We went from the old octopus style to a more modern air-tight furnace in the basement that cut our wood consumption from 30 cord to 20 cord a year. During those years the offspring were still here and, with what seamed like a constant stream of extended stay guests, we were heating the entire house. When we switched from wood to oil we went to hydronics for efficiency, the ability to zone different areas (not having to heat unused rooms), and comfort (more even heating). Fuel oil consumption was 1500-2000 gallons a year, depending upon the heating season and how many of the 17 rooms we were utilizing (normally between 8 & 10).

When I decided to get back into burning wood I acquired a circa 1970's coal boiler that had been converted to gas when it was installed (grates were like brand new). The intention was to construct the wood shed to hold only the 10 cord that is fun to cut and to merely take the curse off the oil bill.

I had the old cast iron boiler in the mechanical room and ready to start bolting together when I happened on an add for a gasification unit online. It became apparent that if what the manufacturers were claiming was anywhere near true, the 10 cord of wood a year would almost eliminate our fuel oil consumption. After researching thoroughly I settled on an Econoburn (made in Buffalo), rated at the time as over 90% efficient and for interior installation. The unit is all they said it was; well built, extremely well insulated, trouble free, and effficient as hell. With the gasification chamber cooking along at well over 2,000 degrees, my infrared thermometer shows the stovepipe at 150 +/-. Smoke out the chimney isn't substantially more than the vapor from the oil boiler, and after four heating seasons the inside of the chimney still looks new (zero creasote). There are, compared to a regular wood appliance, virtually no ashes; I take out a 4 gallon pail every 3-4 days, and it is more a powder than what you would think of as ashes.

This year has been old fashioned, ugly cold here in the northern Adirondacks, we are heating 12 very large (w/10' ceilings) rooms, and might burn 12 cord if we have a late spring. Last years consumption was a few sticks over 10 cord.

It makes less noise than the oil boilers, I wouldn't hesitate to have it in the basement from a safety standpoint, I just really dislike any noise, the noise of the fridge drives me nuts.

Jim

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2005 C240 4matic wagon (daily driver)
87 190D - 225K (on loan)
85 190D - 312K (on loan)
2011 Subaru Legacy AWD (Wife's)