9 Benefits of Using an Outdoor Wood Furnace

When it comes to warming your residence, various options exist, spanning from traditional furnaces to electric heating systems. Nonetheless, an increasingly favored heating solution in recent times is the outdoor wood furnace in Minnesota. At Strawbale Farms, our expertise with wood furnaces (also termed boilers) has enabled us to delineate nine key advantages of their utilization.

1. Economical Heating:

A prominent perk of outdoor wood furnaces is their cost-effectiveness. Wood heating often proves more economical than utilizing electricity, natural gas or heating oil. Wood, being renewable, can substantially diminish heating expenses, particularly if access to free or inexpensive firewood is available.

2. Energy Autonomy:

Employing an outdoor wood boiler fosters energy autonomy. Dependency on utility companies or fluctuating fuel prices diminishes, granting control over the fuel source and enabling more effective management of heating costs.

3. Eco-friendly:

Relative to fossil fuels, wood is a comparatively clean-burning energy source. When burned efficiently, wood emits fewer greenhouse gases. Additionally, the replanting of trees renders wood a renewable and sustainable resource.

4. Enhanced Efficiency:

Modern outdoor wood furnaces boast high efficiency, incorporating advanced combustion technology and insulation. This ensures a significant conversion of wood energy into home heat.

5. Versatility:

Outdoor wood boilers are versatile heating systems, capable of warming not only residences but also other structures like garages, workshops and even hot tubs or pools. Some models additionally provide hot water for domestic use.

6. Decreased Indoor Air Pollution:

By situating the combustion process outdoors, outdoor wood furnaces reduce indoor air pollution and obviate the need for an indoor chimney, potentially improving indoor air quality and fostering a healthier living environment.

7. Longevity:

Well-maintained outdoor wood boilers exhibit longevity, lasting for decades due to their robust construction and straightforward design, ensuring reliable warmth for extended periods.

8. Backup Heating:

Outdoor wood furnaces can function as excellent backup heating systems during power outages, ensuring continued home heating and a comfortable living environment.

9. Minimal Space Requirements:

Outdoor wood boilers occupy no indoor space, as they are installed externally, thereby reducing the necessity for a dedicated furnace room or basement space.

Outdoor wood furnaces present a gamut of benefits, rendering them an appealing choice for home heating. From cost savings and energy independence to environmental friendliness and versatility, they offer an efficient and sustainable means to maintain warmth and comfort throughout colder months. If contemplating a heating system upgrade, exploring the advantages of an outdoor wood furnace is indeed worthwhile.

At Strawbale Farms, we are happy to answer any questions you may have about incorporating an outdoor wood furnace in Minnesota. Give us a call today at 715-214-6683 or contact us!

Parts for Your Outdoor Wood Boiler: What You May Need & Where to Get Them

An outdoor wood boiler is one of the best choices in heating. Unlike systems that rely on fossil fuels, wood boilers offer affordability, sustainability and off-the-grid operation. And, when compared to heating with propane or oil, burning wood in a highly efficient wood boiler from Strawbale Farms can reduce your heating costs greatly. Wood boilers have also come a long way in the last few decades, offering unmatched safety, dependability and longevity.

 So, you love your outdoor wood boiler. But, what do you do when it is in need of replacement parts or repairs? After all, even the most dependable of systems can occasionally require maintenance or replacement parts. Don’t get your boiler parts from just anywhere; ensure you are getting them from a trusted, respected company like Strawbale Farms. Here are Strawbale Farms, we not only offer the best in wood boilers, but the best in boiler parts in all of Minnesota as well. And, as the experts in outdoor wood boilers, our top priority is to ensure our customers are getting the renewable energy they need and that their wood boiler is functioning as it should. Here at Strawbale Farms we carry a wide variety of parts including to keep your wood boiler working at peak performance. These parts include but are not limited to chimneys, controls, digital aquastats, replacement blowers, filters, door gaskets, E-Z Flex, isolation flanges, circulators and more. And, did you know that all outdoor wood boiler manufactures require a yearly water sample to comply with warranty requirements? You can help protect your investment and your warranty with Portage & Main brand boiler treatment. Just contact us and we can walk you through the process.

Whatever it is you are looking for in wood boiler parts, chances are the professionals at Strawbale Farms can help. If you are having issues with your wood boiler and need replacement parts, give us a call and we can help you find the parts you need.

We are here to help you support the needs of your outdoor wood boiler. So, if you would like more information about boiler parts for your Minnesota home or business’ outdoor wood boiler, please call Strawbale Farms at 715-214-6683 or Contact Us today! We would love to speak with you and help you find the right product for your needs.

Why Biomass Heating is the Renewable Way to Heat Your Home

It’s no doubt you’ve heard of the many benefits of renewable energy. Renewables like biomass heating have continued to grow in popularity in recent years for both its friendliness to the environment and to the wallet. In fact, did you know that a biomass boiler installed in a home could potentially save up to 40% on standard oil and/or gas bills every year? It is certainly tantalizing for area homeowners and its renewable status makes it one of the best ways to heat a home. Still not convinced or don’t know enough about it? As experts in biomass heating for Duluth and the surrounding areas, we would like to discuss what we think makes wood boilers one of the best, renewable ways to heat the home.

First, let’s define biomass energy. Biomass energy is essentially created from any organic material that is available on a renewable basis. Biomass boilers often use wood chips and pellets as suitable fuel. These organic materials are renewable, with growth capable of new resources time and time again, and the ashes from production can even be used as fertilizer.

So, why do people love it? Biomass heating is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and efficient. On the contrary, coal, gas, and oil are fossil-based, non-renewable resources. And in the last year, costs for these commodities have soared; even electricity prices are climbing. With biomass heating you won’t have to worry about the high cost of wintertime heating again!

The cost of creating biomass is also much less than non-sustainable energy sources, and is better value than most renewable energy options as well. Because of this, positive trends towards renewables are just beginning and the potential for biomass heating to be used on an even larger scale continues to grow. Looking to the future, there is nothing to suggest biomass heating will not be the renewable of our future.

When you’re looking for straightforward, affordable heat; choosing a wood boiler as a heating source is a no-brainer. So, let’s get started! At Strawbale Farms, we are well-versed in helping a wide variety of customers from home owners to farmers, commercial and industrial businesses and more essential to Minnesota.

Still have questions about biomass heating? To learn more about biomass heating for your Duluth area home or business, call Strawbale Farms at 715-214-6683 or Contact Us today! We would love to speak with you and help you find the right wood boiler for your needs.

Have You Heard These Myths about Wood Boilers?

Considering an outdoor boiler for your home? It can be a great idea to ask around to find out some more information from friends and neighbors. However, it is important to know there are some myths floating around about them. That’s why, as experts in the outdoor boiler for Minnesota and the surrounding areas, we would like to dispel some of these myths.

Myth: They only heat the home.

First of all, an outdoor boiler can do more than just heat the home. They are also a great way to give you all the hot water you need, heat your pool, spa, and anything else you wanted to keep warm. 

Myth: They’re old-fashioned.

When people hear wood, their minds automatically go to ‘old fashioned.’ They think that’s the old way of doing things therefore it must be inefficient, dirty and a lot of work. However, this is not true! Wood heating has come of age. The modern outdoor boiler takes advantage of the latest developments in heating technology. Set up outside your home, and using water and heat exchangers, our incredible Portage & Main outdoor boilers burn cleanly and efficiently. In most cases, they can be connected directly to your existing system to distribute the heat.

Myth: They’re messy.

Because all of your fuel is kept outside, you won’t have the mess associated with indoor wood stoves. The unit will burn all sizes and types of wood, too. The best part is you only have to feed it once or twice a day. Load it up in the morning and evening, and the outdoor boiler will do the rest.

Myth: Chopping and burning wood is bad for the environment.

Not so! Fossil fuels are far more damaging. And, trees are a renewable resource; this is an energy source that grows virtually everywhere. Outdoor boilers are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and efficient. On the contrary, coal, gas, and oil are fossil-based, non-renewable resources. And in the last year, costs for these commodities have soared; even electricity prices are climbing. With an outdoor boiler you won’t have to worry about the high cost of wintertime heating again! Our Portage & Main Boilers are known as the “Original Efficient One” and are the most efficient outdoor boilers in the industry. And, since these units are placed outdoors, there is less concern regarding fire and smoke hazards.

Interested in getting some more information about an outdoor boiler for your Minnesota home or business? Call Strawbale Farms at 715-214-6683 or Contact Us today! We would love to speak with you and help you find the right outdoor boiler for your needs.

Getting an Outdoor Boiler for your Rural Home

Are you trying to find a more efficient way to heat your Wisconsin homestead? An outdoor boiler provides more affordable heating in addition to many environmental benefits. Outdoor boilers have been around for years but were pushed to the wayside due to the low cost of fossil fuels and electricity. Today, however, this is no longer the case. As electric, gas and oil prices rise, outdoor boilers are making a comeback. Many homeowners who have the room to support an outdoor boiler are choosing it as a far more efficient heat source.

At Strawbale Farms, we sell outdoor boilers in Eau Claire and surrounding areas, and we’d like to discuss how they might be a great fit for your residence.

With outdoor boilers, you can heat your home and heat water for baths, showers, laundry and more. All the while, you are using an efficient and renewable resource. You can also help the environment while heating your home with outdoor boilers.

With outdoor boilers, you use wood for heat, which means you are no longer dependent on oil, propane, electric or gas companies. Wood is an environmentally friendly fuel source. Unlike fossil fuels, wood is a renewable resource that is abundant in North America and in the outskirts of Wisconsin.

Modern outdoor furnaces have come a long way, taking advantage of the latest developments in technology. They are set up outside your home and are made to burn cleanly and efficiently. They use water and heat exchangers to transfer the heat to your home, shed or other part of your property.

You probably already have an old heating system installed in your home. In most cases, outdoor boilers can be connected to your existing system to distribute the heat. Outdoor furnaces can also be hooked up to radiant floor heating systems, swimming pools or about anything else you can think of that needs heated.

As their name implies, outdoor boilers are kept outside. This means it will not take up any of your living space, and the wood and mess also stays outside. In addition, there is less concern for fire and smoke hazards when the boiler is away from the house.

At Strawbale Farms, we sell Portage & Main boilers, which are known as the most efficient wood boilers in the industry. They use less wood while still providing the heat you need.

If you would like to learn more about outdoor boilers in Eau Claire, give us a call at 715-214-6683 or contact us. We would love to visit with you and help you find the right outdoor boiler to meet your needs.