Boiler Running Without Smoking the Neighbors

ERMA — Pawel Banach, the owner of the now famous wood-burning backyard boiler on S. Andrielle Lane, thinks the device has gotten a bad rap.
Video posted on the Herald website, filmed by Diane Morton, Sun., Oct. 23, shows smoke billowing out of the tall smokestack. Banach said the reason the boiler was producing the amount of smoke and steam in the video was that he had just turned in on for the first time in the fall season.
While his neighbors are under the impression he turned off the boiler after police were called Sunday, Banach said the boiler has been running non-stop since that time. A visit by the Herald Thur., Oct 27 showed no visible smoke while the unit was on.
A thermometer on the unit confirmed water inside was heated to 189 degrees.
He said neighbors stop their cars, looking to see if the boiler is on.
“They are actually thinking it is not running right now,” said Banach. “I’m not planning on shutting it off.”
“You do get a little smoke when it starts up,” he continued. “Just give it a chance.”
The weather was cool October 27, he said. Banach compared the visible smoke and steam to cold starting a car in the morning.
“After you run it for a little bit, it’s gone,” he said.
The boiler provides hot water and also heats his home. It can also heat his swimming pool but it is closed for the season, he said.
Banach said it was a shame conflict arose with his neighbors over the boiler. He said the boiler would not smoke again like it did when he first started if for the season because it will remain on until May.
Banach said he had not yet received a summons from municipal court. He said he was surprised at neighbor’s objections of the boiler.
“I didn’t think it would be any different than a fireplace,” said Banach.
He said he received a phone call from a neighbor across the street at 10 p.m. one night during the summer. Banach said the boiler was off at that time.
“They smelled some smoke from somewhere else then,” he said.
The boiler was a topic of discussion at an Oct. 20 Planning Board meeting. The board has sent the matter back to Township Council.
Council passed an ordinance Oct. 3 that allows residents or township officials to sign a complaint against a neighbor operating a wood-burning boiler in their backyard.