Outdoor Wood Boiler vs Polar Vortex - Staying Warm in Extreme Cold
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- This video is a day in the life of an outdoor wood boiler during a polar vortex and extreme cold conditions. I also answer a few questions I get asked about the outdoor wood boiler and then take you thru a day from one morning to the next and show how many times I have to load up wood when the temps drop below zero.
Outdoor Wood Boiler vs Polar Vortex - Staying Warm in Extreme Cold
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This is the first video on these boilers where the boiler was inside an enclosed space and not just "out in the open" it makes a lot of sense to me to have this kind of set up.
100% my parents have an old farm house and the boiler was out behind the house in the open field for years. About 3 years back now I asked my step dad wouldn’t be worth it to build even a little scrap lumber building around it to keep the heat in? He said I’m not sure so we went to the local Home Depot got a trailer full of used pallets for free built just a small shed around the thing and threw some scrap insulation. He said the past 2 years they’ve used probably 25-35% less wood just breaking the wind from the unit.
@Jason , having lived in few houses with central boiler inside, both wood, coal and gas, I could never understand why the boiler would be out in the elements, and not in at least a garage or workshop.
safety purposes a lot of people are not comfortable having fire going on near the house, the idea of keeping it out in open gives sense of risk free system I guess
Great Heat! I can hear my Central Boiler calling me Master! FEED ME! Every morning and evening! 🪵👍🏼🇱🇷
One thing I did to get a little more useful heat out of the lines is what I like to call poor man's in-floor. Once it goes through the heat exchanger on the furnace and hot water, I looped the return to run under the tile floor in the kitchen and dining rooms. It makes those floors warm as well as the entire basement.
That’s a good idea!
Just fired up my new Central Boiler HDX 760 gasifier outdoor wood boiler two weeks ago.Haven’t burned any propane since,and unlimited hot water for the house.No electricity for the hot water heater. 3 degrees this morning here in Wisconsin this morning.Toasty 71 in the house.
Something I did that helps keep the water warmer is I run the 2 heat lines together almost to the furnace inside insulation. Not sure if you are interested in this. I'm just trying to help with efficiency
Nice video again! Best thing about mine is I fill it before work and when I get home from work!
I have a Central Boiler. My house is roughly 2100 sq foot.
We didn't light up till late November. I go though around 7 cords a year. I do free wood.
Every year in the spring plenty of blown down trees. Most are cut up. Just need picked up.
For that I use a Kubota loader and a 16 ft dump trailer. Usually make quick work of it. A couple of years ago we had 15 cords. Still burning it.
We don't sell wood. What I get we use around here. We cook outside all summer. Lots of fires.
We heat otherwise with a gas hot water boiler. Real easy to hook up too.
Only gas we use is in the summer months. Boiler makes hot water. I live in NE Ohio
Smart move having your wood boiler inside a building makes 100 percent sense.
My kids hated our outdoor boiler. Lol
Now they are adults and totally understand
We got about 6" snow down here (Monday night) which is a lot where I'm at. Temps aren't too bad. The wood stove is fired up and getting ready to shovel my diveway. Have a great day.
Nice videos keep warm snowing in Massachusetts we're running the wood stove nonstop 70 degrees to 80 in side love it keep your video's coming thank you.
I insulated the pipes from and to the wood fired "boiler" inside the basement. This keeps all the heat where you want it and not overheat the basement, saves wood. Used A/C line foam.
Definitely a lot of work to keep a house warm in your winters. Source the wood, cut, split, move and stack, then feed the Beast!
Thanks for the upload, I can see all the creosote so it makes sense to have a short chimney and having the fire away from the house in warmer conditions is a plus. That's a interesting Appliance. Not sure the concept works for a older guy that's looking at 15 - 20 cords a season but definitely a younger guy that has the drive to feed it. My hope is the government stays out of things.
8 months of winter over there , 7 months of winter here in Ireland 😢😮😅, I have a outside boiler , there great but you are married to them for the winter . 😊
that's one large wedding ring around that boiler🤣🤣!!
Great info, I have a wood burning stove to add heat to our regular furnace but have always wondered what having the own was like. Thanks for the great videos. Stay safe and be cool!
Nice system you have. I had a good idea how it worked but have never seen the system up close. Thanks for sharing. 👍🏻👍🏻
Wow a lot of info, I am glad i live in Fl., I am not going to tell you the Temperature here, oh the other thing is there are no Home here for sale, Make me want another cup of coffee, but my Back40 Firewood Cup walked away someone needed more than I. Keep Warm Shifty
LOL...I actually think I'd rather deal with the cold instead of the heat....hahaha...I'll look for a replacement cup for ya. 😀 👍 🍻
With the opening music playing it looked like you were filling a bbq pit.
That's the next step, Little Boss Man's BBQ. Great tour of the system and how it works
Good video, I am in the boiler club too. Wheel barrow full morning and night on these cold days. I have been burning all my slash and end cuts from procrssing Oak at the shop. Small pieces butn super fast, big end cut cookies take days to burn down.
That's the best part about em is they can really help with the clean up of all the undesirable wood...lol....it all burns & makes heat! 😀 👍 🍻
That's chilly alright Dan, thanks for the explanation on your boiler. -34F here today.
monday feb 15...in tint Cochrane WI at 8 am it is 33.333 Celsius. Probably a heat wave in Alberta.
I've been very curious about the boilers, I see them a lot up north. We Floridians are clueless on them. Please keep those cold temperatures up there 🤣
My boiler is a Hot water system run by natural gas. I have a 50/50 mix of anti freeze in my system. It could also heat hot water at one time in stead of having a hot water tank. Gas bills can be high sometimes. I see you have Pex pipe, Red is HOT, and Blue is COLD. I see Dan, it a forced air system that has the water coils where air goes through. Save you on gas.
Been thinking about an OWB. Need to make sure I can fit the exchanger in the duct work. Already Ave an AC exchanger in that spot.
You can but different sizes of heat exchangers to fit your duct work
I’ve been thinking about feeding a owb with flax straw bales. Feeding the hot water to a big water tank storage vessel. Then feeding that to infloor heat.
Looks like that boiler works great for you! Stay warm!🪵🔥👍
I like the video. I have the same boiler, except its the 5500, and my hot water tank exchanger is the side arm instead of the plate exchanger like yours.
Also, I'm no longer complaining about our 10 degree cold ( feels like -2) days after seeing your temps. Lol
I would like to see how this beast works up in Alberta. Was -62 last week hoses on gas pumps froze standing up on their own
Just a bit chilly up there.
Those are warm Temps. Don't know why this wasn't a splitting video.🤣 Good info and stay warm. I'm from the south and I'd be frozen to the ground.
Get er done 💪 nice the same way I fire my woodmaster awesome footage always
Yes they really do çhew through the wood!! Wood heat does really feel good though!! I typically fill mine 3 times a day when it's this cold!! Stay warm and safe my friend!!
Unfortunately regulators made standard boilers illegal here in IT ( wich were the best boilers )
Hey Dan, not sure where you are, I have an identical set up, I used 3-4 ft logs 10" in diameter. It saves so much time splitting wood. Also my insurance would never allow me to have my boiler inside a building. I have a few other upgrades I have planned for the future.
Your insurance company is nuts...if the interface between the chimney and the structure fulfills all normal chimney requirements re insulating air gap etc...then theoretically the WB inside should never be a problem...as can be seeen here.
There is more danger in having a vehicle with a fuel tank indoors....
@@JohnSmith-yv6eq and todays electric cars near your house too!!
Wow, nice fire!! Feel that heat!!!
Nice setup on boiler first time I've seen it , dan its so cold here in Michigan like you guys can't cut no wood while I get 3 hours today and its to cold and going to get colder but wife is getting better thats all that matters , have good day brother and stay cool
Glad to she getting better.
@@larrykluckoutdoors8227 thank you Larry shes up and around we are waiting for that hundred day mark to see if she goes in remission
@@tonyr6190
I thinking about her.
Take care
@@larrykluckoutdoors8227 ok thx Larry appreciate it
Subzero for mega heat do small fills it will get more oxygen because it's drawing so hard and will burn hotter. Heatmor 400 with 300 cfm draft fans . Max cold -34f with wind took 2200 lbs dry oak in 24 hours .
Great explanation of the wood boiler heating system. We keep our big, ol' farm house toasty with a Bullard Eagle double door wood stove in the dining room. Wood heating starts around Oct. and continues through May. We burn through about a cord/month. I enjoy watching your videos first thing in the morning with a big cup of joe. Have a fantastic week.
You need to send me some warm weather, -17F ain’t going to cut it.
May have helped if you showed everyone a snap shot of your 2 thermostats in side your home. Very informative video. Thank you.
This is my life 3 months out of the year. You can bring your hummingbird feeder in.
That was great good video my son has a out side boiler he has a big work shop it heats the floor works awesome don't know much about it I go fill it up sometimes when they are away use's a lot of wood but works great thanks have a good day
I don't miss our Woodmaster, glad we switched to a Gasification boiler. Best move we ever made.
Fixing to ditch our 4400 and get a gasser ourselves. Can’t wait to not have to cut and split so much wood next year!
@@jorrick66 Backwood 40 has a bunch of split wood that he sells and I just don't get it. If he were to purchase a gasser, he would have less wood to cut for himself, that in return would be more income on the extra wood he would save on and could sell. Maybe I just look at things differently though, to each their own I guess.
@@TheCrazyPlace I get it. Time is money, and having to take off work to cut wood with the way I work is costing us more than we’re saving. The wife and I ran the numbers, and just saving 30% on wood makes up for the payment of a new gasser. We’re in southeast Missouri, and this year with the polar vortex, we’re going to burn between 8 and 10 cords with the 4400. We only have 1,500sqft and the water heater, so we can get by with something like a CB 350, or an HM G4000 easy. Once spring rolls around, I believe we’re going to rip the 4400 out and pour a new pad for something else. Plus I’m sure my neighbors will appreciate the reduction in smoke output 😅
@@jorrick66 that's awesome your in Southeast Missouri, that's where we're from also. Cold snap stunned alot of people around here for sure.
@@TheCrazyPlace haha, small world! And it sure has wreaked havoc around here. I can deal with the cold, I just hate the snow!
ohh man. Thats so awesome to see you load it up.. i use like 2-3 pieces at a time in the house
Lol we have a section of night wood and morning wood also. We have a indoor dual fuel furnace.
thank you!
Morning Dan. Keep 'em warm buddy! LOL. Guy does the same thing with his boiler - he just loads one row in it. Hope this cold lets-up to make way for more snow! :))
Hey GP...yeah I think the single row gives a better burn, sort of like a campfire when you just throw a huge heap of wood on can get choked out...I think stuffing a boiler plump full can be similar, plus what fun would it be if I only had to go out in the sub-zero temps once a day?!?! LOL
Great information.
Nice set up there Dan.. When you covered this a few years ago I didn't know how an OWB worked but you walk us throu it and its so simple its dumb but it works.. Guess this means the wood you toss in is so happy to burn it all turns to ash... Haahaha!!
I love my Heatmaster gasification boiler. Granted you are burning pine but the amount of wood you put in yours at one time will last mine 24+ hours in that same weather. I was hesitant about a gasser stove but not after running it awhile. Glad I went that way. Great video bud.
It's days like this that I'm glad I only have to load my boiler once every 3-4 days. And I do it from the comfort of my basement. I'm convinced that gasification boilers with storage are the way to go! Good video, though.
Watch it with those, whene the fire box rots through in 5-7 years, it won’t be under warrantee even if you never burn paper and only burn toothpicks.
@@ericharris893 Why would the firebox rot out? I've had mine for 4 years. My brother has had his for 6 years. Neither is showing any signs of rust. Maybe you are thinking of a different brand or design. But I talked to other owners of Switzer boilers like mine that are 30 years old with no problems.
@@NorthForkHollow yes the old ones are different. They don’t rot out. The gasifier ones always have water and creosote pouring off the inside and somehow they corrode badly. No matter how picky you get with what you burn, it draws moisture to the fire box and they just rot in the back left or right top corners. I don’t know why it’s a problem for them but the old ones never rot out. And you could burn green pine rounds and last nights pizza boxes with the crust still in it. Never rot
@@ericharris893 What brands are you talking about? Because I'm sure that makes a difference. Mine isn't old, but doesn't draw any moisture into the firebox. I don't burn green wood because I don't like cutting more wood than I need. But I don't see a flake of corrosion, moisture, or creosote in mine. Take a look at my videos and you can see the design of mine. Not all are the same.
@@NorthForkHollow dude I checked out your channel! Fricken sweet. We would hang out if we were neighbors. Anyway, the reason you are not haveing the issues is because your not drawing moist outside air into the fire box during the burn cycle with cold water against the bearing surface to condense.
Ya your in the cold zone keep feeding that boiler! Wish I had one
Temps are low at 160 to 170 on your boiler. My central runs 175 on and off at 185
Good video thank you
Man no wonder those things use a ton of wood. My woodstove in the house probably uses 1 full wood boiler load per day not 3 haha. But you’ve also got your hot water tank hooked up to it as well
LOL...yeah they can go thru a LOT of wood with temps that cold....prolly doesn't help that the house is at 74 all day...all night...hahaha 😀 👍 🍻
It was -21f here in southern Minnesota last Saturday, and hasn’t been above zero since. -3 right now at 12:30 pm. My boiler chews thru the wood at these temps but It heats my house, domestic hot water, garage, and 2200 sq ft shop. My gas bill last month was $ 29.00.
Not quite that cold here in Ohio, but the coldest of the season for sure. They say we might hit 20 today, and that's supposedly the highest temp we will see all week. Been burning a mix of Oak, Ash & Maple here lately, one my favorite combinations. Its been relatively mild this winter overall, and we have only been burning about a 1/2 cord a month so far. Might be a full cord this month though.
We process and sell firewood. We have a number of customers who buy wood to fire outdoor furnaces/boilers. For those customers, we make a type of wood we call “chunk wood” or furnace wood. Basically, it’s just larger splits. For example, we’ll take a large round, say a 30” and split it four ways. Our furnace wood customers prefer this type of wood. I notice you are using fireplace size splits. Have you ever used larger pieces in your boiler?
Just the opposite here on when to fill'r up. The small indoor boiler should not blowing or a lot of smoke comes out the door, especially this time of year when there's a little build up inside the chimney and the draft isn't quite as good.
well done sir.. looks like it is a fine system for you and the familey... bravo sir well done..
Yes i like your new video the moming you did a really good jop your wood stove going really good and hot just like my wood stove too good jop stay warm good job this morning buddy
Good night too you guys say warm tonight buddy is still could there busdy 🍺🍺
This welded box is maybe , maybe 20-30% efficient compare to gasificarion stoves. I have comparision 3 years ago i change old box llike yours to new gasification stove and it is so nice , i burn 1 packet of wood in 3-4h compare to 1h before........ Massive improvment
Good video Dan. I will be sending more of this cold air over your way.
We do miss having a wood stove to warm up the house.
Larry....trust me, I've had enough of the COLD cold...just send some nice mid 20s....PLUS 20, not -20..hahahahaha 😀 👍 🍻
@@Back40Firewood
Not yet. Back down into the cold this weekend
hi there B40 that was a real nice presentation . good ol wood boilers do like to eat wood . i fire mine the same way junk in the day hard wood for all night . sure would be kind of you to keep your cold up there . how about that bid d at -34 . i loved your water thing gots to do that again stay warm john
Awesome run down on the unit and how it hooks up to the house! Looks way easier than our wood stove that we run for our main heat aswell. Would be nice to only refill 3 times a day instead of every 2-3 hours🔥
That is the one nice thing is less often on the fill up...I was just talking to my dad and he was telling me he's on about a 2-3 hour refill cycle as well...lol 😀 👍 🍻
@Frank Maggard I was about to scold our host on "12 hrs with quality stove," but back 40's dad straightened him out. We gotta keep a check in that Shifty fellow.
@Frank Maggard he easily could. He chooses to do a moderate fill and have a easier coal bed to manage.
@Frank Maggard what model of stove do you have?
I don't think I will ever complain about being cold again. Yikes!
Hey Dan watch this one. In the Wood Yard. Splitting very large rounds with a home made log splitter. Up at my brothers wood yard doing some work with his John Deer 3025 Tractor. Moving, splitting, and cutting some firewood in Northern Wisconsin, video number 225. I thought you might like to watch it.
Cold here in Michigan too
Wonderful video. Very interesting. Thank you!
Great explanation of how the OWB works. Cool video as well. Stay warm and be safe.
Wow I run mine at 145 with radiant heat in the floor that shows you the difference between forced air and radiant heat.
-17c here today, supposed to warm up to a blistering -8c today
On the 13th we were down around -41°C in northwest North Dakota at like 6 in the morning.
Another outstanding video buddy remember I will be watching Friday night Live you do good work and whatever you do that is a nice outside boiler at least it keeps you on warm pal tell Amanda I said hello God bless your family take care be safe and be cool text me back buddy plays please
The wood you are using seems very seasoned and split into small pieces. In my OWB I do not split anything less than 10” diameter. 12-16” I’ll split in 1/2 bigger than that I will 1/4 it. While whole logs take a little longer to catch and burn than your dry splits, they will last much longer. Unless it is in the single digits during the day and below 0 at night is the only time I cannot get a 24 hour burn.
Now that I'm further ahead on my supply I will start splitting larger since they will have more time to season. Some of the smaller stuff I burn is rejected splits from wood I sell.
Great video explaining the use of a wood boiler. Two questions. How much money do you think you save per year? What is the temperature difference between in supply side and the return side of the heat exchanger?
those are loaded questions, the temperature drop across the heat exchange will vary depending on usage, the water heater has first priority, so if water being used will drop it quicker than when not in use. secondly the energy saving of the heat and hot water. my boiler eliminates propane for heat and hot water for the entire season, but the electric goes up about a little for the fan and circulator running. long story shot instead of a propane delivery every month it's once or twice a year, for cooking and hot water in the non heating season, the boiler could run all year for hot water but probably not beneficial.
All that pipe ! You would have a impressive saving if you insulated all the pipes ! I think you would be surprised!
The tubing from the boiler to the house is heavily insulated, but once inside the house the exposed lines actually probably help keep the basement a bit warm, and technically actually sort of heat the house. So not being insulated doesn't have too big of an impact. 👍😀🍻
@@Back40Firewood
Good point ! Was trying to help but I see what you mean pipe radiator 😁👍
Holy shit thats alot of wood
It’s oddly satisfying watching this now, as I’m itching to light my stove again. I’m definitely hoping for some frigid weather this year to justify all the firewood hoarding I’ve been doing for a couple years now 😜
I'm running a Taylor 450 in eastern Ohio. I incinerate about 10 cords per season.
You need to keep some 8-10" rounds for the night time fill up ! That's what I use for the long haul !!
Would longer pieces also help?
Awesome footage always 💪
Curious why you don't run a bigger delta temp? Drop your low to 140 and raise your high to 180? This way you will have longer full burns and less smoldering times. Theoretically this would be more efficient and less burnt wood.
Well not really cuz you'd be burning more wood to bring the temp back up from 140 all the way to 180 and the blower fan would run longer. Once the fan shuts off at 170 not much wood burns since there isn't really any air let in for the fire to burn.
What's a polar vortex? lived in the north all my life and been around when it used to be really cold. Polar vortex only came around a few years ago from the weather channel. Up north, folks, it's just cold in winter no matter what BS you name it.
Try bubbles when it’s that cold.
It would be interesting to see how much wood you go through over an entire winter
I usually average between 10-12 full cords depending on how cold the temps get. 👍😀🍻
It just seems to me your burning a lot of wood. Better than a cord a week I'd say. I just read one of your post Dan. 10-12 cords a year. My God. What kind of Out Door Boiler do you have? Damn hungry one for sure. Dan the new Boilers out there burn a 3rd of what you burn a year. I have a older Central Boiler. We keep thermostats at 68. I burn a cord a month. 2100 sq. Ft. It is also all my domestic hot water.
It was -16 Saturday morning.
Yeah she's a hungry one for sure...lol....but that 10-12 full cords a year also is over 8 months of burning. I start beginning of Oct and go through end of May sometimes even into June.
If it's sub-zero temps I can go through a face cord a week for sure. But then again it also depends on the type of wood I'm burning. So like last week was almost a face cord, but it was all Silver Maple. Not Oak. That makes a big difference.
We have around 2800 sq ft and we keep inside temp at 74 plus hot water....so when all said & done, it's not overly inefficient. I do agree the new models are WAY better on wood consumption.
Feed the beast! Stop feeding it split rounds and go whole sale rounds! Ive been telling you this for months hahah. Do you have a inside temp to tell you water temp of boiler? Best thing I did to mine. Saves the trip outside.
The answer is in the sideline...selling split firewood...this way all firewood is available for sale or for burning......
I really like the OWBs. Unfortunately they are not legal here. Will have to wait till I retire amd we move. How often do you have to clean it out? Do you also clean out the stack during the winter? Would think you would have to shut it all down to do that, then start all over again. Thanks for sharing 👍 Be well.
hey brother not sure if you know place 4 big rocks in it too will heat longer that what we do in Canada hope that help saves you some wood you can just leave the in i forget what the rocks are called
How warm is your enclosed area? Would love to have an heated "shop" with an automotive lift during the winter!!!
-40 here feels like -50c Red Deer Alberta
And a few more days to go, I'm in Edmonton. 🥶🍁
you guys are heartier then me!!
Do you ever take advantage of that monster sized bed of coals to do any bbq cooking in the heating season? I am sure some brisket or ribs would hit the spot during a polar vortex.
Im new to the wood boiler scene but i did cook a pizza in there once and it worked great. Why not right.
My wood boiler has been very hungry this week also
Man, got some OWB haters in the crowd! 😆 I love my OWB! Enjoyed the video Dan! Stay warm up there buddy!👍🏻🍺
If you like you OWB, you can keep your OWB. For me, it's like watching som odd 70's technology from Russia compared to what we have here in Finland.
@@jouman450I highly anticipate the awesome technological wood burning advancements from Finland finally reaching our shores.
Love mine as well. Seems the ones that don’t like an OWB are either the ones that have it installed poorly and bad underground lines or the ones that are lazy
@@AATreeService 👍🏻
@@FirewoodMidwest I come from Norwegian stock,(two generations removed)so I am proud of advanced European designs. But that Tesla guy is revolutionizing everything.
Why don't you just put rounds in there that are say 8-10" by like 24" long? less splitting and longer wood so more BTUs per load? I really wish i had one at my shop.
The answer is in the sideline...selling split forewood...this way all firewood is available for sale or for burning......
Polar vortex, what we used to call winter…
How many Gals of water does the boiler vessel hold ??? ..... Also .... how often do you clean out ashes ???
The water jacket around the boiler holds 250 gallons that is continuously circulated. I usually clean the ashes out every week to 10 days.
All your temperature comment boxes said Saturday Feb 5th.
Saturday was the 6th.
Awww man, I thought I felt a day behind...lol...oh well, good catch! 😀 👍 🍻
HAY ( D ) NICE SYSTEM... KEEP-ER COOKIN... YOU SHOULD CALL UP OLE SCHEIBORG AN HAVE A COUPLE A BERRSKIES... MAN, IT'S COLD WHEN WATER FREEZES LIKE THAT... WOW... SLEEP TIGHT AN COVER-UP RIGHT!!! STAY WARM ( COOL ) AN KEEP STOKIN ON MY BROTHER... PEACE...
LOL...well I can guarantee one thing, the beer would be ICE COLD!! That's the one nice thing with this set up is I put the thermostat at 74 and just leave it...still walking round the house in shorts & t-shirt even tho it's 10 below zero outside...hahaha 😀 👍 🍻
@@Back40Firewood YOU WILD AND CRAZY GUY!!!
I don’t think it really matters a lot but with an up draft you may want to switch your feed and return lines that way the air is hitting the warmest part of you condenser first.
Actually not, it would mean that the hot air needs to pass through the colder loop, thus cooling the air again. In this case the “cold” water uses its remaining heat to preheat the air, before the hot water heats it up. This way is more energy efficiënt.
@@tommasroos9134 if you hit the heat first wouldn’t it keep the condenser temp warmer overall? Getting a longer chance to heat the cold air instead of at the end.
@@mattschmitt4038 i get the way you are thinking, but when you first heat the air in your way, the return will be hotter, thus u are not using the energy, and are wasting it. The colder the return the better (the colder the return the more energy is used from the water). In this case the amount of energy would be negligible, but in my area of expertise (petrochemical industry) it isn’t
@@tommasroos9134 got ya I may switch mine and do some temp checks out a register to see how much different they are I want the most efficient.