OWB dealership support in LFOD New Hampshire

mattNH · December 05, 2011, 04:15:56 PM

Newbie here...I am in the market for an OWB and luckly stumbled across this great sight while doing research.

I've spent more hours than I care to admit reading through various threads and have learned a great deal. The common theme (since the OWB is a machine and will break down and/or need service at some point) seems to be customer service; both at the factory and dealer level. My problem is that I am having difficulty locating a local dealer. Any other folks out there have experience; good/bad or indiffernt with NH OWB dealers?

I have had discussions with the folks at Central Boiler, Wood Doctor, and Shaver using the numbers avaialble at thier respective web sites. It is amazing that these folks can not provide a list of dealers for my area. My only direct experience is a neighbor who has a older Wood Doctor that was purchased prior to the current EPA regs going into place...he loves it and has recomended that I go out of state to get one. Any help you guys can lend would be appreciated. Many thanks,
Matt

stumper · December 05, 2011, 05:11:43 PM

I have had good luck with Farmer-4-hire in Center Conway. Good dealer, very knowledgeable, very helpful. Unfortunately Central Boiler is not as supportive as they could be. While they manufacture and warranty the boiler they only supply the parts, they do not necessarily cover any shipping, and they do not cover any labor. As was explained but others a boiler (made by CB) does not carry a warranty anything like a car or most anything else designed for the consumer market. Expect to pay for labor and often upgrades to make the boiler function as advertised. They doe seem to cover defect in manufacturing but not defects in design.

nhlogga · December 05, 2011, 06:58:10 PM

There is an owb dealer in somersworth NH. I think they sell the central boiler brnd.a

stratford 50 · December 05, 2011, 08:58:53 PM

Farmer-4-Hire is a great dealer and will help you anyway he can. He knows these boilers and can get the parts you might need.

Dean186 · December 05, 2011, 10:47:54 PM

Quote from: mattNH on December 05, 2011, 04:15:56 PM
My only direct experience is a neighbor who has a older Wood Doctor that was purchased prior to the current EPA regs going into place...he loves it and has recommended that I go out of state to get one. Any help you guys can lend would be appreciated. Many thanks,
Matt

Welcome to the forum Matt,

Buying a non EPA II stove will be the least of the problem working around the EPA requirement. What happens when a neighbor complains to the county and your stove does not meet the counties or state requirement? The county may investigate, look for the permit and find that your stove does not meet code. You will then have a used stove to sell someone out of state without that requirement.

On the plus side, the EPA II stoves run more efficiently and you know - pollute less.

hockeyguy · December 06, 2011, 06:12:24 AM

Another vote for Farmer 4 Hire in Conway.

mattNH · December 06, 2011, 02:31:37 PM

Many thanks for the input. I found a CB dealer in Dover - Janco Classic Wood Boilers. Stopped by today and he seems knowledgeable and helpful. Has anyone dealt with him?

On the Wood Doctor front, getting a call back while trying to buy is nearly impossible. I wonder what getting a call back for a service call would be like...looks like they have removed themselves from consideration.

Does anyone have experience with Shaver OWB's? The unit I am looking at is roughly 1/2 the price of the CB.

Thanks for the help.

Dean186 · December 06, 2011, 03:59:16 PM

Matt,

I may have misunderstood your requirements with my above answer. For my clarification, does your area/county require an EPA II stove?

I looked into Shaver stoves in my early research more than 3 years ago, but their stove wasn't for me. Someone on this forum will have some direct experience with that stove and will comment.

muckamuck · December 06, 2011, 04:15:02 PM

It looks like NH is Phase II EPA see
http://des.nh.gov/media/pr/documents/080812_wood.pdf

boilerman101 · December 06, 2011, 11:14:51 PM

Yes it looks like NH and most all of the Northeast states require only the Phase 2 outdoor furnaces to be sold. Shaver has no furnaces that are on the Phase 2 list. I have burned both a Classic and currently an Eclassic gasifier. The wood saved is a huge reason I would not go back to a regular burner.

MattD23 · December 07, 2011, 10:49:15 PM

Do you have any Woodmaster dealers around you? My neighbor talked me into their 4400 model 4 years ago now and it's worked pretty good for me. For EPA II stoves, their website says it's the only OWB that you can burn either pellets or cord wood (hence the name I guess) and they claim it's the most efficient OWB from the EPA website. I wonder if anyone has any experience with these, they sound pretty interesting? Anyways, I haven't heard many complaints about CB and haven't heard much about Shaver, but just thought I'd tell ya my OWB experience if you're still lookin around. Have fun shopping!

leeallen · December 08, 2011, 01:24:16 PM

As a dealer, Farmer 4 Hire in Conway ,NH is top shelf. Very knowledgeable and honest.

mattNH · December 15, 2011, 11:52:10 AM

Thanks for all your help on this one. I selected the Portage & Main Optimizer 250.

We get the installation process started in the next week or so.

martyinmi · December 15, 2011, 04:34:58 PM

Good choice! Three of us from this area bought 250's and we couldn't be happier with them. Feel free to pm me if you have any issues with it. You are going to love that machine.

Marty