curdy
ArboristSite Operative
OK, there's lots of info out there on OWB and I've read a bunch of it. I'm considering one, and was hoping to get some feed back specific to my situation. I have several sources for wood, so I'm not real concerned about that.
I currently use a wood stove insert and a summer/winter oil boiler to heat my home and hot water. Even though I use the insert to heat a large portion of the house, my bills are still pretty decent because of the areas that the insert doesn't cover, and my hot water...getting charged $3.59/gallon doesn't help either. I've probably cut my costs in half using the insert, but I'll most likely still run $3000 over 12 months for heat and hot water.
The space that I'll be looking to heat will be around 3000 to 3500 sq ft all with baseboard radiators. Currently I have about 2600 sq ft of space with radiator installed (one 400 sq ft room will need them installed at some point, and the other 500 sq ft is a walk up attic that will be finished off at some point in the next 5 years.)
The oil boiler I have is a nice Burnham with the additional hot water tank. I'd like to use it as a back up for when I'm out of town.
I'd really like to get my hands on a unit that was traded in or being sold by someone that doesn't want to use it to save some $. But I understand that this isn't always possible...or worth it. I have seen some Royall's on ebay, along with some others.
Central Boiler and Wood Master each has a dealer near me. Looks like they sell the size I'd need for about $5300 - $5700.
Is it crazy to think I may be able to grab a deal for a owb in good shape for under $4000? How hard is it to keep the current boiler hooked up for a back up? Any other advice is greatly appreciated!!! Thanks!
I currently use a wood stove insert and a summer/winter oil boiler to heat my home and hot water. Even though I use the insert to heat a large portion of the house, my bills are still pretty decent because of the areas that the insert doesn't cover, and my hot water...getting charged $3.59/gallon doesn't help either. I've probably cut my costs in half using the insert, but I'll most likely still run $3000 over 12 months for heat and hot water.
The space that I'll be looking to heat will be around 3000 to 3500 sq ft all with baseboard radiators. Currently I have about 2600 sq ft of space with radiator installed (one 400 sq ft room will need them installed at some point, and the other 500 sq ft is a walk up attic that will be finished off at some point in the next 5 years.)
The oil boiler I have is a nice Burnham with the additional hot water tank. I'd like to use it as a back up for when I'm out of town.
I'd really like to get my hands on a unit that was traded in or being sold by someone that doesn't want to use it to save some $. But I understand that this isn't always possible...or worth it. I have seen some Royall's on ebay, along with some others.
Central Boiler and Wood Master each has a dealer near me. Looks like they sell the size I'd need for about $5300 - $5700.
Is it crazy to think I may be able to grab a deal for a owb in good shape for under $4000? How hard is it to keep the current boiler hooked up for a back up? Any other advice is greatly appreciated!!! Thanks!