Best overall OWB / Manufacturer?

[tulenutn2o]

I am heating both levels(main and basement) of a 2100sq ft ranch with garage in basement, 800 sq. st of the shop, domestic water. I am guessing that I will be in the area of 4-5 cord? Thats a guess at this point so close to spring. I keep house at 69f shop is constant 40 or so( only turn fan on when in there) , heat just radiates in there when I am not working. House is 2x6 wall with 9' ceilings, R-19 walls, R 36-52 ceilings, haven't redone since built 15 years ago-uneven. More than happy with unit so far. Made in Beatrice, Neb, I went with gasifier because of lower overall wood use, and fear of "greenies" trying to make me remove it at a later date.Also gasifier burns cleaner so I can use in summer for domestic water if choose.Started the burn mid oct to heat domestic water.

 

[barkeatr]

GO WITH a gassifyer

i had a central boiler and while it saved me tens of thousands over a lot of years, im replacing it with a gassification unit, empyer pro, next week.

the OWBs burn too much wood and smoke to much when you are loading them, in my opinion.

 

[muncybob]

I have a gassifier in my basement. Mess indoors is not a [problem for us since it sits in an unfinished basement. Any heat loss from the unit rises to the living areas above.
I can't imagine having to do all the work that an older style OWB requires. We will probably get by this year with just under 4 cords burned for heat/DHW heating 2200 sq ft of which 1/2 is barely insulated(old farmhouse). Sure, I cut about 10 cords last year but I now have wood supply on hand for the next 2 years.

100% agree with the positives of burning dry wood. Our 1st year burning was not well prepared and had to burn less than ideal wood...this year it's all under 20% MC and it's like night/day difference...at least for our unit. As for smoke, except at the start of a burn...you will see little or next to no smoke out of our chimney....actually we frequently see steam.

I don't understand how a unit can change from downdraft to updraft burn.

 

[artbaldoni]

Nature's Comfort NCB-175. $5780-$1500 credit = $4280
Just started on 1 Jan this year. I am using mixed seasoned and green wood only because I don't have enough seasoned since this was a sort of impulse buy trying to get the credit before the end of the year. The only time I get alot of smoke is for 15 min when first loaded. Have used maybe 2 1/2-3 cords so far. Water temp at 170, heating 2800 sq' well insulated with HW baseboard also DHW. Love this thing so far! With oil at $3.25/gal and wood free except for my time I'm glad I have this unit. Absolutely 0 problems so far but it hasn't been very long.

 

[tulenutn2o]

I have a gassifier in my basement. Mess indoors is not a [problem for us since it sits in an unfinished basement. Any heat loss from the unit rises to the living areas above.
I can't imagine having to do all the work that an older style OWB requires. We will probably get by this year with just under 4 cords burned for heat/DHW heating 2200 sq ft of which 1/2 is barely insulated(old farmhouse). Sure, I cut about 10 cords last year but I now have wood supply on hand for the next 2 years.

100% agree with the positives of burning dry wood. Our 1st year burning was not well prepared and had to burn less than ideal wood...this year it's all under 20% MC and it's like night/day difference...at least for our unit. As for smoke, except at the start of a burn...you will see little or next to no smoke out of our chimney....actually we frequently see steam.

I don't understand how a unit can change from downdraft to updraft burn.

Pretty simple, really. All about directing the exhaust flow where you want it to go. Updraft mode, bypasses the refractory chamber.