Getting the Facts about an Outdoor Wood Boiler

Heat is vital to life in the world’s cold climates and finding the best form of heating for your Minnesota home is essential. After all, Minnesota is cold and can really put the pressure on your heating system. Many heating systems of today depend on oil, gas and other pricy resources. But, what has been a primary heat source for centuries? Wood of course! And saying it has evolved over time is an understatement. Outdoor wood boilers are an efficient, beneficial way to heat the home, especially in our cold, rural climate.

As experts in alternative energy we are here to answer all of your questions about choosing an outdoor wood boiler for your Minnesota or Wisconsin home.

What is an outdoor wood boiler? 

An outdoor wood boiler is a steel or a cast iron box lined with firebrick. They mostly heat by convection, meaning it heats the air surrounding it, which then moves around the home.

How common are they? 

Outdoor wood boilers are in widespread use across Minnesota specifically due to the abundance of wood here and the intense cold we experience.

Do I have to use it as my main heat source? 

Outdoor wood boilers are also used as a supplementary or back up system to a traditional boiler. Any building, commercial or residential can be heated with a versatile outdoor wood furnace system. You can also heat the water in your home, hot tubs or swimming pools. Some people use larger systems so that they can simultaneously heat workshops, barns and their home.

What brand is best? 

At Strawbale Farms, we sell Portage & Main outdoor wood boilers; one of the longest lasting and best built boilers in the industry. In addition to the outdoor wood boiler, we also sell other Portage & Main boilers, including ones that burn coal, wood chips and pellets. Each product we sell provides the needed energy for heat with the use of much less firewood or coal than conventional stoves.

Are they easy to use? 

It’s simple. Keep it burning and keep things warm. You only need to manually feed your boiler once a day or even every couple of days. And, you don’t need to rely on “the grid” for your home’s heat. It’s ideal for those looking to live off the grid and take control of their own energy. 

Are they affordable? 

Yes! Just try and heat your home with electric or oil and see what that can cost! Biomass heating and energy efficient outdoor wood boilers can completely change your winter.

If you would like more information about an outdoor wood 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 product for your needs.

How to Get Your Outdoor Wood Furnace Ready for Fall

Temperatures are already dropping pretty low here in Minneapolis at night. One sure sign that winter is just around the corner. That means it’s time to start preparing the outdoor wood furnace to keep you and your family warm throughout the season.

And, as an outdoor wood furnace owner in Minneapolis, you know all too well how important it is to the warmth and well-being of your home.  That’s why Strawbale Farms would like to offer a few tricks as well as a few great benefits to owning a Portage & Main Boiler this time of year.

At the start of the heating season, the excess boiler water should be drained off before heating the boiler. It should be kept for use as "top up" water as it is already treated with boiler treatment for proper pH, Nitirites and conductivity levels. 

Also consider your wood fuel. Burn only dry, seasoned wood. Wood is a type of hydrocarbon, and common properties of hydrocarbons are; they produce steam, carbon dioxide and heat during combustion. Therefore, the dryer the wood the less moisture is created during the combustion process. Wood can/should be seasoning all spring/summer. Some wood types like oak actually require two seasons.

Build a small fire, and add wood as needed. Be sure pumps are circulating when firing the furnace. Once the furnace has reached 180 degrees, the furnace is ready to be filled to capacity.

Also remember to keep your boiler, fire chamber, heat exchanger and ash collection area clean and dry. Check and clean regularly, even if it is the off season. When cleaning your furnace, pay attention to the heat exchanger and area behind the fire chamber liners.

Outdoor wood boilers also have a thermostat control that keeps the heat at a constant level, which is sometimes difficult to achieve with an indoor woodstove or fireplace. 

Each product we sell provides the needed energy for heat with the use of much less firewood or coal than conventional stoves. While energy efficiency is one of the very best benefits to owning an outdoor wood boiler, there are many other great benefits as well!

For more information about your outdoor wood furnace in Minneapolis or for assistance firing it up this fall, just give us a call. Call Strawbale Farms today at 715-214-6683 or Contact Us today for more information.

Clean, Green Heating Machines: Outdoor Wood Boilers

At Strawbale Farms, we don’t just sell wood boilers. We are a renewable energy company. We are constantly looking for better ways to heat the home. And, we are fully familiar with the many benefits of owning an outdoor wood boiler in Wisconsin. After all, we get some pretty intense winters and heating our homes and businesses can become pretty costly. But there is a solution! Outdoor wood boilers. As propane, electric and oil prices continue to cause financial hardships for many local residents, we’ve recognized a need for something better.

At Strawbale Farms, we are focused biomass heating and energy efficiency. That’s why we sell Portage & Main outdoor wood boilers; one of the longest lasting and best built boilers in the industry. Each product we sell provides the needed energy for heat with the use of much less firewood or coal than conventional stoves. While energy efficiency is one of the very best benefits to owning an outdoor wood boiler, there are many other benefits including:

Affordability

Wood, pellets and coal are cheap in comparison to more ‘conventional’ heating sources. Burning wood can be a clean, inexpensive and safe way to heat your home.

Safety

Since these units are placed outdoors, there is less concern regarding fire and smoke hazards. 

Heat Control

Outdoor wood boilers also have a thermostat control that keeps the heat at a constant level, which is sometimes difficult to achieve with an indoor woodstove or fireplace. 

Clean and Green

With the unit outside, smoke, soot, and ash are eliminated, and dryness is reduced in the buildings. And, if you are looking to 'go green', with outdoor wood boilers, you no longer need to use fossil fuels to supply your home with heat!

Simplicity

An outdoor wood boiler is a straightforward way to heat your home or business. Keep it burning and keep things warm. You only need to manually feed your boiler once a day or even every couple of days. And, you don’t need to rely on ‘the grid’ for your home’s heat. It’s ideal for those looking to live off the grid and take control of their own energy.

And, these are just a few of the great reasons to choose an outdoor wood boiler for your Wisconsin home! If you would like more information about outdoor wood furnaces for your 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 product for your needs. 

Welcome to the Blogger for Strawbale Farms

Welcome to the blogger for Strawbale Farms! We are a renewable energy company located in Trego, Wisconsin. We are focused on biomass heating and energy efficiency. We sell Portage & Main outdoor wood boilers. These are one of the longest lasting and best built boilers in the industry.

In addition to the outdoor wood boilers, we also sell other Portage & Main boilers, including ones that burn coal, wood chips and pellets. Each product we sell provides the needed energy for heat with the use of much less firewood (or coal) than conventional stoves.

Strawbale Farms is named after the owners’ hobby farm, which includes a super insulated, passive and active solar, straw bale house. The company’s goal is to deliver more heat into customers’ water pipes and not up their chimneys.

We have many satisfied customers who will attest to the efficiency of Portage & Main boilers. Read some customer testimonials, and get to know the type of people who value these products from the list of customer bios.

If you would like more information on Portage & Main boilers and other ways to make your home more energy efficient, Contact Us. We would love to speak with you and help you find the right product for your needs.