Next Step Energy - Wood Boilers

We install high efficiency wood boilers that capture over 80% of the heat energy available from burning wood. This astounding efficiency is achieved through a wood gasification combustion process. Smoke and combustion gases from the burning wood are forced into a ceramic combustion tunnel where fresh oxygen is introduced to ignite the wood gas. The extremely high temperatures in the combustion tunnel burn the wood gas very efficiently resulting in clean, complete combustion. The hot exhaust gases then pass through a vertical heat exchanger to transfer heat into circulating water in the hydronic heating system. High efficiency wood gasification boilers offer many benefits and advantages over other wood heating systems that make them worth considering if you are building a new home or plan to replace your existing heating system.

Reduced Fuel Consumption: High efficiency translates to reduced fuel consumption. Whether you cut your own wood or buy cord wood, you will save time and money on your fuel with a wood gasification boiler.
Clean Burning: Because the wood gases are ignited and burned cleanly at high temperatures, very little soot, ash or noxious gas is exhausted from the chimney of these wood boilers. Cleaner air is good for everyone.
Indoor Convenience: These boilers are safe for indoor use, making them very convenient to load and service without having to leave the comfort of your home.
Easy to Clean: Minimal ash production and the open design of the vertical heat exchanger make monthly cleaning quick and easy. Because the wood is burned cleanly, very little soot buildup is created in the exhaust chimney. The risk of chimney fires and the burden of chimney cleaning are virtually eliminated.
Works with Pressurized Systems: The automatic damper control of the wood boiler enable the unit to be safely used in closed-loop, pressurized heating systems.
Can be Combined with Heat Storage: The wood gasification boiler can be used as a stand-alone heating unit or combined with heat storage. Once a fire is started in the boiler it will automatically control its heat output with a damper unit the fuel is exhausted. To increase the efficiency of the system even more, the unit can be combined with a heat-storing water tank. The boiler can run efficiently at full capacity while storing its heat in the water tank. When the home needs heat, it can be extracted from the storage tank long after the wood fuel has been exhausted in the boiler. This arrangement can reduce the frequency of loading wood in the boiler.
Can Provide Domestic Hot Water: Another benefit of a wood boiler is that it can be configured to provide domestic hot water as well has space heating.