Honestly this is a shot out of left field but at current electrical prices if I were to sell about 8 cords of hardwood I could pay my heating bill all winter. Which is the same as I would burn with way less handling and work.
OWB Purchase and Install Cost
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Electricity is also not an issue since my oil boiler uses the same circulators that the OWB does so they would be running anyways.
oh brother,,here he goes again...............
Greg Perryman
ArboristSite Operative
Im in the same boat as some. Id really like to upgrade to a outdoor boiler, but the cost to me isn't worth it. Now my Brother installed a heatmor last yr. and his wood consumption did go up and the same with my neighbor it really seems like they go through a lot of wood.
stevetheboatguy
ArboristSite Guru
I couldn't justify the expense. So I made my own. 2200 sq ft house and 3 car garage/ shop. I wouldn't recommend it if you are only heating one structure. But two or more and it is the way to go in my opinion.
Electricity is a non issues. Has not made any noticeable difference on our bill. And wood consumption has many variables. Wind, temp, quality of wood, eccc.
Steven.
Electricity is a non issues. Has not made any noticeable difference on our bill. And wood consumption has many variables. Wind, temp, quality of wood, eccc.
Steven.
I've said it before, but here I go again. In the last house I had a central boiler 5036-18oo sq. ft. with a full basement and a 26x26 garage I was heating. I installed it after building the house, so only air/water heat exchangers and a DHW side arm. I installed myself, had about $8,500.00 invested altogether. I figured for what my propane savings only it paid for itself after the first 3 years(wait for it), NOT counting any of my labor/gas/oil/chainsaw stuff. I loved the heat, mess outside, wife even got on board! Now, after selling that house and learning much more over the last few years, I have decided on a Portage and Main BL3444 with 1,000 gallons of water storage, radiant heat in the garage and basement slabs as well as air/water exchangers in the furnace plentum and in the garage to take the chill off if overhead doors are open too long. House is 2,500 sq. ft., full basement and garage is 1,500 sq. ft. I have $14,000 invested so far with piping and boiler, still need all the pumps, manifolds and misc. dodads-I'll keep you posted when I get it lit next winter. I believe you need more thermal storage to make better usage of the firing times. We shall see.
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I forgot to add that I'm heating 2 houses and a shop. I agree that for a well built house it just isn't worth it. I've talked to a few people who see my outfit and think they want one and once I explain it they usually realize the initial cost is just too much for a single house. Insulation, windows, doors have a much faster payback.
Cantoo makes a good point, if you would do ALL of the math it wouldn't pencil out. I happen to have an issue/problem, that if I have nothing better to do I tend to do stupid things and since I'm too old to be chasing skirts and drinking all the time its very therapeutic for me! I just need to stay busy, and I've given up fast cars, chasing skirts and drinking to excess, so I deserve 1 hobby to live out my days!
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How much hydro would my avatar pic buy? I have 4 wood splitters. And a wife with very little will power.
blakey
ArboristSite Operative
I would estimate I am replacing about $4000 a yr in energy costs. $4000 x 14 yrs =$56,000 minus $14k initial cost=$42,000 I didn't spend on oil or electricity, most of which would be after tax dollars. Pencils out ok for me and we are warm.
Often times I've thought that if my neighbor was family that it would make good sense to share an OWB to heat both our homes. The distance is right and where I want to put one if I ever got one would be perfect for both homes. That way you are sharing the labor and cost.
One guy scrounges all of the firewood, the other stokes the fire all winter? Then trade off the next year?
ChoppyChoppy
Tree Freak
I have delivered wood to several folks with boilers and I've yet to see one that I thought was very fuel efficient. One guy, who doesn't live too far away heats a home about the same size as mine and he uses 6-7 cords a winter. I heat my place with a wood stove on about 3.
I looked into putting one so I could actually use my radiant floor heat, but the $10,000 price tag for the boiler wasn't going to happen.
I know one firewood vendor that has one setup for kiln drying the wood for bundles. He just feeds the boiler with scraps off the processor, pretty much the same we do to heat the shop only we have a big stove inside the building.
I looked into putting one so I could actually use my radiant floor heat, but the $10,000 price tag for the boiler wasn't going to happen.
I know one firewood vendor that has one setup for kiln drying the wood for bundles. He just feeds the boiler with scraps off the processor, pretty much the same we do to heat the shop only we have a big stove inside the building.
My friend heats a home a little larger than mine . He has a Tarm gassifier with storage his is a very high tech setup . It doesn't get more efficient than his , radiant slab with heavy pex computer boards and the whole nine . he was a dealer so he got it all at dealer cost , to do s similar setup as his you'd have 20,000+ $ into it . He still goes through probably atleast 30% more wood than my large indoor air furnace does . By design. A boiler is going to always go through a ton of wood even if it's a new really efficient EPA unit. Boiling water takes a lot of energy . It's easier to heat an air molecule. My other buddy has a Taylor boiler he uses 14 cords a year .you better love to cut wood and have some equipment
I'm anxious to get mine going, but I know it won't be till next year. I have managed to drag 30 pickup loads of rounds to my staging area so I will be ready for it next year. The dealer I bought mine at claims he went from 14 chord a year using a Heatmoor, to 10 with the Portage & Main. He claims he is was using properly seasoned wood as well. I will have mine all stacked and measured before burning next year so I can give an unbiased report. I should be able to have another 30 pickup loads cut if the darn weather ever gets below freezing so I don't have to worry about the mud!
I disagree.
May I ask What part don't you agree with ?
