Central boiler

[CentaurG2]

Yup, we were an early adopter of outdoor boilers and the original CB boiler had the old flat top chimney design. I know CB twiddled around with stainless fireboxes for few years but I don’t know if they held up better than the soft steel. Bottom line, toss a chunk of steel into a lake and drag in out a decade and a half later it aint going to be in pristine shape. Nothing last forever and CB steel is no better or worse than other manufactures. I do think they build a very good boiler and their design has improved over the years but with all the regulations concerning outdoor hydronic heaters (and their high cost), I wonder how they can stay in business.

 

[hupte]

^this^
I can personally testify to the quality of hardy's. Plus you can get a brand new one for close to what their asking for this used one. I don't know anything about the Hoss heaters apart from what i have read in forums but a lot of what people say about them isn't good. I don't have personal experience with CB's either but I know they have a good reputation.

can you post a link?

 

[milkie62]

I would stay with CB or Hardy before I EVER went with an unknown. I have had a CB for years and no issues. I would never be afraid of their simple design.

Sent from my SM-N910R4 using Tapatalk

Same here.I have a 20 yr old CB Cl40 model with ZERO issues.I burn roughly 9 cord per year.Keep them clean.....

 

[Timbercreek]

Im not very fond of the cb. Seems guys either have great luck with them or **** luck.
I lived next door to one and it was the smokiest pos you ever saw.
Granted, it could have been what he was burning, but even at its worst, my heatmor has never smoked like that.
Def wouldnt pay 5g for it. I was quoted 7300 for a new heatmor 200css. Uninstalled of course.

 

[milkie62]

Im not very fond of the cb. Seems guys either have great luck with them or **** luck.
I lived next door to one and it was the smokiest pos you ever saw.
Granted, it could have been what he was burning, but even at its worst, my heatmor has never smoked like that.
Def wouldnt pay 5g for it. I was quoted 7300 for a new heatmor 200css. Uninstalled of course.

It probably smokes more until there is fire in the firebox.Since the CB's have no parts other than a solenoid that moves a mechanical damper,they will smolder until the fire is hot enough to burn the gases.Other brands have a blower motor in the door that will more than likely keep the amt of smoke even throughtout the burn time.Mine is in the wide open spaces so the smoke dissipates quickly.I would buy another CB 40 in a heartbeat after 20 yrs of zero issues.

 

[CentaurG2]

You can put a fan draft on the door of a CB. They are wired into the same circuit as the solenoid that opens the draft in the door. The initial blast from a fan draft boiler is usually very “smoky” but as the condensates burn off, the smoke disappears. The more frequent the boiler runs the less smoke it produces. The problem with the old school CB design is that you have a very hot fire below a 300+ gal pot of water at 185f. When the boiler is not running, it acts like a giant charcoal kiln. All of the moisture, tars, turpenes etc from the wood get cooked off by the heat in the coal bed and condense on the “cold” top of the fire box. When the boiler spools up, you get a lot of steam and smoke. For less smoke, the dryer the wood the better. You fill a CB with fresh cut pine slabs, it will produce an awe inspiring cloud that could easily hide a carrier group. It is this smoke that has virtually outlawed these machines in New England.

 

[Timbercreek]

Ya the worst days with the cb seemed to be those high moisture, low ceiling days, the toxic plume would wander over to my land and hang around like black fog.

I put a galvenized garbage can over his stack snuffing it out on 2 occasions.

it was so bad my guys couldnt work, and i was like f that, i asked him to lengthen his chimney and he didnt do it.
My neighbors dont even know my heatmor is running unless i let it go cold.
She puffs till she gets up to operating temps.

 

[Kevin in Ohio]

Yup, we were an early adopter of outdoor boilers and the original CB boiler had the old flat top chimney design. I know CB twiddled around with stainless fireboxes for few years but I don’t know if they held up better than the soft steel. Bottom line, toss a chunk of steel into a lake and drag in out a decade and a half later it aint going to be in pristine shape. Nothing last forever and CB steel is no better or worse than other manufactures. I do think they build a very good boiler and their design has improved over the years but with all the regulations concerning outdoor hydronic heaters (and their high cost), I wonder how they can stay in business.

I have a 5648 stainless I bought in '02. Still no issues and I only run in the winter. 13 cord a year and I do clean the firebox completely once a year and check the water for balance. Only added water once in all these years and it wasn't even below the low then. Fingers crossed.

 

[Woodomaker]

I will be selling my 6048 Central boiler that has propane backup attached.

 

[Woodomaker]

Im looking to buy a CB I found a used one a 04 model and there asking way to much in my opinion $5000 it's a 5648 model what is a realistic price for this? Also I heat 3500 sq. Ft would a 5036 be big enough I'm also looking at one of those it's only 5 yrs old.

I have recently installed a heat pump. So, I want to sell my CB 6048; 2007 model; with propane backup...all factory maintenance procedures have been performed since new. Additives and Ash-Trol been purchased and used from local dealer.

 

[Scablands]

Those of you with corrosion issues...

Have you ever sent your fuel in for analysis? If there is any chlorine in the fuel, it will eat your system in a hurry.