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Alternative-Heating-Info.com
Add On Wood Furnace
Installing a wood furnace also tames the unavoidable messiness of heating with wood
by moving it to the basement.
The Disadvantages of an Add On Wood Furnace
The biggest problem associated with an add on furnace is adjusting the dampers that
control the flow of heat when switching between furnaces. No matter how experienced
your HVAC professional is, the damping system of an add on furnace will require a bit of
tweaking to get it to work properly.
When an add on wood furnace is installed in parallel with an existing central heating
furnace, it is designed to turn on the central unit blower whenever the add on furnace
blower turns on. The add on furnace blower will only come on when the temperature in
the plenum has reached the setting on the blower control. This ensures there will be
sufficient warm air in the system to provide for efficient operation.
When the central system thermostat calls for heat, the central system will operate by
igniting the burner and turning on the blower. It's possible that both systems will
operate simultaneously. For the most efficient use of an add on furnace, it's
recommended that it be fired as much as possible in order to reduce the demand on the
central heating system.
Two of Everything
Installing an add furnace means you now have two systems to maintain, including
separate chimneys. Unless your chimney is large enough to accommodate two flues, fire
codes require a separate chimney for each furnace.
Since add on furnaces are not EPA Certified, they are not sold in California or
Washington State. Individual cities and towns outside of California and Washington may
also ban their use. Check with your local building department before you order an add
on wood furnace.
by moving it to the basement.
The Disadvantages of an Add On Wood Furnace
The biggest problem associated with an add on furnace is adjusting the dampers that
control the flow of heat when switching between furnaces. No matter how experienced
your HVAC professional is, the damping system of an add on furnace will require a bit of
tweaking to get it to work properly.
When an add on wood furnace is installed in parallel with an existing central heating
furnace, it is designed to turn on the central unit blower whenever the add on furnace
blower turns on. The add on furnace blower will only come on when the temperature in
the plenum has reached the setting on the blower control. This ensures there will be
sufficient warm air in the system to provide for efficient operation.
When the central system thermostat calls for heat, the central system will operate by
igniting the burner and turning on the blower. It's possible that both systems will
operate simultaneously. For the most efficient use of an add on furnace, it's
recommended that it be fired as much as possible in order to reduce the demand on the
central heating system.
Two of Everything
Installing an add furnace means you now have two systems to maintain, including
separate chimneys. Unless your chimney is large enough to accommodate two flues, fire
codes require a separate chimney for each furnace.
Since add on furnaces are not EPA Certified, they are not sold in California or
Washington State. Individual cities and towns outside of California and Washington may
also ban their use. Check with your local building department before you order an add
on wood furnace.
The add on wood furnace is a
relatively inexpensive heating
appliance that connects to your
furnace plenum and existing
ductwork.
An add on furnace can be used to
either supplement your current
heating system, or function as
the primary heat source.
Most add on furnaces burn either
wood or coal. This feature allows
you the option to switch between
fuels when one becomes cheaper
than the other.
relatively inexpensive heating
appliance that connects to your
furnace plenum and existing
ductwork.
An add on furnace can be used to
either supplement your current
heating system, or function as
the primary heat source.
Most add on furnaces burn either
wood or coal. This feature allows
you the option to switch between
fuels when one becomes cheaper
than the other.
The Advantages of an Add On Wood Furnace
Although they cost twice as much as a good wood stove, an
add on wood furnace provides whole house heat for
thousands of dollars less than the cost of an outdoor wood
furnace.
In addition to the low cost of entry, further savings are
realized by burning less expensive wood or coal. Even with
recent price increases, wood and coal are still 30% to 50%
less expensive to heat with than fuel oil or propane gas.
This means an add on furnace could pay for itself in as little
as two or three heating seasons.
I've never heard of anybody mining their own coal, but if
you have the means to cut and split your own firewood, you
could reduce your fuel costs even further.
Although they cost twice as much as a good wood stove, an
add on wood furnace provides whole house heat for
thousands of dollars less than the cost of an outdoor wood
furnace.
In addition to the low cost of entry, further savings are
realized by burning less expensive wood or coal. Even with
recent price increases, wood and coal are still 30% to 50%
less expensive to heat with than fuel oil or propane gas.
This means an add on furnace could pay for itself in as little
as two or three heating seasons.
I've never heard of anybody mining their own coal, but if
you have the means to cut and split your own firewood, you
could reduce your fuel costs even further.