outdoor wood burners

I"m looking at buying one for my house and garage. House is 3200 sq ft. and garage is 3600 sq ft. Both new construction and well insulated. I was looking at a Hawken or possibly a Central Boiler. I was wondering if anyone here has either one of these stoves and has used one for awhile to see about wood usage. Also does anyone have any experience with the gasification ones? I was looking at those also. I"m located in southwest PA and use wood as my primary heat source(about 6 to 7 cord a year) in a indoor wood burner just heating the house.

I had a Central Boiler to heat 2 houses back about 12 years ago. Ran it about 3 years and got rid of it. We could have done a much better job installing it. It was too far from both houses, among other problems not of the boiler's fault. Got rid of it because my son and his wife split up so it all fell to me and I got old quick keeping that thing going. Propane is so much more convenient.
I'm sure the newer ones are much better than mine was.

There are better ones than Central Boiler. Used to feed one of those and was never impressed. Looked into Portage and Main. I really like those but don't have any experience with them.

I would stay away from Central Boilers but try to get a gasification style boiler. They are worth the extra money.

Central Boiler has a rather poor reputation at least in some places on the web. We had an HS TARM indoor wood gasification boiler for 11 years, it had been here 20 years and was a good boiler but sprang a leak this summer. I just took delivery of an AHS E140 Wood Gun boiler which was about the same price as a new TARM but seems much beefier and better made. I have not gotten it hooked up yet, I do not trust my sweating skills that much and our plumber/handyman neighbor is busy, but I hope to have it running soon. Gasification is much more efficient and cleaner burning than conventional outdoor boilers.
Zach

No outdoor wood boiler is complete without the proper insulated pipe to feed the heat exchanger. Money spent on well insulated pipe saves a lot of wood. My area mainly uses Hardy, Taylor and Central boiler. Don't see as many Taylors as in years past.

My neighbor has a Central Boiler and it's going on it's 9th year. I bought one used and was 3 years old when I got it. Sept. will be 3 years for me. I've been well pleased with the Central boiler. Not as cold here as in the northern part of the country but we do see single digits for short periods and teen for weeks. In the coldest part of winter I fill with wood every 12 hours.

Before you buy any brand make sure it's sized proper as well as the heat exchanger.

I run mine year round and in the summer, it's only used for hot water. Fill with wood about once a week in the summer and use low quality wood then too.

I have a friend in Wisconsin that bought one. He cut cost everywhere he could and he's not happy with it. Stove is to small, heat exchanger is to small and used bubble wrapped underground pipe and loses to much heat underground. His won't run through the night on a fill of wood.

If it's cold they all burn lots of wood. Central Boiler in my area is considered one of the best available around here. I see other areas don't think to highly of them.

Before buying, do your home work. Don't skimp on quality insulated pipe. I know I said that before. So many folks make that mistake.

I have a Central Boiler. It was the best money I have ever spent. The propane truck comes one time a year to fill the tank for cooking and heating the water duing the summer.

We cut our wood and let it season for a year before using. Kind of found out the hard way wood piles make excellent dens for varmits such as racoons.
I don't know whick brdand is best, just remember it must be fed twice a day all winter. Three times a day in sub zero weather. Kind of like owning cattle, you are tied to home.