Wood Chip Boilers for Efficient, Low-Cost Heating

Upgrade to a high-efficiency wood chip heating system built for lower fuel costs, reduced emissions, and dependable performance.

Talk to our team today to size your wood chip-fed system, explore incentives, and plan your installation.

Our Fröling Wood Chip Boilers:

We are your partner in finding the best wood chip boiler for your company or institution. Our wood chip boilers are fuel and energy efficient alternatives that use renewable energy instead of fossil fuels providing reliable heating for organizations across all industries while significantly reducing their carbon footprint.

Fröling T4 150

Fröling TM 500

Fröling LM 980

Compare our Wood Chip Boilers

Explore key features and performance specs of our top Fröling wood chip boiler models—designed to meet a wide range of commercial and industrial heating needs.

Feature	Fröling T4 150	Fröling TM 500	Fröling LM 980
Heat Output Range	500K BTU/hour	1.7MM BTU/hour	3.3MM BTU/hour
Fuel Compatibility	Wood Chips (≤30% moisture content) & Pellets	Wood Chips (≤50% moisture content), Pellets & Shavings	Wood Chips (≤50% moisture content) Pellets & Shavings
Combustion & Grate	Silicon-carbide chamber, smart tipping grate, 3-pass exchanger	4‑layer high-temp chamber, moving conveyor grate, FGR option	High-temp vortex chamber, hydraulic grate, continuous ash removal
Control System	Lambdatronic H3200, lambda, under-pressure fan	SPS 4000 with storage, circuit management & cascade	SPS 4000 controller; up to 18 circuits, multi‑tank sensor logic
Efficiency & Emissions	High efficiency, low emissions, award-winning design	Up to 94.2%; very low dust (CO₂ < 10 mg/MJ)	Up to 94.2%; low emissions; optimizes fuel mix
Ash Handling & Cleaning	Automatic ash augers, wheeled bin	Moving grate, automatic cleaning, robust service design	Hydraulic grate with continuous ash removal
Typical Applications	Light commercial/ institutional settings	Commercial/ industrial settings	Large commercial/district heating

Key Benefits of Wood Chip Boilers

Cost-Effective Fuel

Wood chips are typically cheaper and more stable in price than fossil fuels, often saving up to 50% on heating costs.

Environmental Sustainability

Burning sustainably-sourced wood chips is nearly carbon-neutral. Modern controls ensure nearly complete combustion with minimal emissions.

Low-Maintenance & Automated

Automated in-feed systems, moving grates, and self-cleaning mechanisms reduce operator time and prevent ash build-up.

Scalable

Equipment is available for smaller commercial buildings to larger commercial or district heating systems. From 500KBtu/hr to multi-MMBtu/hr.

Determining Boiler Size

1.

Determine Heating  Load & Size

We can help you determine the wood chip boiler model that will best work for your building or buildings heat load demand.

2.

Fuel Quality, Storage & Availability

Understanding wood chip moisture content, wood chip storage and wood chip availability is important when planning a heating system. We will work with you to determine if locally sourced wood chips are a possible fuel source for your heating project.

3.

Installation  & Integration

We'll help design conveyance systems, buffer tank layouts, and venting plans that comply with building codes.

4.

Efficiency  
& Emissions

Automated combustion and heat-exchanger cleaning ensure steady-state performance and high efficiency.

How Heating With Wood Chips Work

Sourced from whole trees or forest waste, wood chips offer a cost-effective alternative to wood pellet boilers.

Chips with <30% moisture content yield ~9.63 million BTU per ton
Cleaner chips (low bark/debris) reduce ash production and maintenance
High-performance boilers like the Froling T4 150 are optimized for dry chip combustion
Use chip screens and professional chippers to ensure quality
Fuel should meet ANSI/ASABE AD17225-4 standards for moisture, particle size, and consistency

Applications for Wood Chip Boilers

Light Commercial

The Fröling T4 150 can meet light commercial heating demands with low operator intervention.

Institutional & Municipal

Schools, municipal buildings and multi-unit facilities benefit from scalable, reliable heating and fuel cost savings.

Industrial &
Campus-Scale

Cascaded TM 500 systems can deliver up to ~6.7 MM Btu/hr for large commercial campuses or industrial sites.

Installation, Storage & Maintenance

Wood chip fuel is produced from responsibly harvested wood, including low-grade logs, forestry byproducts, and land-management residues. This approach turns material that would otherwise go unused into a renewable, locally sourced heating fuel.

Here is more information about installation and maintenance for wood chip boilers:

Aspect	Details
Installation	Requires a spacious mechanical room, reinforced floor, proper flue, and fuel access
Thermal Storage	Always paired with a pressurized thermal storage tank ranging from 800 to over 3000 gal to reduce cycling and boost efficiency
Fuel Storage	Needs a dry, secure chip bin or silo with delivery access and an automated feed system
Feed & Ash Systems	Uses augers or moving floors; ash removal is typically automatic with periodic bin emptying
Maintenance	Regular cleaning of the chamber and heat exchanger; annual service recommended
Compliance	Must meet local codes, emissions standards, and may require certified equipment.

FAQs

How efficient is a wood chip boiler?

Modern wood chip boilers like Fröling's offer efficiencies up to 85-90%, thanks to precision combustion controls and integration with thermal storage. They meet strict emissions standards while maximizing energy output. Plus, many federal and state incentives - including tax credits and rebates are available to offset installation costs, making these high-performance systems more accessible.

Can wood chip boilers burn firewood?

No wood chip boilers are engineered explicitly for uniform, automated fuel feed using wood chips. Firewood differs in size, moisture, and density, which can disrupt combustion efficiency and damage internal components.

How many square feet can a wood chip boiler heat?

That depends on the size of the wood chip boiler, your buildings insulation and your climate zone. Our wood chip boilers are meant for commercial buildings with larger heat demands and our team can help you size a wood chip boiler system that works best for your space.

How long does a wood chip boiler last?

With proper installation, regular maintenance, and use of quality fuel, a wood chip boiler can last 20 years or more. Fröling systems are built with heavy-duty components and backed by long-term parts support for reliable, low-maintenance operation.

What Our Clients Say About Us

Angela says:

“Happy with our new wood pellet boiler. While it is very expensive to install this boiler, both state and federal rebates may be available. Also, over the long term it is much cheaper to heat with pellets than gas or oil. Froling was great to deal with. Professional, responsive, on time. Definitely recommend Froling and their products.”

Gretchen says:

“Great experience when they installed my residential pellet boiler. All the workers were very respectful, neat and polite. Mark and everyone was so helpful in the process of planning and getting this done, on time, with minimal disruptions.”