Highly appreciated for its authenticity, the wood boiler is an excellent alternative for heating in areas not connected to the gas network. Despite its many assets such as its ecological aspect or its high level of efficiency , it has however a number of disadvantages.
An important initial investment
The amount of the initial investment is undoubtedly the first disadvantage of a wood boiler. In fact, despite the financial support available for this type of heating, the cost of equipment remains relatively high compared to other heating methods.
As an indicator, depending on the model and type of boiler and its power, it will need between 5,000 to 12,000 euros for the purchase of a wood boiler for individual housing. This amount can also reach 30 000 euros to equip a building.
It should nevertheless be known that the initial investment is certainly high, but is usually eligible for a certain number of financial aids related to the energy transition as well.
Space requirement
The other disadvantage of the wood boiler is the space requirement. Indeed, the installation of the product requires an area of several square meters in a room. In some cases, setting up in a garage or laundry room is essential.
To this space requirement is added the problem related to fuel storage. First of all, you need to have enough space to accommodate your wood heating system and his loading appliance, but you will also need extra space for wood storage.
It is strongly recommended to store your wood before using, so you can make sure it is perfectly dry. Indeed, a wet wood involves poor combustion, polluting emissions and a consequent decrease of its yield. About its use, the wood boiler is less practical than the natural gas boiler, because of the manual loading of the logs.
Regular maintenance
A wood boiler requires regular and mandatory maintenance. Indeed, a classic model produces ashes as well as several volatile particles. Easily deposited in the exchanger, those ones can create a thermal barrier reducing the performance of your heating system.
To avoid the risk of fire and reduce carbon monoxide emissions, it will be preferable to make the maintenance of your wood boiler by a professional who will provide a certificate. Depending on the model and manufacturer’s instructions, you should remove the ashes and sweep your boiler regularly. Added to this, there is usually a mandatory annual necessary check-up by a professional.
