Outdoor Wood Furnaces & Boilers Might Be Banned in Western NY

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Wed. Dec. 17, 2008 7:36 am

Just caught this in our local paper...

http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/article_4fed ... 75dbf.html

ALLEGANY - Residents looking to switch their home-heating source to an outdoor wood-burning furnace have to reconsider their options.

The Allegany Village Board Monday night approved a six-month moratorium, or a suspension, on the use of outdoor wood-burning furnaces. The moratorium applies only to outdoor, not indoor, wood-burning furnaces. The board will take the six months to decide whether or not it should ban the outdoor furnaces.

CoalHeat · Post by **CoalHeat** » Wed. Dec. 17, 2008 9:11 am

Similar bans are being considered around here.

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Wed. Dec. 17, 2008 10:33 am

We don't have any where we live (in town) I don't think you can have them.

But I have seen them along the roads and they really kick up the smoke when not burning correctly.

e.alleg · Post by **e.alleg** » Thu. Dec. 18, 2008 9:12 am

What's ironic is that the complaint about smoke in the village is from a legally installed indoor wood stove. Why they used that as the reason to ban outdoor furnaces is beyond me. Thye aren't going to ban indoor wood stoves so the problem will still exist, it just hurts the guy who wants an OWB.

steamup · Post by **steamup** » Thu. Dec. 18, 2008 10:15 am

The problems with OWB's are many fold. Our infamous Spitzer did a report in 2005 and I cannot disagree with it.

The bans are becomming more prevelant due to low hanging smoke. One of our local villages has instituted a ban.

Here is a link to the report:

**Broken Link(s) Removed**

NOPEC · Post by **NOPEC** » Thu. Dec. 18, 2008 11:04 am

it doesn't help the case when idiots like my sister's neighbor burns green logs as well as sections of telephone poles and railroad ties, in a residential area. the think smokes like a tire fire on a good day. out where I am, there are a few outdoor burners and some seem to burn more cleanly than others. but when comparing a $4000 burner versus an $8000 burner, it can be hard to not be swayed by the price. i'm glad I didn't go with an outdoor burner for one reason - who wants to stoke it at 2am because you forgot to load it before bed?

coalmeister · Post by **coalmeister** » Thu. Dec. 18, 2008 1:57 pm

Those outdoor wood boilers are awful. Stayed overnight in my camper at a buddies who has one, and the wife & I woke up in the middle of the night and thought we were going to die. The smoke was that bad. We would have left in the car and slept somewhere else if we had a car(We were in a motorhome).

They are ok when it is cold, but on warm days forget it, they will smoke up the whole neighborhood if the wind is calm.

dtzackus · Post by **dtzackus** » Mon. Dec. 22, 2008 4:48 pm

Two of the nearby towns have put laws into effect that you must have 5 acres or more to have an outdoor wood burner. Go figure, most people only own like a 1/3 acre or less.

arcticcatmatt · Post by **arcticcatmatt** » Thu. Jan. 01, 2009 11:59 pm

I heard of a possible ban in warren PA also.. well at least talk of it.

I know here in my town there are a few of them. My god do they put out smoke. I have seen them smoke out houses for 1/4 mile.. I mean thick smoke.

There are a few here locally and I know they are not liked by anyone.

TimV · Post by **TimV** » Fri. Jan. 02, 2009 7:11 am

First of all I HATE ANY GOVERNMENT FORCED REGULATION MADE BY CARRER BUREAUCRATS
If we need regulations let them be made by the legislature that can adjust them and will have to take the "heat" for stupid provisions and "catch all" lumping of "all" into one nice neat package that leaves the legislature "off the hook" when people need to find another heat scource because "oilmen" have found a way to convince an "uncaring" govermental watchdigs" that diesel and heating oil somehow over last 8 years costs another 35% than the more highly refined gasoline.
IF YOU REGULATE WHAT YOU CAN HEAT WITH REGULATE WHAT THE 4 REMAINING MAJOR OIL PRODUCERS IN THIS COUNTRY CAN CHARGE FOR HEATING OIL.
ASK WHY IS FUEL OIL $1.00 A GALLON MORE THAN GASOLINE WHILE IT HAS NO TAX ON IT?

IF OUTDOOR WOODSTOVES ARE BANNED STATWIDE COAL WILL BE RIGHT BEHIND THEN RIGHT BEHIND THAT WILL BE ALL WOOD BURNING.
WHAT SHORT MEMORIES WE HAVE . HOW MUCH WAS GAS 4 MONTHS AGO.
THE SAME OLD SAME OLD
SHEEP NEVER CHANGE THEY JUST KEEP GETTING SCREWED

Black_And_Blue · Post by **Black_And_Blue** » Fri. Jan. 02, 2009 7:34 am

TimV beat me to it....

I wonder when the Osama Bin Biden team will tax coal burners into oblivion?

You know, for the children.....or the common good.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Fri. Jan. 02, 2009 8:01 am

Here in Maine all new OWB's must be the "efficient" type. The state recently started a "buy back" program. If neighbors complain about your OWB the state will come, slap your hand, teach you not to burn garbage wood. If you are using it properly and the neighbors still complain, the state will mandate & buy it from you for up to $10,000. I'm not sure if you're allowed to use that money to buy an "efficient" one or not. Some towns have regulations... distance from neighbor, size of lot, etc.

wnyjim · Post by **wnyjim** » Fri. Jan. 02, 2009 1:15 pm

I considered an OWB at one time. Glad I decided not to besides the smoke issues I hear they are very hungry and consume large amounts of wood. A buddy of mine went through 20 face cord before Christmas this year. I think he wants to switch to coal soon.

I love my ICB (indoor coal burner)

I'll stop burning coal when they take my furnace from my cold dead fingers.

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Fri. Jan. 02, 2009 2:59 pm

If only a line could be inserted and abided by in these regulations...
'Above all, common sense will prevail.'
But then again common sense is not all that common.
At least with local regulations a individual can assert more influence on their elected officials.

cArNaGe · Post by **cArNaGe** » Fri. Jan. 02, 2009 5:10 pm

wnyjim wrote:I considered an OWB at one time. Glad I decided not to besides the smoke issues I hear they are very hungry and consume large amounts of wood. A buddy of mine went through 20 face cord before Christmas this year. I think he wants to switch to coal soon.

I love my ICB (indoor coal burner)

I'll stop burning coal when they take my furnace from my cold dead fingers.

I have one. Its about 47% effecient, according to Maine's website.