Wood boilers are an up and coming option for home heating. There are many benefits to having an outdoor-housed wood-burning heating unit, like a wood boiler, as opposed to using a smaller indoor-based wood stove instead.
Using wood boilers instead of traditional heating methods for your home can save you a lot of money when it comes to your energy costs, not to mention that it is a more environmentally friendly option since wood is a renewable resource.
Regardless of which home heating solution you ultimately decide to use, you should always weigh the benefits of various heating methods for your home in order to make the decision that is right for you.
Lower Your Home Heating Costs
When it comes to heating, you cannot find a fuel source that is much more renewable than wood. Purchasing wood for your boiler is relatively inexpensive, compared to other options, especially if you live in a rural area with a large amount of trees on or near your property. You will be shocked at the money you save after your first winter with your new boiler when compared to your previous heating costs.
Safer Method and Warmer Home
When you choose an outdoor wood boiler, you are making your home safer for you and your family. Since the actual unit is not inside your home, there is no risk of a chimney fire or carbon monoxide leaks that could pose a serious treat to your family. Also, because the unit is outdoors there is no draft created through the combustion device pulling outdoor air in. Along with proper insulation, a wood boiler will keep your home warmer and will consume less energy than other methods of heating such as oil or gas.
More Bang for Your Buck
The outdoor unit is also beneficial because it can heat multiple structures without the need for a separate unit. For example, your outdoor boiler can heat your home as well as a garage or even your pool or hot tub at the same time.
Other benefits of keeping the unit outdoors are that the dirt and soot that can come with a wood-burning stove is not tracked throughout your home. You will not have to deal with any smoke or soot damage to your walls or ceilings since the unit is outside.
Don’t Count Out Indoor Options
If you are still undecided between an outdoor versus and indoor wood boiler, there is an important tip to keep in mind about the indoor varieties. For indoor boilers, seek out those that have been approved and classified by UL/CSA Standards, as those are approved for indoor home use, and are classified as indoor solid fuel appliances. What that means is insurance companies won’t refuse to insure you if you use one of those for your indoor boiler/furnace needs.
Bottom Line
Choosing a wood boiler for your heating needs at home has so many benefits, there is no reason to pass up this opportunity. You can make your home warmer and safer, lower your heating costs, and have a positive impact on the planet.
Photo Credit: title=”thermostat-02″ by Advanced Telemetry, on Flickr
Hailey Andersen enjoys writing about the latest trends and regularly contributes to a variety of publications. Follow her on Twitter at: @HaileyWrites.
