TOP 10 best solid fuel boilers according to customer reviews

The average gasification rate in the regions of the Russian Federation is only 70%. Therefore, solid fuel boilers remain relevant in the market. The segment continues to evolve, models with new capabilities appear. In addition to the classic solid fuel of various capacities, manufacturers offer innovative pyrolysis and long-burning boilers. On the latest experts make bets more often. But the classic ones, due to their low cost, remain in demand. Based on these two theses, I made a rating of the TOP-10 solid fuel boilers, which included popular models of different types. Hope this helps you make the right choice.

Technical parameters of solid fuel boilers

So, what should you pay attention to if you decide to choose the best solid fuel boiler:

• Type of fuel. Different models may consume one or more types of fuel. For use, firewood, coal, peat briquettes, sawdust, pellets, straw or recycled waste are suitable.
• Power. It must be calculated in such a way that it is enough to heat the entire area of ​​the house and auxiliary rooms.
• Combustion chamber volume... This is one of the main indicators affecting the performance of the unit, the frequency of fuel loads.
• Automation... The presence of such a mechanism allows the owners to free themselves from constant monitoring of the boiler.
• Safety... The main elements needed in any boiler are an alarm and an auto shut-off function in case of a malfunction.
• The need for access to electricity... Some models of heating appliances are simply not able to work without access to electricity. But most of the boilers can still heat completely autonomously.
• Useful ratio... this indicator is calculated as the ratio between the actual power of the device and the heat capacity of the fuel used. The higher the efficiency, the less fuel will be required to produce one unit of heat.
• Single boot time... The inability to control the process makes the fuel burning period very short. You are unlikely to like a boiler that needs to be refilled with fuel every 4-5 hours. Modern models can operate on one load for several days.
• Ease of service... Even the most remarkable boiler needs to be cleaned of soot and ash, to blow and load a new portion of fuel. The simpler all these processes are arranged, the more the owner will be satisfied.
• The cost... Boilers for home heating are not equipment that is worth saving. In this case, you should not choose a heating device, focusing only on a low price.The technical characteristics of cheap boilers are often far from ideal.

Only by comprehensively approaching the study of all basic parameters, we can choose the best solid fuel boiler for long burning in year.

See also - What heating radiators are best for a house or apartment

TOP-5 classic solid fuel boilers

Classic boilers use the heat generated by combustion inside the firebox for heating. Most often, coal is used as fuel, firewood, peat briquettes are used. However, coal is still more economically profitable. Such boilers consist of a loading chamber with a heat exchanger and an ash pan - the lower part of the furnace for collecting ash. The disadvantages of such boilers are that constant monitoring of the process is needed: reloading fuel, cleaning the ash pan and heat exchanger, most often low efficiency, although in some models it reaches 90%.

Teplodar Kupper Practitioner 8

Compact boiler capable of heating a room / several adjacent with a total area of ​​80 m²... It uses firewood, coal, peat briquettes as fuel. Reliable - the heat exchanger is made of steel, the boiler body is cast iron. It has a built-in heating element to maintain the temperature, however, you have to think over the power supply and grounding scheme. Heater power - 6 kW. Equipped with a thermometer for temperature control. Automation can be set to maintain the set temperature with minimal user intervention. Price - .

Pros:

• price;
• compactness (420 × 565 × 595 mm);
• weight - 60 kg;
• poker, shurovka - included;
• different fuels can be used;
• built-in heating element.

Minuses:

• not enough power to heat a large house;
• the case may become hot.

A budget proposal from a well-known manufacturer. Suitable for heating a garage, an extension, a small private house. Judging by user reviews, the heated area indicated by the manufacturer is somewhat overestimated. Optimally, in order to warm the air well even in severe frosts, you need to use the boiler in rooms of about 60 m².

Lemax Forward-12.5

Differs from Teplodar KupperPraktik 8 in vertical fuel loading. It is convenient: you can fill in coal from a bucket. A significantly higher height of the device is associated with this design feature. This model does not have heating elements to maintain the temperature. The maximum heating power is 13 kW. Heated area - up to 130 m²... Fuel - coal, wood, coke. It is possible to install a non-volatile draft regulator. Price - .

Pros:

• price;
• build quality;
• compactness;
• large heated area;
• fast heating;
• convenient fuel supply from above.

Minuses:

• there are no heating elements to maintain the temperature;
• there is a lot of dust, dirt, smoke when filling fuel. It is necessary to install the boiler in a separate room, although the dimensions allow installation in any room;
• inconvenient to clean.

Suitable for a house up to 100 sq. m. As in the case of Teplodar KupperPraktik 8, the heating area declared by the manufacturer is overestimated; in severe frosts, the boiler will not cope with it. Vertical loading of fuel is a controversial decision: it speeds up the process of feeding it into the furnace, but gives a side effect in the form of smoke and dusting of the room.

ZOTA Box 8

Compact boiler for coal and wood. Designed for heating up to 64 m²... Has a hob - you can reheat food or heat water, very convenient in a small production. It is possible to connect heating elements to maintain the temperature and a draft regulator - not supplied in the set. Price - .

Pros:

• equipment (poker, duck, chimney pipe);
• design;
• compactness;
• furnace length - 40 cm;
• hob;
• chimney exit angle - 135 degrees; can be placed vertically or horizontally with the knee.

Minuses:

• small ash box;
• not enough power to heat a large house;
• the case heats up.

A smart solution for a small home or workshop. A nice bonus is the ability to warm up food.If the latter is not important to you, you can save money and purchase Teplodar KupperPraktik 8.

ZOTA Poplar М 14

A popular boiler in our country. The reason is the large heating area (up to 120 m²), low fuel quality, large loading chamber. It has a separate large chamber for loading firewood, solid assembly and a good design. You can connect the heater and traction control, but they will have to be purchased separately. Price - .

Pros:

• compactness;
• design;
• equipment (slide gate, set for cleaning the boiler);
• large heated area;
• fast heating;
• keeps the temperature for a long time.

Minuses:

• the walls are heating up;
• little ashman.

Reliable, convenient boiler for heating rooms up to 120 m2²... The best offer on the market in terms of price-quality ratio, if you do not need additional functionality.

Protherm Beaver 20 DLO

A boiler made in Slovakia with additional functionality - the ability to work together with a gas or electric boiler to ensure constant hot water supply. For this, a two-pass heat exchanger with 4 sections is provided. Protherm Beaver 20 DLO itself heats a room with an area of ​​up to 190 square meters. m with coal and wood. Has a built-in thermometer with a thermostat. Price - .

Pros:

• design;
• completely cast iron body;
• well painted;
• large heated area;
• large ash pan;
• the ability to combine with electric or gas boilers;
• high efficiency.

Minuses:

• price;
• the size of the firebox;
• it is impossible to connect the heater to maintain the temperature;
• the marriage comes across. Several users complain about heat exchanger leaks after several heating seasons.

A good boiler for heating a large house. It can be used as an auxiliary one in the presence of a gas or electric boiler. Given the “lame” reliability, the weak point is the heat exchanger radiator and the high price, so I definitely cannot recommend this boiler.

TOP-2 pyrolysis solid fuel boilers

As a heat source, pyrolysis boilers operate on gas obtained by the dry distillation method, heated to temperatures of 600-800 degrees without air access. Dry wood is considered the best fuel for such boilers - it gives the maximum amount of pyrolysis gas. Coal is used as fuel in some models. The design of such boilers is simple. Two chambers - a loading furnace and a gas combustion furnace. Advantages - requires less human intervention, it is possible to load fuel and clean the furnace less often, high efficiency (up to 90%) Disadvantages - dimensions and high price.

ZOTA Master 18

Boiler with a high level of efficiency (73%) and a hob. You can heat with coal or wood. It is convenient to monitor the system readings by the built-in pressure gauge and thermometer. The maximum temperature of the coolant is 95 ° C. The maximum pressure in the heating circuit is 3 bar. Heated area - up to 144 m²... Price - .

Pros:

• high efficiency;
• hob;
• large heated area;
• heats up quickly;
• built-in pressure gauge.

Minuses:

• smokes when laying firewood;
• condensation forms in the chimney sump;
• small loading furnace.

For its price, this boiler is good for everyone, and side effects such as the need for control and the appearance of children during operation are a problem inherent in all solid fuel boilers.

Bourgeois-K STANDARD-20

Boiler with bottom loading of fuel and top location of the afterburner. There are a lot of negative reviews about him on the net. Experts associate them with improper operation - the use of damp firewood, incorrect installation of the chimney. If the technical instructions are followed, the boiler has an efficiency of 85%, it can heat an area up to 220 m²... Has a built-in pressure gauge and thermometer to monitor the state of the system.

Pros:

• fuel economy under conditions of correct installation and operation;
• large heated area.

Minuses:

• price;
• requires correct installation according to the instructions;
• inconvenient to clean;
• demanding on the quality of fuel - only dry wood with a moisture content of less than 12%;
• build quality;
• smokes, overheats, clogs the chimney tar with improper installation and operation.

If you decide to buy such a boiler, it is better to call professionals to install it, from whom you can take a guarantee for the elimination of installation defects if found. Otherwise, you risk getting a lot of problems due to the design features of the device. For beginners, I recommend a conventional solid fuel boiler, for example, ZOTA Poplar M 14 or more powerful models (for example, “Poplar M”) for heating a large area.

TOP-3 long burning solid fuel boilers

Long-burning boilers differ from conventional boilers in a special air supply. Fuel burns out gradually, starting with the upper layers. The advantages are a large volume of the furnace, almost complete combustion of fuel, its economy, a minimum of ash and emissions into the atmosphere. Cons - relatively low efficiency.

ZOTA Topol-16VK

New of the year. The variety of fuel loading is attractive: coal can be loaded through the upper door of the furnace, located at an angle, for convenient loading from a bucket or bag, and firewood can be thrown through the skewer door. The model has an increased heat exchange area and a large firebox. The combustion cycle for 1 load is up to 10 hours. Any type and quality of fuel is suitable. Technically, the model received water-filled grate and a modified configuration of the heat exchanger: its tubes are made in the shape of a triangle, which reduces soot settling on them, simplifies cleaning. Heated area - up to 120 m². Additionally, you can install heating elements, a draft regulator. Price - .

Pros:

• quality materials and assembly;
• fuel economy;
• different fuels can be used;
• large firebox;
• large ash pan;
• improved design for long-lasting combustion;
• the possibility of modernization through the installation of a pilot or gas burners;
• fast heating.

Minuses:

• dimensions and weight;
• no control panel.

This boiler, like the entire Topol-VK line, deserves attention, costs a little more than the Topol M, similar in performance, while providing longer burning with less ash formation, have large fireboxes and ash pans. ZOTA Topol-16VK is suitable for heating a house or a production hall.

Teplodar Kupper Expert-15

A universal top-firing boiler with a large furnace, convenient vertical loading of coal mine-type and additional sources of air supply. This ensures long burning - up to 24 hours from a single load. For the convenience of loading and minimizing the risk of fuel spillage, a second stainless steel door is provided: everything that wakes up will remain in it, you just have to turn it over, sending the remaining fuel into the furnace. During operation, it also serves as a protection against burning out the main door. The same stainless steel plate protects the clean door. The scope of delivery includes a gate with 5 fixed positions. The heat exchanger is cleaned through the top door - very convenient. To maintain the temperature, a 6 kW heater is already integrated in the boiler, but the draft regulator will have to be purchased separately. Price - .

Pros:

• high quality materials and assembly;
• the ability to use any type of fuel;
• You can connect the system from any side;
• complete set (thermomanometer gate, heating element, accessories for cleaning);
• long burning;
• large heated area - up to 115 m²;
• additional air supply;
• convenience of loading fuel, cleaning the boiler;
• possibility to install a draft regulator, pellet or gas burner.

Minuses:

• price;
• dimensions.

High-tech boiler, easy to operate, a good option for a summer residence. If you can find fault with something, then these are dimensions - after all, a separate room is needed for it. The price for this level of workmanship is justified, although some consider it high.

Stropuva Mini S8

The Lithuanian brand Stropuva is the progenitor of long-burning boilers. A striking representative of the company is the Stropuva Mini S8. Bright - both from the point of view of technical equipment, and from the point of view of appearance: the yellow case of a cylindrical shape attracts attention at a glance.The dimensions of the boiler are 1350 × 557 × 557 mm, they definitely require a separate room for installation. At the same time, the heated area is only 80 m². Burning duration from 1 load - up to 24 hours. This is ensured by the height adjustment of the air distributor and thanks to the integrated draft regulator. Price - .

Pros:

• build quality and materials;
• design;
• long burning;
• the possibility of using any fuel;
• low fuel consumption;
• keeps warm for a long time;
• clever design to regulate air flow and draft.

Minuses:

• weight - 164 kg;
• price;
• low power;
• it is impossible to build in a heating element: probably, with such a duration of burning, it is not needed;
• the window for loading briquettes, coal and firewood is inconveniently located (too low);
• traces of operation remain on the cladding, which are very difficult to remove.

An excellent boiler for a small house. The price will be justified during operation due to fuel economy. As an alternative, I can offer Teplodar Kupper Expert-15. I consider it more profitable (it costs almost cheaper) by purchasing, heats the area 2 times larger, has its own design advantages, ensuring a long service life, long burning and fuel economy.