Boilers that burn wood and boilers capable of using various fuels appear to be two entirely different things. In contrast to the latter, which may be used with any solid, liquid, or gaseous combustible substance, the first utilizes wood as its fuel. What features do they share? Both require airflow for a successful burn and routine maintenance to keep them in good working order.
The article discovers the differences between these two boiler kinds (multi-fuel vs. wood boilers), so you can choose which would be best for you. You may also use the information on this page to help you make decisions!
What Is a Multi-Fuel Boiler?
Multi-fuel boilers are those that can burn a variety of solid fuels. Depending on the requirements of your house and outdoor temperatures, they will adjust heat output to match. These boilers are an updraft design with a water-cooled baffle for a heat exchanger. The firebox and heat exchanger are designed to burn all kinds of solid fuels and to do it efficiently. Multi-fuel boilers have a grate system on which the fire sits. The grates allow combustion air into the fire and can be shaken to remove ash from the fire.
Your multi-fuel boiler can run on more than just one type of fuel. These fuels include smokeless fuels like anthracite coal and soft coal. A multi-fuel boiler’s construction allows it to burn anything that fits inside its fire chamber.
What Is a Wood Burning Boiler?
A wood-burning boiler is an appliance that burns wooden logs. These boilers are available in outdoor and indoor models. The newest generation of wood boilers uses gasification technology, increasing the average efficiency to 75% – 90%. You will burn 2/3 less wood when compared to your old updraft (non-gasifying) boiler.
For people who wish to improve their houses’ energy efficiency while lowering their carbon footprints on the environment, a gasification wood boiler is a great choice.
Wood boilers have a firebox and heat exchanger like a multi-fuel boiler. However, wood boilers do not have grates to be shaken, but their heat exchangers are more efficient. A wood boiler’s heat exchanger design varies between manufacturers. Our wood boilers have a self-cleaning exchanger! Wood boilers constructed with 304 stainless steel will never rot or corrode; their lifespan is 30-plus years!
Multi-Fuel Vs. Wood Boilers
A multi-fuel boiler and a wood boiler are similar in many ways. Still, the main distinction is that the former may be supplied with various fuels compared to only logs. At the same time, the latter typically burns just wood but does it very efficiently. Which boiler you choose will depend on your personal preferences and the fuel sources accessible to you in your area.
Next, multi-fuel boilers are simple yet versatile, and multi-fuel boilers are typically cheaper than wood boilers. This is due to their simplicity and the fact that wood boilers must undergo much testing to meet new emission regulations. Wood boilers are now more expensive than multi-fuel boilers but are much more efficient. Wood boilers that use 304 Stainless steel will also have a much longer lifespan than a multi-fuel boiler made with carbon steel or even 409 stainless steel.