Portage & Maine optimizer 250 review

[karlk]

This is my 4th season heating with the optimizer 250. I have burned continuously except for 1 month this summer and have replaced the door gasket and 2 nozzles.Both are easy to replace and inexpensive.
I clean the boiler every 2 weeks and get very little ash. The boiler gassifies within minutes of demand.          The owner of Portage & main calls me yearly to see how the boiler is operating. Im not connected with P&M in any way just a happy owner with a warm house!

[beenthere]

karl
Would you go to your profile and fill in at least a general location in your bio?
Thanks
Helps when you post to have an idea from where you are...  ;)

[karlk]

I added my location

[martyinmi]

Third season for me and I couldn't be happier! 
I replaced my door gasket this year, as well as my nozzle.
I am actually running a nozzle made by karlk and it is working awesome!
I've said it before and I'll say it again....the man is a masonry magician! 8)
I've had three 70's this year...three nights where the outside temps and inside temps were 70 or more degrees apart.
Looks like we might have another tonight.
We used to keep the house at 65 or so in the evening when the fuel oil furnace was employed.
Since I've been using OWB's, we tend to leave the thermostat at 75 or so and just run around in our under britches. ;D

Karl, you can add your gender also....if you'd like!! :D :D :D

[thecfarm]

martyinmi.never thought about the 70's that way before.   :D  We might have one of those tonight.

[WmFritz]

That is pretty impressive for the owner of a company to take the time to call a customer to check on their product. I must've missed Dan Akerson's phone call about my new GMC pickup. 

[Clark]

karlk - I've looked at the P&M and certainly the price tends to set people back but it always sounds like P&M owners are the happiest OWB owners out there. You get what you pay for?...

How many square feet are you heating and how many cords do you go through in the winter months?

Clark

[karlk]

I paid under 10 grand a few years back. Im like Marty I keep my house in the 70s . Im heating just under 3000 sqft and use between 8-9 full cord

[jreimer]

Well, using Marty's calculations, we've had 3 straight weeks of 92's to 95's.  It's not uncommon to see 105's in January/February.  Explains why my woodpile is shrinking so quickly.  If this keeps up it's going to be a looooong winter... :-\

This is my second year with the P&M 250 and I'm happy with it as well.  Kinda looks like I might be replacing nozzles every year with the amount of wood I push through.  I'll have to tap into Karlk as a source for nozzles!

I heat 3000 square feet plus 2 garages.

[karlk]

jreimer I would be glad to set you up with a new nozzle when your ready. Marty and I are trying different size openings and I think we hit the sweet spot.

[upsnake]

K So i am curious.
I have a CB e classic 1400.

On a P&M what is the nozzle that everybody keeps talking about?

[karlk]

its the opening in the fire box that lets it gassify . I think central boilers is half moon shaped