A long-term investment in independence and security your family deserves is an indoor wood furnace. Imagine having unlimited hot water, consistent, even heating, and no monthly heating cost. There are several categories and qualities you should consider while selecting the best indoor wood boiler. Continue reading to learn about these 3 factors for consideration!
Water Capacity
After the draft has stopped, there should be enough water in the boiler to collect the heat that continues to be released by the fire. An excessive amount of water (high mass) is bad since it cools the fire and delays demand. Low volume (too little water) is not a great idea either while burning wood or coal; this will subject the boiler to thermal shock and substantially reduce its lifespan. Additionally, there is often not enough water in the firebox to absorb the remaining heat, which frequently causes boiling and other related issues.
Many of the so-called “gasification” boilers of today are really “batch burners,” which do not idle and need water storage to function correctly. They store the BTUs in the hot water, which boils at 212 degrees, and burn it continuously at a high temperature until they run out of fuel.
Type of Construction
- Steel
The current standard for pressurized heating systems is boilerplate. The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code has certified the grade and specification of carbon steel known as “boiler plate steel.” If the boiler uses a closed system, the manufacturer must have put it through a sixty PSI test. There will be no pressure checks if the boiler uses an open system since the steel cannot withstand the pressure. The boiler’s water jacket should be composed of material that is 25″ thick, and it shouldn’t have any spots where the steel may grow hotter than the steel it is bonded to. A secondary heat exchanger with fins would be an exception, but even in this case, the fins should have expansion joints and they shouldn’t be in the firebox. The heating unit will fracture and prematurely fail if these guidelines are not followed.
- Stainless Steel
The sole advantage of stainless steel is its ability to prevent corrosion, which may also be fixed by switching to a closed system. When exposed to intense heat, stainless steel splits quickly (causing water leaks), and it conducts heat more slowly than mild steel. As a result, efficiency is decreased.
Type of Gasification
Boilers that use gasification are promoted as having excellent efficiency. However, bear in mind that both heating and combustion efficiency are quite good. Ensure that the combustion efficiency is at least as high as the heating efficiency. The most effective gasification boilers burn the gasses inside the firebox rather than in a separate gasification chamber. The quality as well as moisture of wood must meet strict specifications in an “upside down burn” gasification boiler, to the point that occasionally it must be bought only to pass. Such boilers may be challenging to restart, and during times of reduced demand, the chamber may cool to the point where there is insufficient heat to relight the fire. As a result, the firebox often becomes very heavily coated with creosote, which can become corrosive and reduce the boiler’s lifespan.
Consider making the switch to a coal boiler from Legacy Stoves. Almost little smoke or particle emissions are produced by anthracite coal, which is a significant issue with wood-burning boilers. Additionally, it removes any creosote buildup that can cause a fire in your chimney.