Installing an outdoor wood boiler can be a great way to save money on your heating bill, but before buying wood boiler consider the bottom line.  In exchange for wood heating, you will be giving more of your time in labor and maintenance.

This is not necessarily a bad thing.  It just depends on your circumstances, and heating needs. My home is very large and old. The cost of heating it with my old oil boiler system was astronomical.  Just three years ago I was paying $500 per month.  Today I would be paying close to triple that, and most likely couldn’t afford to live here.  Huge, huge savings!

I think my case might be a little extreme, but I spend about twenty hours per month hauling wood and feeding the outdoor boiler during the peak cold season. This is what I mean by the labor tradeoff. If you have the time, it’s great.

I get most of my firewood for free from a nearby saw mill. If I had to buy wood, I could expect to pay around $400 per month. I burn close to a cord of wood per week during the subzero temps.  Again, my case is extreme. My outdoor boiler heats a 5,000 square foot area and has a capacity for heating up to 10,000 sq. feet.  I heat my garage and feed heating coils for my driveway, therefore the additional boiler capacity.

Most folks with busy schedules buy their wood by the semi load. I’m sure there are wood suppliers around you. This is very convenient, but to get a good deal it’s best to buy uncut logs which will have to be chainsawed, and then split. You will pay a premium for wood that’s ready to feed directly into the boiler.

The harder the wood, the more heat delivery you get. The wood won’t necessarily burn hotter, it will just last longer. I like a combination of hard and soft wood. An outdoor wood boiler will burn some pretty green stuff that you wouldn’t even dream of putting in an indoor wood boiler. Even though the boiler can handle it, I advise against it.  Expect lots of smoke and creosote buildup in the stack. It’s also a huge waste because energy is expended into driving moisture out of the wood.

Installing the outdoor boiler yourself is not really as intimidating as you would think. You may benefit from my experience. If you are interested in installing your own wood boiler, be sure to read my next page. Chances are you will save money.