Wood Heat

[indebt]

I am curently building a new house and would like some input on two types of central wood heat systems. should I go with a combo wood/gas furnace or buy a seperate gas furnace and add a wood burner to it. They are close to the same price . any thoughts /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Highbeam]

I would go separate due to the replaceability of the individual components. ALso, the gas only furnace will have standard off the shelf parts that can be replaced in a pinch where the combo furnace may use a bunch of proprietary mechanisms.

Typically the efficiency of the combo furnace is lower than individual furnaces due to shared parts and the associated compromises.

 

[penokee]

I've used a seperate wood furnace add-on for 22 years, and now that I'm thinking of replacing my primary furnace (natural gas fired hot air), having 2 seperate units works out well. I'll just keeep the wood furnace since it's still in good condition.
penokee /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[1962]

i had my add on wood/coal furnace for 7 years now. we use it to the point where the main N.G. forced air furnace only comes on if were away a few days. never used coal in it, just hardwood. got one of the larger wood furnaces and put a bigger blower, and 220v motor on it. the whole family loves it, we just run the humidifier during winter cause its a drier heat than the main furnace.

 

[indebt]

Thanks for the advise. What brand of add on is good. I was looking at a wood chuck.

 

[fenneran]

This is intriguing. I have never heard of an "add on" wood furnace. We currently have a two year-old oil fired, forced air system. Is the wood furnace just another way of describing a wood stove? Many friends have a wood stove in their basement and the radiant heat from it heats the house. Is this the same thing?
-Frank

 

[dmp437]

If I was building new I would strongly consider the Yukon Eagle. It's a proven design and shoud be the last furnace you'll ever buy.
For an existing house I would get an add-on furnace. I've been checking out the one at TSC for $899 to replace the Ashley I have now.

 

[dmp437]

An add on wood furnace consists of a fire box and one or two blowers to force air around it. The cold air side is plumbed into your existing colr air return and the output side (hot air) is plumbed in to your hot air runs. What you end up with is the ability to heat with oil, with wood, or both using the same trunk lines & registers that are already installed.

Check them out >HERE<

 

[indebt]

Do you have personal experience with the yukon eagle or do you know someone who does. If so I would like to speak with them.

 

[1962]

duane, i dont know anything about the yukon furnace. but the woodchuck is good, so is the brunco, i have friends that have these. and alot of others are good that i am not aware of. i have a jennings. put the big direct drive blower, and a 3-speed switch in case it was too much blowing air. i leave it on high all the time. it has a stainless coil for domestic hot water, but i never got around to installing that option. the fuel bill is almost nothing now. the wood furnace is used pretty much no-stop all winter long except on those unseasonally warm spells. what ever brand you get, i am sure you will be very happy withit. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif