outdoor wood boilers

[bouncer]

I am looking at possibly buying a Portage & Main BL2840. Does anyone own one? What are the pros and cons?

[ckhenshaw4]

I am not familiar with the Portage & Main BL2840, but we really like our Heatmor OWB.  It has saved us a TON of money over the last 12 years. And still going strong.  Good luck with your search.

[bouncer]

heatmor sounds like a good furnace. How many gallons of water does it hold and how much wood do you burn a season?

[thecfarm]

bouncer,welcome to the forum. I have a older Heatmor. I think only 150 gallons?? It was a little lower than others,but had it since 2004 and have replaced one blower fan and two hoses for the door.

[spyder68]

I have a Portage and Main 2840 new this year. So far I love it. Ninety gallons with fire brick. Burns hot.

[ckhenshaw4]

heatmor sounds like a good furnace. How many gallons of water does it hold and how much wood do you burn a season?

I do believe it is about 150 gallons of water.  The amount of wood used all depends on how cold the winter is.  I have used anywhere from 8 all the way to 11 cords. (4x4x8 FULL cords)  If I have 13 cords cut split and stacked, I know that I am safe for the winter. 
Not getting any younger though.  Looking at building a homemade firewood proccessor.    :P

[bouncer]

Have been resurching OWB for the past 2 years . Im just afraid to install one and not be satisfied.  Have an old shenandoah wood stove in the basement that does a pretty good job along with my heat pump but would like to have OWB to save on handling and keep bugs and dirt outside also to heat my hot water. Wouldn't have split wood so small either.  Have plenty of wood to burn. The trees are dying faster than i can cut them up.

[spyder68]

Once you have a outdoor boiler you will never go back to hauling wood inside your house. 8)

[beenthere]

you will never go back to hauling wood inside your house.

After 30 years of enjoying my wood boiler inside my house, it would take a lot to get me to go outside to put wood in a boiler and/or to monitor/fix/replace/tune/ or put my back up to it.   8)

For me, bringing wood inside is not a problem at all. Depends on the situation.

[Corley5]

An OWB is one of the best things I've ever bought for the house.  I'd have to be really hard pressed to ever put a stove inside any structure except a deer shack  ;D

[beenthere]

 :D
I haven't shot one out of the "shack" ....  yet!   ;D

[thecfarm]

Beenthere,I "enjoyed" the indoor wood boiler for almost as long as you have,25 years.
Buying a OWB,a Heatmor,I have enjoyed the outdoor one so much more. All OWB are not built the same either.   ;D

I think it's kinda hard for someone to say something about something that they have never had.  ;)

[beenthere]

Don't read me wrong here. ;)
I don't have any problem with anyone else putting in an OWB.. none at all.
I do have a problem with me putting one in...  ;D

I like the convenience of having the boiler unit inside, and bringing in a pallet of dry wood once a week (takes all of 5 minutes) within a few steps of the boiler and it is not inconvenient.

[bouncer]

Went and checked out the new portage and main BL2840 OWB over the weekend very well built , it has a 180 degree reverse turn heat exchanger surrounded by water to capture extra heat before exiting the stack. Supposed to be more efficient.