Wood Pellet Boiler Recommendations

big bad brew · 02-03-2010 04:42PM

I have never had any problems with the auger or any other parts of the boiler I use Balcas pellets and hve emptied the ash twice in 8 months

Big bad b

sheilugs · 31-12-2011 06:40PM

AmcD wrote: »

We had a wood pellet boiler installed in 2006. We had just bought a 1940s bungalow with no insulation. There were a lot of teething problems with the boiler for the first three months, but eventually the installer took me seriously and found out that the control panel was faulty.
Once the control panel was replaced it ran fine until summer 2008. A torrential downpour/flooding then flooded our auger. We then had to manually fill the boiler on a daily basis until we had got through the remaining 1.5 tons of pellets. Then we got the impacted flooded pellets out of the auger.
We got 3 tons of pellets in Feb 09. These turned out to be of rubbish quality. The boiler hasn't really worked since then and constantly thinks its empty.

I am very close to seriously considering getting a high efficiency gas boiler. The pellet storage issue doesn't bother me in urban Dublin- 3 tons are easily stored in what was a small lean-to conservatory. Unfortunately there are no guarantees about pellet quality. The boiler is very sensitive to crap pellets.

It is a SHT boiler, for the record. Suitable acronym I think

Hi AmcD I have been through the hoops with this boiler too - tried every pellet etc. but still get auger jams. This winter we bought Brites and they seem to be working out ok though on Christmas eve the auger jamed again. The guy who services it has been trying to get a capacitor with no luck. You say this has solved your problems? Like you I am at the end of my tether with it - have even phoned and emailed the manufacturer in Austria!

AmcD · 31-12-2011 10:39PM

billy_beckham wrote: »

I have one of these aswell and have trouble with auger jams no matter what type of pellet I use, now the auger seems to have given up the ghost totally:(... Who did you get or how did you fix your's??

sheilugs wrote: »

I have been through the hoops with this boiler too - tried every pellet etc. but still get auger jams. This winter we bought Brites and they seem to be working out ok though on Christmas eve the auger jamed again. The guy who services it has been trying to get a capacitor with no luck. You say this has solved your problems? Like you I am at the end of my tether with it - have even phoned and emailed the manufacturer in Austria!

I presume Neils (MA services) is working on these boilers? To be fair, since I last ranted, we have doing ok with the SHT boiler using Leinster pellets. They have a soft delivery system which is able to deliver our pellets over 24 metres without mashing them. Neils has also been excellent- he sorted out a new ignition coil recently. My husband also cleared a small internal auger jam without too much difficulty.

sheilugs · 01-01-2012 10:05PM

AmcD wrote: »

I presume Neils (MA services) is working on these boilers? To be fair, since I last ranted, we have doing ok with the SHT boiler using Leinster pellets. They have a soft delivery system which is able to deliver our pellets over 24 metres without mashing them. Neils has also been excellent- he sorted out a new ignition coil recently. My husband also cleared a small internal auger jam without too much difficulty.

We bought bagged pellets this winter as the loose ones had caused so much hassle. They are Brites, the highest rated that are on the market though expensive - might try Leinster pellets next time. What about the capacitor you mentioned? Where did you source that? Thanks.

billy_beckham · 13-01-2012 07:03PM

AmcD wrote: »

I presume Neils (MA services) is working on these boilers? To be fair, since I last ranted, we have doing ok with the SHT boiler using Leinster pellets. They have a soft delivery system which is able to deliver our pellets over 24 metres without mashing them. Neils has also been excellent- he sorted out a new ignition coil recently. My husband also cleared a small internal auger jam without too much difficulty.

Hi,

I use Neils as a source of spares, I have had to replace an ingitor, the metal plate in top of chamber (it warped badly, new one going same way

) and an augur/motor in the last 12 months. The cost of spares from SHT is ridiculous, €120 i think for an ignitor and they are only good for a couple of years!

Key to them I think is keeping them clean, if not you will get augur jams....especially the "smoke tubes"

sheilugs · 14-01-2012 06:32PM

billy_beckham wrote: »

Hi,

I use Neils as a source of spares, I have had to replace an ingitor, the metal plate in top of chamber (it warped badly, new one going same way ) and an augur/motor in the last 12 months. The cost of spares from SHT is ridiculous, €120 i think for an ignitor and they are only good for a couple of years!

Key to them I think is keeping them clean, if not you will get augur jams....especially the "smoke tubes"

Yes I've learned the hard way with regards to keeping the boiler clean but cheap pellets clog it up very quickly - it's not worth the savings for all the grief they cause. I have spent a bit on parts too, which has led me on a hunt for alternative suppliers but no luck so far!

billy_beckham · 21-09-2013 08:02AM

Hi Folks,

I've been trying to contact MA Services, does anyone know if they still exist?

Thanks,

Dante79 · 23-09-2013 12:47PM

I bought a wood pellet stove two years ago while starting my self build, the local plumbing store was closing down so i got an ex display model at half price for €2500.
I bought it thinking i was getting a bargain but sold it again once i added up all the extra costs involved, flue €1500, buffer tank€1500, pellet store etc
Instead i put this money into insulation,82mm insulated board and 60mm cavity insulation. I installed a condensing boiler, and a stove with back boiler. I hope to install solar panels next spring to reduce the depence on oil.
I am very happy so far with this system. My oil spend last year was €1400, i put thermostats on every rad and basically just heat the rooms we occupy and have little or no heat going to empty rooms. I got my stove going properly this year so hope to reduce the oil bill futher by using this more. The stove heats downstairs rads and i also have a valve in place to divert some of this heat to my hot water cylinder. The system is simple and works just as i want it.
In my opinion this is the best and most economical system. I got prices for underfloor heating(3000sft house) and also geothermal but when i took into account the initial outlay and what it would actually cost me by time i pay my mortgage off, i didnt make sense. Some say radiators are dated and old fashioned but they heat up within 15 mins of turning on boiler and dont used fuel when no needed unlike underfloor.

Dante79 · 23-09-2013 01:08PM

@Ninjabob

"What I am finding is:

GeoThermal : €12,000 - €15,000 install (GroundCollector, Pump, Buffer Tank etc)

Oil Condensing Boiler - €1000 - €3000 (Would require Solar or a renewable for section L compliance, additionally would require a buffer tank)

Solar : €4000 - €8000 (depending on the size and number of units)

Wood Pellet : €8000 - €13,000.

Wind Turbine : €8000 - €14,000"

Looking at your prices i think there is room for improvement if you shop around.
Here is what i have paid (excluding installing )

My 35kw oil condensing boiler €1000
Stove with back boiler €1200 (ex display) €1600 new
40 tube solar kit €2000
Triple coil cylinder €750

There is your complete system(more or less) for less than what you will pay for a good wood pellet boiler. I know oil prices are going to rise but if in a few years time i find that oil is too expensive i will then look at an alternative, i will only be down the price of the boiler €1000.....

Wood Pellet Boiler Recommendations

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