Boiler Stoves in the U.S.?

Ive done a little research but cant seem to find any US manufacturers making boiler stoves they all seem to be in the UK and China...I was wondering if anyone had any more info on why or companies that do deal them here in the US

Are you referring to a particular type of stove called a "back boiler" stove? I wonder if they are even considered legal in the USA. They are likely not UL listed or ASME certified.

I'm not sure what a boiler stove is but my Mother's kitchen had a Caloric brand gas and coal combination stove. The gas was bottled propane for the four burners and gas oven. The coal portion was to the left of the burners. It had two removable cast iron circular disks to get access to the fire box. Coal ashes fell into a removable metal box which you carried outside to empty. There were connections for a domestic hot water tank, which we didn't use. It was bought new in the early 50's. I wish I would have removed and saved the stove when I sold the house. I still have and use the coal hog used to feed the stove. The coal stove was only used in the early fall and late spring. Other times we used the hand fired coal boiler for heat. Mother always had a pot of water heating or soup simmering on the coal stove. Brings back lots of good memories.

The Caloric stove was really modern, it had a built-in florescent light and an electric timer clock. Coal fire draft was controlled by a pull rod actuated damper. Looked much like a choke rod on a car.

Are stoves like this still available? I would love something like this for the kitchen.

There have been injuries and fatalities in the UK from exploding "back boiler" stoves and fireplaces.

Like any boiler, here or elsewhere, installed with the proper safety devices...they would never explode. Just blow off some steam.

There are several on craigs list.

Here is what I am talking about, not a actual cook stove.....http://www.boilerstoves.co.uk/boiler-stoves.asp

Basically your regular wood or pellet stove but there a boiler for the hot water folks

You can buy the back boiler inserts from the dealers in the UK and Ireland and then retrofit them to a stove. There are two on Ebay right now. Just make sure they are plumbed with the proper code required safety devices and never over fire them.

dchartt wrote:Here is what I am talking about, not a actual cook stove.....http://www.boilerstoves.co.uk/boiler-stoves.asp

Basically your regular wood or pellet stove but there a boiler for the hot water folks

Yes, those are "back boiler" stoves.

I believe back boiler stoves and fireplaces are open and atmospherically vented. They are not closed and pressurized systems. This is neither good nor bad, it is only different,

Actually an atomosphere-vented boiler has a lot of issues, mainly evaporation of the water, then adding more domestic water, eventually the boiler will become filled with rust, calcium, lime or whatever contaminants are in the domestic water..
And the water will allways have active oxygen in the system, corroding all the iron and steel parts.

A sealed system will not have the evaporation, therefore not contstantly have added contaminants in the make-up water. And the
active oxygen will do it's oxidation 'thing' then it's done, no more fresh oxygen is added..

Sealed is better, but does require expansion tanks, PR valves, and proper design to hold the pressure in the system..

Greg L

lsayre wrote:I believe back boiler stoves and fireplaces are open and atmospherically vented. They are not closed and pressurized systems. This is neither good nor bad, it is only different,

it says that they are vented through a flue though and are in a pressurized system, it gives recommended flue size and everything

LsFarm wrote:Actually an atomosphere-vented boiler has a lot of issues, mainly evaporation of the water, then adding more domestic water, eventually the boiler will become filled with rust, calcium, lime or whatever contaminants are in the domestic water..
And the water will allways have active oxygen in the system, corroding all the iron and steel parts.

A sealed system will not have the evaporation, therefore not contstantly have added contaminants in the make-up water. And the
active oxygen will do it's oxidation 'thing' then it's done, no more fresh oxygen is added..

Sealed is better, but does require expansion tanks, PR valves, and proper design to hold the pressure in the system..

Greg L

so i could add one of these sealed boiler stoves to my system as a back up heating source and also a creature comfort in my finished basement correct?

I not sure that it is a wise idea. Warm morning, Kenmore, and many others used to make handfired stoves with back boilers. However I believe they were essentially outlawed in the US many years ago, from what the aging plumbers tell me. I do know that the stoves were very dangerous not only from steam explosion stand point but from chmney fires when used with wood as they wer notorious for creosote problems. The other thing you need to consider is whether the item is UL listed or built to ASME spec. or an equivalent or better CE (european) spec. If not stick with a purpose built boiler which is going to be more efficient and safer to run.