anyone use a outdoor wood furnace to heat your home?

[**ICEMAN**]

i have a indoor wood furnace now and am getting ready to buy a outdoor furnace. i'm going to hook it up to my existing forced hot air system with a water- to -air heat exchanger. also will be heating my hot water,clothes dryer and garage with it. i have narrowed it down to 2 manufacturers,,www.pacificwesterninc.com and www.centralboiler.com



anyone have any experience with these or outdoor furnaces in general?

thanks for your info!!

 

[wyosteve]

I used one last winter when I was in Virginia. They work great as long as you have a good wood supply. Filled it twice a day normally. Morning and evening. Usually got in the teens, low twenties at night and 40's during the day. Only comment is to add water to the boiler on a regular basis. If the outside temp is warm during the day, the thermostats will shut off heat to the house and then with all the wood in the firebox, the water will start to boil and the safety valve releases steam thereby diminishing your water supply. Other than that it worked great.

 

[Cobra]

Wood furnace outside

Don,

I don't have one but there is one about 3 miles from my house. It has been in operation for about 4 years now. If I get a chance tomorrow I will stop by and talk to the guy. Get as much ifo as I can for you.



Bill

 

[Blackcloud]

I have installed about 10 different units over the past couple years,and have to say that the Central boiler is by far the best of the bunch that I have worked on (I've installed Central,Aquatherm,Hardy and Woodking). These unit are becoming very popular in my area--the biggest drawback is the initial cost. It will take many years to recoup the cost of just the outdoor unit,not to mention you almost need a endless supply of free wood to burn. If you must purchase wood,I can't see it saving much if any money over gas. If they didn't cost so much,I'd have one.

 

[**ICEMAN**]

thanks wyosteve,

cobra,,i'd appreciate it,

blackcloud,,i have plenty of free wood , lots of tops from my last timbering. i plan on setting it 100ft from the house beside the wood pile. i'm trying to eliminate hauling wood to the basement and the mess etc. that comes with it. my indoor furnace is a clayton and you couldn't ask for more heat. i was leaning towards the central boiler but i like some of the features on the pacific western like that it stands on legs where as the central needs a concrete pad. pacific has a round firebox and the other is square. i've been told the round last longer because of no corners and less welded seams? both are available with titanium enhanced stainless steel boxes at an extra cost. you are right about being a big investment. both models i am looking at will run about $6k with all the accessaries and me installing it but if i can eliminate using my loader to haul wood to the basement,bugs in the house,splitting wood ,cleaning the chimney and the fear of chimney fires it will pay for itself in no time.

 

[Keith1]

i have a taylor that is about 10 years old now and i still think it was the best thing i ever did i'd by another in a hartbeat

 

[**ICEMAN**]

kgerber,,i haven't seen a "taylor" in any of my searching. do they have a web site?