best bang for your buck outdoor wood burner

I am starting to look into buying a outdoor wood boiler. I need to heat house 3 car attached garage and 40x30 detached garage... So roughly 500 square feet but would feel better planning for more.. we don't have any close neighbors and are in the country... what do u guys recommend
 
Jim, this was my first winter heating with an outdoor wood burner. I bought a Central Boiler 5036 in September and have been pleased with it so far. I had the lowest electric bills I have had for over a year. I think the 5036 would be a little small for the area you are wanting to heat. I live in S.E. Ohio but the installer was from WV. Hope you find a good one.
 

I'm guessing that you left off a zero on the 500sf? I have an Earth wood boiler that just finished the 6th winter. I've had no trouble at all with the stove but I did replace the circulation pump this winter. At the time I looked at Hardy and Taylor stoves and thought the Earth was the best for the money. Still do.
 
I installed a Heatmaster last fall and have been pleased. The C series was reasonably priced. Dealer here was selling them faster than they could be delivered. I've been told that non-gassification models won't be available after this year. Wood pile really disappeared fast during Febuary but that felt better than watching the gauge on fuel oil tank drop. We kept the house warmer and electricity bill is down 30% as well.
 
500 sq ft ???

ha ,ha, ha - sorry. I got to bust your chops.

Good thing you are getting out of teaching. LOL.
 
Central Boiler Classics have a good reputation, many satisfied owners in my area of MN. I planned to buy one last year, but got a heck of a good deal on a Wood Master from a dealer, (not the company) that was going out of business. My brother also has a Wood Master and likes it a lot too. Wood Master is built in NW MN. My parents have had a Cadillac brand stove, built in WI, for about 7 years with no trouble at all. My understanding is many of these "traditional" type stoves will be banned for purchase after, I believe, May of 2015. My neighbor just checked into buying a new Wood Master and was told the company is 5 weeks behind on construction due to a high demand. May want to look at buying sooner than later.
 
Very happy with my Woodmaster 4400 over 8 years...
No major issues...couple of small maintenance parts, good understanding of how it works...easy learning curve
 
Got a Central Boiler 4336. Found it used. Guy used it 3 years and it set for 1 year. (he was building a new house) I've been running it year round for 5 years. Heating a 2 story farm house 2000 sq. ft. built in 1917.

Very pleased with it. Has no blower. Only 2 lines from stove to heat exchanger. Pretty simple to operate and parts not expensive.

Neighbor has one and we both stock parts so if they ever break down we can be back running pretty fast. His is 10 years old.
 
The only one I personally know with an outdoor wood burner built it himself. He is one heck of a good fabricator !
I do see a lot of them around anymore when you drive by someone's house.
 
You better be buying one soon,if you don't want the new EPA regulated models. Law goes into affect around May 1. Adds about 1000 to 1500 bucks to the cost of each unit. Central Boiler and Hardy are the big names in my area. I have a Hardy. 10 years of trouble free service. I burn 25-30 pick-up loads of wood a winter. Better like to cut wood if you get one.
 
If I was you I would be looking at the new wood gasifiers, There are people posting on here saying you better buy the old technology, because they are cheaper. There are rebates and tax breaks available to offset most of the price difference, and the best part is they burn 1/3 to 1/2 as much wood and burn clean, so you or your neighbors don't have to put up with thes smoke on those days when a low pressure patern sets in and the smoke come out of the chimney and settles to the ground. Another big plus is how few ashes you have to deal with.
nearly every partical of the wood is turned into heat.
I am running a conventional Royall 160,000 BTU indoor, conventional wood/coal boiler to heat my home and my tractor shop. It gobels up at least 12 full cord of wood each year. It sure would be nice if I could cut that back to seven. Many people are saying that they are heating their homes on 5 cord per season. Take a look at Econoburn wood gasifiers. They are extreamly well built and feature ceramic burn chambers. Much better than fire brick. They are built in western NY.
Loren, the Acg.
 
I put in a Hardy in 1998, and it's still working good. Replaced the draft blower last fall, and put in a new grate about three years ago. Also replaced the door "gaskets" then too. I keep a fire in it year round. As others say, you need to like to cut wood, but our old house is as warm as toast, and the mess is outside where it oughta be.

Never was around any other brands, so I can't offer a comparison.
 
Dad and I both have Wood Masters. Mine is the 5600 and his is the same size just older model. He has had his since 1999, I got mine in about 03. Both have had little to no problems. Just routine maintenance. Would buy another one. May even replace this one with a new one before I can't get one.
 
portage and main is a well built unit. 3400 lbs dry for the small one. forces the smoke twice through the water jacket before going up the pipe. very efficient. 20 yr non pro rated warranty
 
this is my second winter with a central e-classic. it is a new epa rated. love it. cant believe how little wood it burns. I burned at least 4 times the wood in my old furnace and was never comfortable. Get the heat exchanger for your domestic water too.
 
Make sure outdoor wood boilers are legal where you are. Many localities are banning them because the neighbors don't like being smoked out of their homes.
 

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