and smoke stay outside.
4. Locations with no natural gas lines or nearby standard fuels can heat comfortably with wood.
Even if you are far from normal fuel supplies, you can heat your home with a wood boiler system instead of an indoor wood furnace.
5. Wood is a renewable fuel.
Properly managed woodlands can provide an endless supply of renewable energy. Coal and other oil type fuels release carbon that had been trapped beneath the earth, while burning wood only releases the carbon that is present on the surface of the earth already.
6. Keeping the wood fire outdoors can be safer for some homes.
Having an outdoor wood stove boiler keeps the flames and smoke well away from your house. While it is true that wood stove operation can be as safe as any other heating system, many people would prefer to keep wood fire away from the buildings.
Hopefully these points help you make a decision on whether or not to own an outdoors wood stove boiler.
Installing Your Own Outdoor Wood Boiler
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If you want to save money by installing your own outdoor wood stove boiler, with a little research and some hard work it is completely possible. The first step to take is make sure you buy the right wood boiler. You will have to study the outdoor wood boiler designs of more than one company before you actually purchase one. Ask as many questions as possible beforehand. If a stainless steel firebox is available, consider buying it even at a higher initial cost. It will last longer.
You will need to find out the local codes and bylaws to make sure you can install your wood boiler legally in your area. Some places have banned these outdoor wood boilers and you may not be allowed to operate one in your neighborhood. Another detail you need to know is the minimum legal distance from your wood boiler to the buildings you will heat.
You can install all of these pieces yourself: the cement pad or block that the outdoor wood stove boiler will sit on, the underground piping to the house, the heat exchanger in the furnace and the water heater, and the electrical/ control cable for the wood boiler.
If you can work yourself on one or more of these areas, you can get an expert to finish the rest of the work. It might be advisable to hire a plumber and electricin to make your final electrical and plumbing connections. However, running the cable and underground piping is relatively easy for a home handyman. Doing a lot of the work yourself can drop the costs substantially. You can do an online search and find how-to guides on almost any topic.
You can also save money on the heat exchanger and the hot water pump by looking around instead of buying these items off of the dealer. Try contacting a wholesaler or searching on eBay.
There are a lot of ways to save money on the installation of your outdoor wood stove boiler. If you spend some time researching and compare your options, you will come up with a plan that is right for you.
Pros and Cons of Outdoors Wood Stove Boilers
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Installing an outdoor wood stove boiler can be a great way to save money on your heating bill. Before buying a wood furnace, however, you should consider a few different issues. For instance, the savings may be offset by the extra work you will need to do gathering or loading wood in the boiler, removing ashes, etc.
Is there a ready supply of wood? If you don’t have a wood supply on your own property, you can try a local sawmill for cheap or free ends and reject logs. It is also an option to have wood delivered. In this case you woud need to buy in bulk to get a real savings. Some people buy wood by the semi load. You would then have to use a chansaw and sometimes a wood splitter to prepare your fuel for the wood boiler. It would be best to let green wood dry out and cure before burning.
Do you have a lot of neighbors that live close by? They may not appreciate a cloud of smoke in their yard from your new wood boiler. In order to keep smoke to a minimum you can avoid burning wet, low quality wood. Other than that, the design of the outdoor wood boiler will determine how efficient it is.
If these issues aren’t a problem for you and you want to save a pile of money on your home heating bills, then an outdoors wood stove boiler might be for you.
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