Fuel questions:

Wood Pellets:

Q. What are wood pellets?

A. Wood pellets are a type of biomass fuel, made from compacted sawdust or other waste from sawmilling and manufacturing.

Q. What is the calorific value of wood pellets?

A. 4.8 kWh per Kilogram.

Q. How much do I need, compared to oil?

A. 1 Litre of oil = 2 Kg of wood pellets.

Q. What is the cost of wood pellets?

A. The cost per tonne is £150 - £230

Q. Where is the nearest supplier of wood pellets?

A. There is a nationwide network of suppliers that is growing monthly. Please look for suppliers that we recommend in your area on our UK Fuel Supply Map.

Q. What size do they come in?

A. They come in a range of sizes: 6 or 8 mm is typical, while for larger systems 10 or 12 mm are common.

Q. Can I use any kind of pellets?

A. Wood pellets should be dry, clean, mechanically robust and have an ash content defined by the appropriate standard. They should also flow freely and be able to be delivered via a pneumatic system.

Wood Chips:

Q. What are wood chips?

A. Wood chip boilers are a brilliant option for those with access to waste wood and a wood chipping machine. Wood chip can be even more cost effective than wood pellets and, if you are burning your own waste, you can't get a cheaper fuel alternative.

Q. What is the calorific value of wood chips?

A. Around 3.5 kWh per Kilogram, depending on moisture content.

Q. How much space do I need to store them?

A. Wood chip can take up to three times the storage space of wood pellets and need to be kept dry. Wood chip boilers are normally very versatile and will take most biomass pellets and sometimes logs placed directly into the burning chamber.

Q. How does wood chip boiler differ from a pellet boiler?

A. A wood chip boiler differs from a pellet boiler in the way that the chips are kept flowing into the boiler. Wood chips will not flow as easily as wood pellets, so an agitator mechanism is needed. The wood chips are placed into a drum and the agitator arm stirs the chips to keep them flowing. Without this the wood chips could solidify into a solid mass in the hopper and cause system blockages.

Q. Where is the nearest supplier of wood chips?

A. There is a nationwide network that is growing monthly. Please look at our UK Fuel Supply Map for suppliers in your area that we recommend.

Wood Logs

Q. What is the calorific value of logs?

A. 3.6 hours per hours per Kilogram, depending on moisture content.

Q. Can you burn logs?

A. Yes, logs can be placed directly into the burning chamber of our Tatano boilers, but for frequent log burning it is recommended that you include a heat storage tank.

Q. Can you burn sawdust?

A. Yes, our Kalorina / E 2300 / 2500 range can burn sawdust.

Miscanthus

Q. What is miscanthus?

A. Miscanthus is a grass which has been developed into a biomass energy crop. It has considerable potential in a wide range of biomass applications and grows throughout the UK.

Q. What is the calorific value of miscanthus?

A. 3.6 hours per hours per Kilogram

Q. Which boilers will burn miscanthus?

A. Kalorina / E 2200, 2300, 2400 and 2500 from Tatano and in pelleted form the Biocom and the Powercorn from Guntamatic.

Q. What moisture content should the pellets be in order for it to burn?

A. The lower the moisture content the better! Wood pellets need to be 10 - 12 % and cereals 14 - 16 %

Fuel Storage:

Q. What are the auto feed options for Treco boilers?

A. We have larger hoppers and different sizes fuel stores, which will auger or vacuum feed the fuel into the boiler.

Q. Can storage units for the boiler go underground?

A. Yes they can. We can supply 4-6 ton underground fuel stores.

Q. What storage facilities are needed for the fuel?

A. Wood pellets come in 10 - 15 Kg bags and are normally delivered by the tonne. We offer a wide range of fuel stores that can have a delivery of pellets blown straight into them.

General FAQs:

Q. Can we install abroad?

A. No, sorry we only install in mainland UK.

Q. Does the room heater require a Flue?

A. Yes, it requires an 80mm twin wall internal flue.

Q. How often do the boilers need filling?

A. This would depend on how often the boiler is used and the heat load requirements. The hopper may need filling anywhere between every couple of days to every few weeks. A larger hopper or fuel store means filling less often.

Q. Can Biomass be burnt in a smoke controlled area?

A. Approved biomass fuel can be burnt in a smokeless zone, but you'll need to check the HETAS guide and with your local council.

Q. Does the biomass fuel lose its energy saving value due to transport?

A. The House of Lords Estimates that for every 1,000km wood fuel travels it loses 20% of its net energy saving. (Source; Heat, George Monbiot)

Q. How can I get around this?

A. Buy your wood locally!! This should prevent long travelling distances by putting the customer in contact with their local supplier and so, hopefully, this should not be a problem in the future. Please look for suppliers that we recommend in your area on our UK Fuel Supply Map.

Boiler Questions:

Q. What is the annual maintenance cost of a Treco biomass boiler?

A. The annual service of a Treco boiler starts at £150.00 plus VAT

Q. How controllable are the boilers? Are they still efficient when ticking over?

A. They are controllable to 1° and can run at full 96% efficiency, even when operating at 10% of full capacity, when ticking over. This gives them a high "turn down ratio", and the boilers can also be "cascaded" making them suitable for everything from a small district heating scheme to a large hospital.

Q. Are the boilers fully automatically controlled?

A. Yes, they use a control system which allows you to regulate the temperature, fuel and automatic running of the boiler, except with a Guntamatic Synchro which works in a slightly different way.

Q. What is so unique about these boilers apart from the environmental benefits and being more efficient?

A. With oil and gas prices rising, biomass is becoming a more cost effective way to heat your home or business.

Installation Questions:

Q. What type of flue is required for the boilers?

A. A twin wall stainless steel flue up to EN1856.

Q. What is the lead time between placing the order to receiving my boiler?

A. The lead time from payment of deposit is 4 - 6 weeks.

Q. Could the boiler be fitted by our own plumber?

A. Yes, but we recommend that Treco commission the boiler as we will do all the safety checks and set the boiler up for your exact requirements. We also train you in the operation of the boiler.

We supply all installers with an installation manual

Q. Do I need a special power supply?

A. No, you only need a 13amp power supply.

Grants

Q. Please could you send information on any grants that are available?

A. Please look at our Renewable Heat Incentive page

Q. We are going to fit the boiler ourselves. Would the grant still apply?

A. You are only eligible for a grant if your boiler is installed by a registered installer.

Other Questions

Q. What warranty do you offer?

A. We offer 2 years onsite warranty.

Q. Can you burn shavings used for horse bedding?

A. YES, with the Kalorina / E 2300 range and the Kalorina / E 2500 range, but it depends on the size and quality of the bedding. If it is very wet it will not burn.

Q. Can you burn straw?

A. You can burn straw pellets, we are still doing research into using them.

Q. Can you burn Plastic?

A. Yes you can, but you will NOT be allowed due to Environmental Agency policies. You will need to check with them and us first to know what you are allowed to burn.