Q: What makes your boilers different from other boilers?
A: Our modern gasifying boilers use the gasification process to use
the energy contained in wood with an efficiency that is three times greater than
traditional boilers. Through this process smoke and other emissions are
cut to a low level, which makes our boilers not only efficient, but
enviornmentally friendly.
Q: Is a chimney required to operate on of your boilers?
A: Even though most of our boiler models smoke less than traditional boilers a chimney is still required.
Q: What is wood gasification?
A: Wood gasification is the process of breaking wood down into the gaseous components
(Nitrogen, Carbon monoxide, Hydrogen, Carbon dioxide, Methane and Oxygen) it is made of. Our furnaces do this by starting a hot fire, but limiting the amount of oxygen it can consume.
Q: What types of fuel can the boilers use?
A: The fuels that are able to be used vary from boiler to
boiler. They can use wood, wood chips, corn cobs (with kernels) and coal.
Please see each individual boilers specifications for more information.
Q: Do any of your boilers have oil or electric backup?
A: Yes. We carry a few wood gasification boilers that use oil, electric or even pellets as a backup
heat source. For more information see our Varmebaronen Biomax or
Varmebaronen Appollo.
We also have an accumulation tank, the Aqualux, which has a built in electric immersion heater.
COMING SOON:
BioMass BIS (with oil backup). 85,000 to 205,000 btus.
Q: Isn't burning wood bad for the environment?
A: No. Burning wood is considered to be "carbon neutral", which means that it doesn't
release any more carbon dioxide (a "green house" gas) into the environment than
if the tree had died and decayed naturally.
Q: Which type of heating system do I need to have in order to use one of your boiler?
A: Our boilers can be integrated into a hot water system or by
using a heat exchanger they can be integrated into a forced hot air or radiant
heat system.
Q: How often must you refuel the boiler?
A: There are many variables that go into answering this question,
like temperateure outside, desired temperature inside, how well is the building
insulated and so on. A load of fuel can last you up to 12 hours, but
during the dead of winter a typical load will last between 6 and 8 hours (based
on Pennsylvania winters in an older home).
Q: How can you calculate the moisture of your wood?
A: The easiest way to calculate your wood moisture is to use a wood
moisture meter. If you do not have a meter available, another method is to take
a piece about 1/2" to 3/4" thick from the center of a log. Weigh the piece
you've cut out (the more accurate your scales are the better). Then take the
piece of wood and bake it in the oven at 200° for an hour. After you take it
out of the oven, weigh it again. Enter the weight values into the formula
below.
Formula:
m = (a - b) / b
Where:
m = Moisture Content Percentage
b = Weight Before
a = Weight After
Q: What materials are acceptable when building a chimney?
A: When choosing chimney building materials it is best to check
with your local building codes authority. However, typically a standard
mason chimney with a liner will work. Also a type A stainless steel
chimney will work as well.
Q: How long do the boiler refractory ceramics last?
A: Varmebaronen boiler's ceramics are designed to last the life of the boiler.
For other brands, the life of the ceramics is 3 to 10 years (or more)
depending on how you fire your boiler. Overheating your boiler is the
surest way to shorten the life of your ceramics.