Off-Grid Portage and Main Outdoor Wood Boiler/Furnace

This is a quick overview of our Portage and Main BL2840 boiler that we run 7 months of the year to heat our off-grid home and shop. We purchased this unit in 2015 and it has performed flawlessly in that time!

[@curriecountryliving]

Made in Manitoba by Hutterites .....well made well designed.

[@HasBeenTrucker]

Throw some empty aluminum cans in the firebox about 2-3 times a week and your creosote will turn dry and flakey. The cans won’t be a problem as they will burn and melt down to almost nothing. Scraping and cleaning is a fair amount easier. We own the next size up model of the shaker grate the bl 3444 and love it!! Also I was told by the mfg. not to put a screen and rain cap on. Just put a 5gallon bucket over the top of the stack in the off season. I put a plastic grocery sack on first so the bucket doesn’t stick on when it’s time to start it back up. Good luck to you!

[@bertvisser6423]

That's the first time I hear about throwing some popcans in. Gonna put that to the test....

[@michieqh]

Great review! We installed this same model just over a month ago and it's great. We aren't off grid, but have wondered about different ways of keeping it running when the hydro has an outage. It will be a generator for now. We do heat our domestic hot water with a plate exchanger and love it....but it will significantly increase the amount of wood you will burn.

[@jonathansailer1473]

Have the same model here in NorthWest Maine for 10 years this Winter! Looking for replacement parts for blower/fan for when it fails. This boiler has been working flawless for me and would buy again if needed. It owes me nothing! Can burn everything and anything which in itself helps pay for itself.

[@wvoutdoorsmen5887]

This was a great video! I would love to see your power setup for your boiler as well as maybe a cost breakdown of the whole thing. While I’m on the grid, I currently heat my home with a conventional wood stove from the basement and have been entertaining the idea of a wood boiler and the portage & main is at the top of the list.

[@GuardianMethods]

I will do a video on the solar system as soon as the snow melts a bit

[@wvoutdoorsmen5887]

@@GuardianMethods Sounds great! I’m in north central WV and thinking very seriously about a Portage and Main boiler this year. Did you do the install yourself and order straight from P&M? I’ve talked to them on the phone a couple times and they seem like nice, helpful folks.

[@GuardianMethods]

Yes I did . Went straight through them and they walked me through any questions I had. Very straightforward installation.

[@jasonmacintyre3039]

Just wondering if you could show us you set up to power the boiler ?

[@GuardianMethods]

I will make a video on the power system soon!

[@metalgod1979]

Got this same model last year and love it. Not sure if you are using the door handle properly or if it was just for the video? It opens with a 2 step motion 1 handed without moving your hand

[@metalgod1979]

I can explain it to you if your doing like the video