Wood Boiler FAQs
Will Stainless Steel hold up longer then mild steel?
Yes it will hold up longer then mild steel. You can expect a typical well-maintained mild steel unit to last anywhere from 7-12 years on average before needing replacement. A well-maintained stainless steel unit will last 20 or more years.
What is the difference between 304 and 409 Stainless Steel?
409 Stainless Steel is specifically made for high temperature situations, has better heat transfer and warps less than 304 Stainless Steel. 304 Stainless Steel tends to corrode slowly, but has poorer heat transfer.
Why don’t you offer a dual-fuel option on your furnaces?
While this option may look appealing at first glance, it really doesn’t offer anything most customers don’t already have in the form of an existing indoor heat source. When installing a furnace you can set the existing heat source as the back up by simply using another thermostat. Then if there is a power outage or a pump failure, there is still heat whereas the dual-fuel furnace would give you no back up.
What is the difference between a forced air and natural draft furnace?
The difference is how the air to stoke the fire is brought in to the firebox. Natural draft furnaces open a damper that allows air to draw in to the firebox directly from outside. Forced air furnaces use blowers to blow air directly in to the firebox with more control than natural draft furnaces while also having the option of using variable speeds to better control your firebox burn rate. They also allow the furnace to burn hotter.
What is the difference between a pressurized and non-pressurized furnace?
Pressurized furnaces are sealed systems that operate on higher temperatures and use steam power to heat. They can generally put out more BTU’s but are made only for industrial purposes. While they do put out more BTU’s, they are more dangerous and cost more money to purchase and maintain because you need a certified boiler technician to install and repair the furnace. Pressurized furnaces are usually only available in industrial size models.
How do the rocker grates work? What makes them worth the money?
Rocker grates allow you to burn wood, coal and/or cob corn. They also make it extremely easy to keep the firebox clean and well-maintained by having the ashes fall into the ash pan. This feature is probably the most popular feature on the market right now. Many manufacturers are trying to copy the idea with little success.
I want to throw in 4’ lengths of logs, what is your biggest boiler?
While less handling is a benefit of using longer lengths it also means a heavier fuel load. We have several clients who will burn 4’ lengths the first heating season but then go with two rows of 2’ logs the next year. Shorter logs mean lighter logs so anyone can feed the boiler…including your kids!
Where do I find fuel for my boiler?
If you have an acreage, pasture or woodlot, studies have shown that you can harvest up to a cord per acre of firewood without jeopardizing the long term viability of your woodlot.
You can also source wood from tree removal companies (that way they don’t have to haul the wood away), from farmers clearing out bush for fields, developers from new building areas as well municipalities clearing right of ways for utilities.
By utilizing wood as a fuel source you are keeping it out of the landfill and reducing our reliance on non renewable fossil fuel.
Can I just bury PEX pipe in the ground? I think that the insulated underground pipe is overpriced.
We recommend using insulated underground pipe for a few reasons…
- You’ve just spent good money on a new boiler, if you don’t have high quality insulated pipe transferring that new boiler’s heat to your buildings and instead having that heat going to the ground then you’re not getting a very good return on your investment.
- Without a waterproof barrier insulation that is buried will absorb ground water. This water will then leach heat away from your PEX piping.
- Underground insulated pipe also protects your PEX from damage causing leaks. Trying to find a leak in an underground pipe can be messy and expensive, better to prevent that leak in the first place.
What size boiler do I need?
That all depends on how large an area you want to heat, how well it is insulated and if you want to heat your domestic hot water tank, a hot tub etc. Please give us a call to discuss your heating requirements. We can also come to you for an onsite evaluation.
How often will I need to refuel my boiler?
That depends on a few variables: how cold is it outside, how warm do you like it inside, how well insulated are your building, what type of wood fuel you’re burning and the moisture content of that wood fuel.
On average calculate that you’ll need to refuel every 12 hours. Less in the Fall and Spring and you won’t be disappointed.
I want a big boiler so I don’t need to refuel as often, why are you recommending a smaller one?
Just like a fire, a wood boiler works most efficiently and burns most cleanly when it has access to sufficient air and combustion. If you oversize your boiler you’re paying for more heating capacity than you need. Would you buy a semi to pull a boat trailer when a 3/4 ton would do?
What makes the HeatMasterss a better buy than other furnaces?
With today’s more efficient boilers smoking out the neighbourhood is a thing of the past. Smoke is unburnt fuel, whenever you see smoke (from a wood stove, fireplace, diesel truck exhaust or a boiler) you’re seeing unburnt fuel. Heatmaster boilers use airflow, engineering and 20 years of R+D to reduce and in most cases eliminate smoke.
As a firewood supplier, we also recommend that you always burn seasoned wood in your boiler (20% moisture content or less). Burning seasoned wood means your boiler isn’t wasting BTU’s boiling water out of green wood before it can catch fire and burn.
Will my neighbours complain about a smoky boiler?
With today’s more efficient boilers smoking out the neighbourhood is a thing of the past. Smoke is unburnt fuel, whenever you see smoke (from a wood stove, fireplace, diesel truck exhaust or a boiler) you’re seeing unburnt fuel. Heatmaster boilers use airflow, engineering and 20 years of R+D to reduce and in most cases eliminate smoke.
As a firewood supplier, we also recommend that you always burn seasoned wood in your boiler (20% moisture content or less). Burning seasoned wood means your boiler isn’t wasting BTU’s boiling water out of green wood before it can catch fire and burn.
What makes the HeatMasterss a better buy than other furnaces?
You get the most square footage, the most features and best quality for the price. Our stainless steel furnaces are priced similarly to mild steel furnaces and offer more of the features you want because we avoid distributors and sell dealer-direct.
Bottom Line – You get more value for your dollar!