The availability of oil and gas has prompted homeowners and business owners alike to seek alternatives when it comes to heating their homes and offices. The rising fuel costs and the rising awareness of renewable energy options have increased interest in different heating alternatives like wood chip boilers, which use wood chips to provide hot water and heating to large homes, farms, and commercial buildings where a constant supply of heat is required. Axe Biotech provides biomass heating solutions and helps people apply such systems for their needs.
What Is a Wood Chip Boiler?
As opposed to oil, gas, pellets, and logs, a wood chip boiler burns small pieces of wood chips. The heat from burning chips then warms up water, which is then transported through radiators or hot water floor heating or a hot water system.
From a user perspective, a wood chip heating system functions similarly to a regular boiler. The only difference is in fuel. The chips are stored separately and delivered automatically when needed to make sure there is no need to load logs by hand throughout a day.
How Does a Wood Chips Heating System Work?
Wood chips are stored in a fuel store, a bunker, or a specially designed container that is located near the boiler. When the building requires heat, a feeding system sends a set amount of wood chips to the boiler.
Wood chip heating systems are burned, which produces heat that is then transferred to water for heating and hot water purposes; in general, this process is automatic. However, one has to check the fuel level, remove ash, and maintain the boiler in working condition. In addition, dry, good-quality wood chips are essential for the system to function smoothly.
Wood Chip Boilers vs. Wood Pellet Boilers
Wood chips are an unrefined part of wood, while pellets are refined in small compressed wooden units. The pellets are more even and convenient, as they require less storage.
Wood chips, on the other hand, require bigger storage and better deliveries. They are more suitable for farms, big houses, hotels, workshops, and buildings that require a lot of heating. Using wood chip boilers also makes sense only if there is sufficient timber in the area. There’s no need to say which of the two is better, as it depends on many factors.
Key Benefits
The effectiveness of this type of heat generation is determined by both the condition of buildings and energy supply.
- Using wood as fuel lowers energy costs in some circumstances, although prices may continuously go up or down.
- The increase in the volume of timber available proves that wood is a truly clean fuel compared to fossils.
- This type of fuel can be procured locally because of the presence of various timber providers on the market.
- This technology perfectly suits large buildings that require a good deal of heating.
- Thanks to the high level of automation, no manual refilling of the system is needed.
- The availability of locally sourced fuel cuts the need for importing.
Though there are a variety of benefits of wood fuel, there are also numerous factors with the help of which the efficiency of wood as a fuel can be determined (quality of fuel, type of the heating system, space for storing wood, maintenance practices, etc.
What to Consider Before Installing a Wood Chip Boiler
The space is of vital importance. Wood pellets require less space than wood chip boiler materials. Therefore, it is necessary that there be adequate facilities for storage and delivery.
The process of installation usually requires more than just replacing an old boiler. The project may require the construction of a boiler room, provision of fuel storage and feeding systems, and renovation of heat pipelines. It is also important to keep in mind the removal of ash from the heating system, its servicing, and delivery of wood pellets. Research should also be carried out so that the system meets the needs of the premises.
Conclusion
This type of renewable heating can suit bigger properties with enough storage that require constant heat. While it is a good alternative to gas or oil, it still demands thorough planning and regular maintenance. The company Axe Biotech can assist homeowners to analyze their needs to see if the system can be the right choice for them. Everybody is welcome to contact for direct assistance in making a decision.



