Many businesses use a wood boiler to heat their shops and offices. Not only do companies find this technology convenient and reliable, many have also found that wood boilers are a good alternative to less environmentally-friendly heating solutions. You can find many types of wood fired boilers, including those for indoor and outdoor use.

In order to ensure the safety of the product, a wood fired boiler should be installed by someone who is knowledgeable about the system and has training. You can find many opportunities for wood fired boilers education and training through:

1. Training courses that provide the skills needed to install and repair any type of wood fired boiler, including used wood boilers.

2. Seminars for the industry that offer information and introduce new innovations.

3. Online courses that offer a quick training solution.

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Find HVAC classes to learn more about wood fired steam boiler installation and repair

HVAC classes are designed to teach students how to install, maintain and repair heating and cooling systems in residential and commercial buildings. Many HVAC programs offer courses specific to a product type, such as air conditioner systems, boilers and solar energy systems.

I recommend: The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors provides courses on inspection methods for the HVAC industry. Topics include water, steam, oil, gas, coal, electric and wood fired boilers. The American Boiler Manufacturers Association offers many training courses for operating and maintaining boiler heating systems.

Get training to install and repair a wood burning boiler

On-site or in-person training courses are the best way to learn how to install wood burning boiler technology. This type of course will teach you the skills you need to work with a wood boiler heating system. It can also give you plenty of hands-on experience working with a wood burning boiler.

I recommend: Wellons FEI provides installation and repair training for those who purchase or distribute its wood fired boilers products. Maine Energy Systems provides contractors with the training to properly install wood fired boilers.

Learn about the fuel economy with a wood fired steam boiler

Many industries prefer to use wood fired boilers for heat because it is an alternative energy with a renewable fuel source: wood fuel. The wood fuel used in wood fired boilers often comes in pellet form. However, you an also use sawdust and larger pieces of wood if they contain the right amount of moisture for maximum boiler efficiency.

I recommend: The New Horizon Corporation has information on the fuel and economy of wood fired boilers and provides a video to demonstrate how boiler combustion takes place. University of Missouri Extension has a guide on wood fuel that covers how to choose the best type of wood and how to maximize fuel efficiency when burning wood fuel.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  It is a good idea to use a fuel cost calculator to determine the efficiency of wood fire boilers. This information is useful if you are trying to sell wood boilers to customers.

With utility costs a rising concern, it is a wise idea to consider a wood fired boiler to provide heat and hot water for your facility. Wood fired boilers have been around for ages, and have proved to be efficient heating devices. The distinct advantage of wood fire boilers is that they do not rely on conventional fuel sources to produce heat.

Wood fired steam boilers are not without their challenges, however. There are several important things to take into consideration before your purchase.

1. A wood boiler produces copious amounts of smoke. Unless your business is in a rural area, the enormous quantities of smoke may be a nuisance for your neighbors. In addition to this, it is vital to note that every state has air quality control regulations.

2. Wood boilers need daily upkeep. Adjusting heat, adding water and putting more wood on the fire are part of the routine.

3. Electricity is necessary to operate a wood fired steam boiler. The fan, air vent and circulating pump need electricity to work. Because the boilers are located outside, special hook-ups and wiring will be necessary.

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Seek the most efficient wood fired steam boilers on the market

When weighing the advantages and disadvantages of wood fired boilers, one thing is certain: your unit must churn out a lot of heat. Finding the most efficient boiler will not only save you money, but a great deal of time as well.

I recommend: The website for Central Boiler is filled with helpful information and a multitude of products aimed at cost efficiency. Be sure to check out its energy calculator to figure out how much you can save by purchasing a wood fired boiler. Maine Wood Furnaces carries a line of boilers specially manufactured with a unique downdraft exhaust, which will save you both money and time.

Consider wood fired boilers that burn wood pellets or corn

Because many units can be expensive to operate and maintain, it's important to find equipment that will give you the most heat for your buck. Wood pellet boilers are a popular option. Several companies offer wood pellet boilers that are not only economical, but environmentally friendly as well.

I recommend: On its informative website, Tarm USA offers wood pellet and corn boilers for sale. Tarm USA also is a great source of information and even has photos of the typical installation process. Harmon Home Heating stocks a variety of wood pellet and traditional wood heating units.

Be smart: Purchase used wood boilers

New wood boilers can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on size. A used boiler is an economical route to take, as well as a way to see if a wood fired boiler will work for your business--without having to pay for a brand new unit.

I recommend: Moss has been in the business of selling used wood fired boilers for 50 years. It has an impressive selection, as well as a monthly special. Industrial Wood Products is another great distributor, offering several different types of wood boilers for sale.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure to check with your state's department of environmental affairs, or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for any rules, standards or certifications your wood boiler may need. These vary from state to state, and they protect you, your business and the environment.

As the name indicates, wood fired boilers use wood as a fuel to generate heat. Wood fired boilers have been used for many years and technology for these boilers has evolved to a great extent. However, you need to be aware of environmental restrictions while using boilers for residential, commercial and industrial applications.

Whether you want to use wood fired boilers for indoor or outdoor applications, you will need to be conversant with certain terms. This guide explains some boiler key terms, such as UL standards, NFPA 85, hydronic heaters program, hard water and AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency).

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UL standards, Underwriters Laboratories

Several boiler manufacturers mention that their wood fired boilers are compliant with UL standards. This indicates that the products are in accordance with technical standards by Underwriters Laboratories and the safety of users is assured.

I recommend: You can read through the description of standards at Underwriters Laboratories, a reputable organization in the field of product safety certification and compliance solutions.

NFPA 85, National Fire Protection Association

NFPA 85 is another code that assures safe working of a wood fired boiler. There are various fire hazards associated with the operation of a wood fired boiler. NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) publishes NFPA 85 - the code for safe operation of boilers and combustion systems.

I recommend: You can read through the scope of updated NFPA 85 code at NFPA, a non-profit organization that publishes standards that are intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks.

EPA's hydronic heaters program

US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has devised a program to encourage heating system manufacturers to improve air quality through developing and distributing cleaner, more efficient hydronic heaters. Hydronic heaters use a fuel such as wood to heat water that is then used to heat a building.

I recommend: EPA publishes detailed information on its hydronic heaters program.

Hard water

Whether you want to use a wood fired boiler for generating steam or for heating water, you will need to soften the water passing through the boiler. Hard water contains mineral salts that might deposit on internal surface of boiler components and reduce the efficiency of a wood fired boiler.

I recommend: Res-Kem Corp., a supplier of water treatment equipment, offers a glossary of water treatment terms, including hard water.

Heat exchanger

A heat exchanger is an important part of a boiler; it helps to transfer heat from one fluid to other. Depending on the flow arrangements, heat exchangers come in three types: counter-flow, parallel-flow and cross-flow.

I recommend: wiseGEEK, an information resource, provides useful information about heat exchanger devices and the different flow arrangements.

BTU (British Thermal Unit)

One BTU is the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water 1°F from a starting point of 39.2°F.

I recommend: To understand the definition of BTU, you can refer to the glossary of water heating terms at GasNetworks.

GPM (Gallons Per Minute)

GPM is the unit of measurement of water flow through a boiler. While selecting a wood fired boiler, you must know your application requirements and indicate required water flow rate in GPM.

I recommend: Greenwood Technologies, a provider of renewable heating solutions, offers a glossary of wood heating terms, including GPM.

AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency)

AFUE indicates the heating efficiency of a boiler. Factors that affect AFUE are changes in weather, cyclic on/off operation of heating equipment and associated energy losses.

I recommend: For definition and explanation about AFUE, you can read through information available at Crown Boiler and Moose Heating & Air Conditioning.