Trying to decide on OWB

[NC4AB]

I've been lurking in the shadows for a few weeks and studying the previous posts.

I spent all day Thursday at the Southern Farm Show looking at OWBs and spent this morning looking at a dealer about 2 hours from my house. I am currently supplementing the house heat with a wood stove in the basement and want to replace the stove in the basement with a OWB that will heat the house (~ 2,000 sq ft) and a future 1000 sq ft shop.

I had pretty much decided on a Hardy H4 based on its proven track record and 304SS construction, with the only issue being its reduced efficiency from its flue venting straight out the top.

I looked at the Heatmaster MF-5000 today, it is slightly more $$$ than the Hardy but appears to be a more efficient design, has a larger fire box and 409SS construction. I haven't had much luck on finding many owner comments (good or bad) about the Heatmaster.

I don't want to start a Hardy versus Heatmaster war, but would like to hear from some Heatmaster owners. You can e-mail me or reply to the forum.

Thanks in Advance

Andy

Stihl 011, Stihl 029

 

[timbrjackrussel]

More Wood!!!!

Factor in the price of a BIGGER saw, to keep up with that new OWB.

 

[HUSKYMAN]

I am not sure why you think stanless steel construction is a bonus, it is not a bonus at least as far as the firebox is concerned. Stainless steel tranfers heat at a FAR less efficient rate, and 304 SS is very prone to cracking from constant contraction and expansion.

It is also much more difficult to repair. This is why you will find more units made from mild steel than stainless. As long as the proper additive is used and the ashes are cleaned out every spring a mild steel firebox will last decades

 

[windthrown]

I have to agree. I do not think that SS is any better than carbon steel. Actually SS is a lot more expensive, and prone to other problems, as mentioned above. If you run anti-corrosion fluid in the water boiler side, you will not have problems. Our plain steel Central Boiler has no signs of any rust after 3 years of use.

You may want to hold off on bying an OWB at this late a time in the season and see what is coming out this spring/summer. By the time you buy and plumb it in, it will be March. Heating season will be all but over by then. There are some newer boilers coming out from CB and others companies that are supposed to be more efficient and EPA approved.

 

[iCreek]

Love my Hardy !!

NC4AB - We have three Hardy stoves in the family, I just got my fired last Saturday and really enjoy it. Getting an easy 12 - 14 hour burn time with the evenings getting into single digits and 20-30 during the day. There are seven Hardy stoves (H2 and H4 models) within 4 miles of my home, rural Missouri. Some say they don't like the appearance of the Hardy stoves, kind of looks like a square piece of stainless sitting in the yard. We don't mind the look and my father in law has had his around 20 years with no problems, replaced the grates once. I don't think they are as popular up North, but here in the Mid-West you see alot of them installed.

My brother in law upgraded to the H4 model cause he wanted to heat a new shop along with the house. So I got his old H2, which had gone through a wood pile fire, so it was re-cased, insulated, new wiring, pump, etc. and they (insurance) even installed a new set of grates. Here is a picture of his H4.

http://icreek.com/stove/mikes_H42_640.jpg

Here is a link to many photos during our install, we did it all ourselves except hooking up the relays and wiring in the extra thermostat. Hope you enjoy my comments, even though they are Hardy not HeatMaster related. Good luck with what ever you do, but I think going with an OWB was the smartest thing I have done in awhile with propane being over $2.00 this winter.

http://icreek.com/stove/

 

[NC4AB]

I have been planning for the OWB for about a year, and hope to find one in the next couple of months as the heating season winds down and the dealers want to get rid of their old stock before the summer.

Icreek - thanks for the link to your stove, the installation looks really good. I consider the stainless steel as being a positive based on seeing several neighbor's carbon steel stoves lasting ~ 10 - 15 years before the fireboxes started leaking, along with my father-in-law and another neighbor have the Hardy H2 models made of 304 SS, one is 20 years old and the other is 17. The fireboxes in both of them look like new, so I am partial to the Hardys based on their experiences.

When you crunch the numbers on the thermal conductivity differences between carbon steel and stainless steel, the heat transfer is actually better with stainless steel since it is thinner than the carbon steel.

I talked with the Central Boiler factory people at the Soithern Farm Show and looked at the new Central Boiler E-Classic. The main negative that I saw on it is that it is new (I hate to be the guinea pig on anything) at it requires split dryed wood. My wood source is a 10 acre plot with some hardwoods and a lot of dead and dying pines, and I would like to get rid of the dead pines first.

Any way, I'm still looking for any comments from Heatmaster owners on the pros and cons of their units.

Thanks

Andy

Stihl 011, Stihl 029

 

[djohn]

I don't own a OWB yet but when I do it will be one of the new CB gasification stoves. Agree with letting them get the kinks out of new products but CB is not new to the scene and a OWB is not an overly complicated product.

 

[Deadman]

If you plan on burning green wood, be prepared to cut ALOT of wood. Usually figures out to require TWICE as much green wood to heat as much as it would if it was dry wood.

 

[NC4AB]

I try to stay at least a year ahead on my wood, what I'm cutting now will dry until at least this time next year.

Andy

Stihl 011, Stihl 029

 

[HUSKYMAN]

I see the Hardy has a 16 gauge ss firebox. Have any Hardy owners had problems with denting the firebox tossing in logs? That just seems thin compared to the 1/4" in mild steel boilers

 

[timbrjackrussel]

Comparison link of OWBs

Check out this link to many OWB Manufacturers
http://www.greenwoodfurnace.com/Manufacturers.htm

 

[grandpatractor]

I have neighbors with heatmaster owb's and they like them. I have and empyre and like it too. They will burn more wood, but that may also be due to keeping everything warmer since it costs alot less to heat. If you are close to neighbors and are worried about smoke you may want to look into a tarm or a garn, but they are more money too. If I was buying again I'd be leaning toward a heatmaster. Just my $.02.

 

[highpower]

I see the Hardy has a 16 gauge ss firebox. Have any Hardy owners had problems with denting the firebox tossing in logs? That just seems thin compared to the 1/4" in mild steel boilers

This is my fourth season with an H4 Hardy. The fire box is just as square as the day I started. Probably because stainless is so much harder than mild steel. The first reason I chose the Hardy above the rest was probably there are so many people I know who own them and have never had any problems. One friend has had his for fourteen years and has only had replace a pump. The second reason was the distributor I bought from has been using his for nearly twenty years and believed in them so strongly he started selling them.

 

[HUSKYMAN]

Are they forced draft or natural draft?

 

[highpower]

Are they forced draft or natural draft?

The Hardy stoves are forced draft.

 

[HUSKYMAN]

14 and 20 years on the fan motor is pretty darn good then

 

[NC4AB]

First off, thanks for all of the replies.

I probably should have retitled this thread "Any Heatmaster owners out there?" I have looked at at least 10 different OWB manufacturers and have narrowed it down to either Hardy or Heatmaster. There may be better OWBs, but for my situation these 2 look to be the best overall fit.

I'm still looking for any first hand comments from Heatmaster owners, I have had several PMs from Hardy owners but have yet to receive a reply from a Heatmaster owner.

Also from my experience on the 2 Hardy stoves that are with in a mile of my house the life of the blower fan is about 10 years before the bearings go out. The fan is available from Grainger and runs about $50.00.

 

[abohac]

Nc4ab

If you are like me you have probably almost driven yourself nuts on buying one of these things. I finally setteld on a Woodmaster 6 years ago because I liked the dealer. The only issues I can help with are 1. Make sure it's forced air (fires with a fan). 2. I would recommend buying one one size larger than the manufacturer recommends. 3. SS is a waste of money. 4. 2 fans are better than 1. I'm sure there are differences in the stoves, but we have 7 of them (all Woodmasters) in my neighborhood and all are running fine. Oh, also buy a dependable saw, your going to need it!

 

[beerman6]

and only spilt the wood small enough to fit in the door.

 

[ktm rider]

Factor in the price of a BIGGER saw, to keep up with that new OWB.

Ain't that the truth:greenchainsaw: