The rising cost of heating oil has caused many people around the country to begin considering an old technology paired with a new application.
The wood burning outdoor hot water boiler becoming immensely popular for many reasons, first and foremost being the cost of operation.
How they Work Typically, the outdoor wood burning boiler is situated some distance from the home in an alternate building.
The boiler has a wood box, water piping and an insulation jacket.
Wood is burned inside the boiler to raise the temperature of the water, which is then carried via underground pipes to the home and even other out buildings.
They provide heat for the building and often times hot water as well.
Complaints Many people in suburban or densely populated areas are complaining about the smoke these hot water boilers emit.
Due to the manner in which the system operates the wood never truly becomes engulfed in flames, instead it smolders which produces a large amount of smoke that goes into the air.
Thankfully, the Environmental Protection Agency is on the job and has compiled a list of outdoor wood boilers that have been emission tested and certified.
If you are considering making the switch check with the list and choose a unit that is approved.
Applications The best application for these types of hot water boilers is in an area that is not densely populated and where there is more than one building that needs to be heated, such as a shop or farm building.
These units can also be used to heat pools and spas.
Final Thoughts The environmental impact of the use of outdoor wood burning boilers has not been fully researched.
At this time, there are not many in use, but the numbers are expected to double or triple in the next few years.
One final thing you will want to keep in mind if you choose to use a wood burning boiler is the availability and cost of fuel.
In some areas of the country wood is very expensive and difficult to come by so be aware.