Polar Furnace Review

Brokermike · January 27, 2014, 10:08:22 AM

Thought I'd post a review of my Polar G-3 OWB.

I live in VT so a gassifier is a must have, and dealer support for most models of anything is about non-existent. Most of my friends and neighbors have Central Boilers or Heatmors. The CB's have had some electrical problems, and the dealer support has been terrible so I crossed them off my list pretty quick. The Heatmor units have been bulletproof but the dealer rep was less than pleasant. I'm a younger guy, and despite a desk job that requires nice clothes on weekends I look like a pauper. Apparently I didn't come across as the sort of person that had the $ to buy a boiler and I was dismissed rather rudely. So I checked Heatmor off my list.

A guy down the road from me replaced a Portage and Main with a Polar G-3 after discovering his P&M didn't have the BTUs he needed. He has a similar house and garage as we do (old farmhouse) and he was very happy with his G-3. So I found a dealer and bought one.

At first I was very dissapointed with the performance. Even when the boiler shut down there was air infiltration and it was buring through more wood than I thought it should. After numerous dealer complaints one of the engineers from Polar called me, we adjusted some of the dampers and the situation improved. In reality it just took me a while to figure out what the boiler likes. It likes big wood, it has to be dry, but 6"+ wood burns best. Also I noticed that once some creosote baked on the doors it sealed much better and burned less wood.

So far the design has been bulletproof, no fancy electronics, basic honeywell controls, and phenomenal heat. We are heating about 3500 sq feet of inadequately insulated, oddly renovated, farmhouse with big old windows, cathedral ceilings, and cast iron radiators. Even with all 7 zones going full blast it keeps the house at 71 degrees (we have an infant, hence the warm temps). I feed it about 2 times per day.

My only remaining complaint is the removable steel burn chamber plates (i forgot their official) name seem to warp, and Polar has been unclear if these are a wear item or covered under warranty.

thecfarm · January 27, 2014, 10:12:44 AM

Glad you like it. What was you using to heat with before the Polar?

r.man · January 27, 2014, 10:39:40 AM

Thanks for the critique Broker, how long have you had the polar? I had two people tell me a few years ago that they were going to buy a local brand of OWB that was well built but the owner was also the salesman and to say he was crusty would be an understatment. Some people shouldn't deal with the public.

Brokermike · January 27, 2014, 10:40:35 AM

Before the Polar we used our oil furnace and Jotul wood stove. Burned 1500 gallons of Kerosene last year and 5 cord in the wood stove, just to keep our house at about 60!

Been much colder this year and have only burned about 5 gallons in the furnace, when I cleaned the boiler and had to let it cool down too much

Brokermike · January 27, 2014, 10:42:33 AM

This is our first year with the Polar

Sonofman · January 29, 2014, 07:34:24 PM

I do not blame you for not dealing with a poor dealer experience. I have a CB and love it. I also have a good dealer. If the dealer had not been good, I would have done like you and gotten another brand. I think the dealer experience is as important as the unit the dealer is selling.

Logging logginglogging · March 03, 2014, 12:45:31 PM

Its funny, how they do that and loose business. I have had many big purchases that I bought elsewhere when I wasn't taken seriously.

missouriboy · March 03, 2014, 09:26:00 PM

That kind of stuff happens to me all the time. I guess its because I am a younger guy. I went to the nearest Husqvarna dealer to get a 372 and the salesman blow me off and I a was really respectful. I just left and told all my logger buddy's and he lost out on a lot business because of that.

Brokermike · January 27, 2015, 11:58:48 AM

Just checking in to report that my POLAR is running great, it's almost effortless and this year, burning all dry wood it has been top notch.

I might replace the insulated pipe next year, losing about 9 degrees on really cold days, it isn't very deep because of ledge

Brokermike · April 26, 2016, 04:09:09 PM

As our heating season winds down in VT, a rather, mild one at that, I thought I'd check in to let everyone know that the boiler has been flawless.

We had some brown-outs in the area that fried the circuit boards on a neighbors CB unit, thankfully the solenoids and lack of digital controls seems to have spared us.

Anyone else have a Polar or am I the lone ranger on these down here in the states?

WmFritz · April 26, 2016, 07:27:41 PM

Glad it worked well for you, Mike. How many cords do you figure you used this season?

Brokermike · May 03, 2016, 02:56:29 PM

this year was nice, probably burned 9 cord. Last year was much colder burned closer to 20

BigWill · May 27, 2016, 09:51:24 AM

We burn a G2 on the farm in NY. I love the stove, its almost as effortless as burning the traditional style updraft. Your wood has to be seasoned to get the most out of the machine but it seems like we've easily cut our consumption in half. A+ burner.

mf40diesel · June 12, 2016, 07:56:03 AM

I am in the market for a wood boiler myself. Honestly, me being a ship guy, I am really intrigued by the Portage and Main, seems to me like they make a really good product and being a fire-tube boiler that is straight outta a ship. I hadn't even heard of the Polar, so now I will be researching them. Thank you.

jcmc · June 15, 2016, 09:51:11 PM

Quote from: Brokermike on April 26, 2016, 04:09:09 PM
As our heating season winds down in VT, a rather, mild one at that, I thought I'd check in to let everyone know that the boiler has been flawless.

We had some brown-outs in the area that fried the circuit boards on a neighbors CB unit, thankfully the solenoids and lack of digital controls seems to have spared us.

Anyone else have a Polar or am I the lone ranger on these down here in the states?

I have a old CB CL40 would be interested in looking at a polar unit I am in northeastern ny

Engineer · June 24, 2016, 02:27:34 PM

Mike, who's the local Polar dealer? I have a CB Classic CL5648 that may be on it's last legs (bad leak, electrical problem I can't seem to figure out). You may be very close to me.

Brokermike · August 12, 2016, 03:37:38 PM

Jon,

It's Mike Gardner, we both live in Shaftsbury. I bought mine in NY to save some $, but I think there is a dealer in Clarendon

Peppykicks · February 27, 2022, 07:53:54 PM

Hey all. Been meaning to share my experience with my G2 polar furnace.
Installed in 2015. It heats my 2000sq ft house through an air handler and in floor in my 32x35 garage. And my domestic of course. I absolutely love it. I have it installed in my garage so no going outside -30deg. I live east of Ottawa ont. So we get some
Frigid temperatures. When I built my house 3 of my other buddies built at the same time in 2014/2015. They all installed outdoor wood stoves of different brand names than my polar. I don't feel like brand bashing. But it is unreal the craftsmanship difference in them compared to mine. They have all sprung leaks and changed parts every season. I am a red seal millwright. And I can honestly say my polar g2 is 5x's the machine than their competitors. I have dealt with a chap named Brian in Saskatchewan and he is a solid rock! Knowledgeable and easy to talk to. So in My opinion the customer service has been spot on.
I can go on and on about how efficient and easy to use and maintain it is.
If there's anyone on the fence about the polars.... I recommend them 100%!!