| Wood boilers or outdoor hydronic heaters were | | | | One of the main concerns surrounding these |
| some of the first industrial age home heating | | | | heater units is of course fire safety as worries |
| systems developed. They were first designed to | | | | about hot water hazards. First of all modern |
| work with steam heat but modern wood fired | | | | constructed hydronic heaters have all been |
| systems have reduced the risk of super-heated | | | | rigorously tested for fire and combustion safety. |
| steam explosions and burns by only using hot | | | | If properly installed and maintained the risk of a |
| water for heating purposes. | | | | fire are extremely low. |
| Outdoor hydronic heaters have become very | | | | Plus taking into account that all outdoor heaters of |
| popular in the last few decades as the price of | | | | this type are housed in self contained metal sided |
| more traditional furnaces powered by gas, | | | | sheds located a optimum safe distance from the |
| electricity or oil has risen and people in extreme | | | | main structure, automatically eliminates any |
| winter environments have been forced to look | | | | problems associated with from high pressure hot |
| for more affordable methods. | | | | water. |
| This article will give you an overview of how | | | | Another factor that concerns many people is the |
| outdoor wood burning heating systems work as | | | | effect that burning wood will have on the |
| well as explain some the more controversial | | | | surrounding environment. First of all you don't |
| aspects of using these economical devices. | | | | need me to tell you that wood is a completely |
| How Does an Outdoor Hydronic Heater Work? | | | | renewable resource. So if you are using wood |
| The structure of one of these systems seems at | | | | harvested from your own property you have the |
| first to be rather simple. Wood is loaded into a | | | | option to replant. |
| burner or firebox, which is surrounded by a | | | | Actually many local governments are encouraging |
| "jacket" that heats up the water. The water is | | | | landowners to plant fast growing trees in small to |
| then distributed to the home using heavily | | | | medium size wood lots in order to stop erosion |
| insulated underground pipes. Inside the house, the | | | | and hold in rainwater to reduce flooding. This has |
| hot water is connected to a water-to-air heat | | | | the added benefit of proving an endless supply of |
| exchange unit such as a radiator. | | | | fuel for an outdoor hydronic heater. |
| And if properly outfitted with a water-to-water | | | | And while smoke and fumes from a wood boiler |
| exchange system, it can also be used to heat up | | | | seems like it would be harmful to air quality in |
| all your domestic water used in washing clothes, | | | | actually, this type of furnace has a lower carbon |
| bathing, cleaning dishes, housekeeping or cooking. | | | | footprint than using fossil fuels like natural gas, |
| A wood fired hydronic unit is an excellent choice | | | | propane or oil, which when burned release much |
| for the homeowner who has quick and easy | | | | more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than |
| access to very inexpensive or free wood and | | | | wood. |
| who is willing to commit to the process of cutting, | | | | Once you understand some the concerns of |
| storing and loading the cordwood fuel. | | | | surrounding using wood hydronic heater systems, |
| The Disadvantages of an Outdoor Hydronic | | | | you can make a better decision as to whether or |
| Heater | | | | not you can fix one into your lifestyle and budget. |