Wood Stove Opinions Wanted

[JSUnlimited]

Howard,

Hopefully this will give you some more information to dwell on.

Add-On Wood Burning Furnace Install.

then,
Add-On Wood Burning Furnace Install - *UPDATE*

lastly,

Wood Burning Furnace, It's done...I'm Warm!

The gas company came out last month to check the meter since our last couple of bills have been $20-$30 a month, compared to $200-$300 per month this time last year. They thought I was ripping them off.....it's the other way around!

If you are wondering, I have a portable generator and have the furnace wired into this panel.

FYI, we would have had twice the amount in installing an outdoor unit, and you can get an optional h/w coil for this unit.

Hope this helps, Joe.

 

[scesnick]

I have an Englander add on furnace that burns wood and you can burn some coal if you would like. I have a 3,500 sq. ft. log home in the Md./Wv mountains and it heats great. It will heat my whole house up to the point on about 25 degrees. It is worth looking into. I paid $800 new for it. http://www.englanderstoves.com/
I also had an outdoor furnace for when it gets really cold for the past 4 years, until this year.
I will tell you they do work great. BUT,, I hope you really, really like cutting wood. Mine, along with my neighbors ate the wood.
Not to mention you have to stand outside and load the wood. I will tell you it is down right cold at 1 am in february !!!
I sold that thing and got one of these this year
http://www.alternateheatingsystems.com/Multi-Fuel_boilers.htm It works great !! and I went straight into my garage so I don't freeze anymore. It also has an oil ( or gas) backup so when the fire does go out it automaticly kicks on the fuel burner so the house isn't freezing when I get home.
of course if you already have oil/gas furnace, you could just use the one you have for a backup. I fill this joker one single time a day ( with coal and some wood) that is it. Once ! even on the coldest day.
Beware of the exaggerated burn time claims by outdoor boiler manufacturers. I know all about that. I could only get 8 hours out of my outdoor unit. They claimed i could get 36 hours, Yeah, right !!!

 

[tracdoc]

When we lived in CT, we had a ca. 1830 2-story brick house ~2,000 sq ft. We installed a Vermont Castings wood burning stove in our family/dining room, together with a ceiling register w/ fan in the same room to direct some of the heat to the bedrooms upstairs. As simple as it was, that arrangement was fantasic. We used it every Fall and Winter for almost 17 years. Back then, Vermont Castings was a small company, but their products were top drawer. In looking at their website tonight, I got homesick for our old place. We had all the heat we could possibly want, and when the power went out because of ice storms, etc., we were still toasty. We could also use the stove for cooking under those conditions, and of course heat water---not for a bubble bath, but enough for cleaning up and shaving.

I can't imagine living in New England without a good woodburning stove. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MX5000]

Thanks guys, very interesting reading. Lots of food for thought...

Howard

 

[JimR]

Howard, I bought my Fisher Mama Bear from the WantAdvertiser for $50.00. The stove was in Derry, N.H. If you are looking for a good stove for cheap money, that is the place to look. I also see multi-fuel systems in there from time to time.

 

[Dutch445]

There are a few of us coal burners on TBN, many using freestanding stoves similar to a wood stove to heat.
This is my first year with one, and I have to say that I am very
impressed. My stove is rated at 92000 BTU, and can heat a 2400 square ft. home. We load in the morning, and at nite, and it's very trouble free, very even heat, and very reasonable. I have been burning about 1 ton of coal a month here in upstate NY, and although it hasn't been a harsh winter, we have had a cold Feb and Dec.
Just another option to consider.
You could also consider a propane hot water tank if you didn't want to tie one into a heating system.
I have a generator that can power my water pump, fridges, and even my oil boiler if needed, although my boiler hasn't ran since thanksgiving!
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[PhilNH5]

Howard,
I live in SE NH as well. I run a fireplace insert from October until April. I also use a wood cookstove.

I found these two sites to be invaluable when I was looking:

Wood heat

Hearth Net

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Phil

 

[psuedofarmer]

i own a large farm in southern NH. i heat my 1740 cape with wood (7+ cords/year). there is absolutely nothing to fear from heating with wood, provided you follow the info provided in these threads.

based on my own experience (i cut/split my own wood):

- if you decided to use a wood burning stove (either as an insert, or a standalone unit attached to your hearth), purchase a GOOD STOVE. after using 4 different brands, i upgraded to a Jotul 500 (~$1,800).

- burn the stove HOT. creotsote buildup happens based on a number of factors (e.g., interior vs. exterior chimney, seasoned vs. unseasoned wood, etc.); from my own experience, i load the stove in the morning and head off to work. i typically try to run the stove @ 350+ when i'm NOT home to watch it, and ~450-500 degress when i'm home.

- i STRONGLY recommend an insulated stainless steel liner as a direct flue to your stove. this is the absolute SAFEST way for you to run a stove inside your house. it is expensive, but worth it.

smaller fires vs. larger fires (IMHO) mean nothing. a larger stove provides a larger firewood, hence more capacity and a longer burn time.

good luck.

pf

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Howard,
Gee, I have been burning wood all my life and have really enjoyed reading this whole thread. these guys have given you just about everything you need to successfully burn wood.

On a side note, I presently use a combination wood/coal stove, its a Glacier Bay. 1/4" steel plate with cast doors top and bottom. I bought it used for $200 a few years ago. The stove was built in 1980 and has proved itself, only drawback is that it cant take long pieces /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I never cut anything longer than 18" I have it in the basement which is all concrete, so I dont worry about any combustibles. Its a nice supplement to my main heating.

Once again interesting post!

scotty

 

[Highbeam]

The problem with buying used stoves is that if they are any older than 90s construction they won't be EPA certified. The certified label is a metal tag on the rear of the stove. The EPA certified them beginning in the 90s for their ability to efficienty burn wood with a certain maximum emmision. In our state it is illegal to install a non-certified stove.

Being certified is good since it means an efficient use of wood with minimal smoke. Modern stoves use two types of technology to get there 1) a catalyst just like in your car to burn off unburnt fuel, and 2) a form of air injection above the normal fire to provide air to combust the unburnt fuel. This technology is also used im many cars. #2 is arguably the best since no catalyst to be replaced or cleaned and the fire produced is very attractive. Plus the secondary air injection washes the glass to prevent creosote build up on the glass.

I would not consider an old stove simply because technology has improved so much. More efficient, cleaner, longer, more attractive burns are to be had with the modern stoves and their large glass fronts. The wood heat, and hearth sites above offer a wealth of information.