Question for Central Boiler owners

David Wayne · Sep 23, 2015

With the ripple top design of the firebox, is there an issue of wood hitting the last "baffle" when loading? Potentially causing a leak.

Thanks
David

Storm56 · Sep 23, 2015

Have had mine since 2004, has never been a problem but I generally do not load it to the "gills" so to speak either. I cut my wood to 22-24 inches as that is what my splitter takes. There is no need to throw the pieces in with any force, a light toss generally gets it done. As a rule I try to achieve about a 12 hour burn, you will learn how much to put in with the varying temp. Only time I really stoke it up is we are going to be gone for a longer time period. YMMV.

Guswhit · Sep 23, 2015

Storm56 said:
Have had mine since 2004, has never been a problem but I generally do not load it to the "gills" so to speak either. I cut my wood to 22-24 inches as that is what my splitter takes. There is no need to throw the pieces in with any force, a light toss generally gets it done. As a rule I try to achieve about a 12 hour burn, you will learn how much to put in with the varying temp. Only time I really stoke it up is we are going to be gone for a longer time period. YMMV.

Times 2 on this one! Exactly what I did when I had my unit. Only reason I'm not doing it now is I sold the house and the boiler went with it.

blakey · Sep 23, 2015

I agree with the above, I don't load much past the baffle now. Early on I burned long (4ft) slabwood and the chimney looked like a flamethrower at times. I installed mine in 2001.

Johnny Yooper · Sep 24, 2015

Storm56 said:
Have had mine since 2004, has never been a problem but I generally do not load it to the "gills" so to speak either. I cut my wood to 22-24 inches as that is what my splitter takes. There is no need to throw the pieces in with any force, a light toss generally gets it done. As a rule I try to achieve about a 12 hour burn, you will learn how much to put in with the varying temp. Only time I really stoke it up is we are going to be gone for a longer time period. YMMV.

times 3 !

Windyhill · Sep 24, 2015

I cut mine 22-24" as well, and stack one solid stack up to the top of the door. In the dead of winter I get a 12 hours usually. On a very cold windy night I stack a partial second stack first then do my regular. Never had a problem with the baffles they are up out of the way. With my 6040 I heat a 1800 sq foot house, 50 x 32 foot shop and all my hot water, I have never had any trouble with not having plenty of heat.

Fray'd Knot · Sep 25, 2015

Times 4 !!!!

David Wayne · Oct 2, 2015

Thanks for the replies, I didnt mean to post & disappear. Been working 7 days, not much free time.

chiefs584ever · Oct 3, 2015

Been burning my 6048 since 2008 and only problem I have ever had was a stuck solenoid on the air control one time. Make sure you lubricate it every year and Its always nice to keep a spare on hand that you can change out quickly if you should ever have it go bad. Simplicity of the CB brand is what sold me on them. Have never had any issues with banging of the wood on the back grate. I always figured that it doesn't hurt to bang it good every once in a while to knock the creosote off. Main culprit that will kill the life of the firebox is not cleaning the ash out in the spring and letting rainwater into the firebox thru the chimney. Always make it a first priority to get it cleaned out when you shut it down and throw a 5 gallon bucket over the chimney.