LOVEtt’s Wood-Fired Boiler
You may have noticed wood smoke near our HQ, especially during morning and evening hours. That's our wood-fired heating system at work.
Here's what you should know about our boiler and the smoke you're seeing and smelling.
The Boiler
We heat our building with a Central Boiler Classic Edge 960 Titanium HDX, an outdoor wood-fired boiler manufactured in Greenbush, Minnesota. From mid-October through March (depending on the weather), this system heats water that circulates through our Salvage Shop and lumber warehouse, maintaining a comfortable temperature for customers and our team.
The boiler runs on salvaged lumber from our operations—offcuts and boards that don't make it to our retail floor—giving this material one final use instead of sending it to a landfill.
EPA Step 2 Certification
Our boiler is EPA Step 2 Certified, which means it meets the strictest federal clean-air standards for wood-fired hydronic heaters. These standards went into effect on May 15, 2020, under the Environmental Protection Agency's New Source Performance Standards (NSPS).
Step 2 certification requires:
Particulate matter emissions of 0.10 pounds per million BTU of heat output or less
Testing and certification by internationally accredited laboratories
Compliance with federal air quality standards
How Clean Is It?
Our boiler operates at 85.6% overall efficiency (HHV), meaning it converts more than 85% of the wood's total energy into usable heat. This high combustion efficiency produces significantly less smoke and particulate matter than older wood-burning systems.
The Step 2 emission limit of 0.10 pounds per million BTU is approximately three times cleaner than the previous Step 1 standard (0.32 lb/mmBTU) and up to 40 times cleaner than unregulated wood burners manufactured before 2015.
Why You Still Smell Smoke
Even with modern clean-burning technology, wood combustion produces some visible smoke and a campfire-like smell. You're most likely to notice it during morning and evening hours when we're loading the boiler, which coincides with rush-hour traffic in the neighborhood. Weather conditions also play a role in how noticeable the smoke is. During certain atmospheric conditions—particularly low-pressure systems or temperature inversions—smoke may linger near ground level longer than usual before clearing.
The Technology
The Classic Edge uses advanced combustion control:
FireStar combustion controller constantly monitors the burn and adjusts airflow for optimal, cleanest combustion
Titanium-enhanced stainless steel firebox designed for complete combustion
Afterburner system creates a high-temperature vortex that burns gases more completely
Multiple air stages controlled by precision motors for efficient burning
This technology minimizes emissions while maximizing the heat we get from every piece of wood.
We appreciate our neighbors and understand that wood smoke can be noticeable at times. If you have questions or concerns about our heating system, please reach out directly: