Furnace Recommendation

[Boilers]

It seems I might be scaling back a bit... propane is cheaper than I expected. $1.299/gallon, 1000 gallon tank (no rental fee if I use 500 gallons). 800 gallons (max fill) x $1.299 = $1040+tax. I know propane prices vary, but based on this rate, it would take 2-3 years to break even if I spent $3k on a furnace and got wood for free. I am thinking I will buy a cheaper wood stove or something this year to supplement the gas heat. This way I can prep for more reliance on wood heat in the future without the pressure and added expense of NEEDING everything now. Im not very excited about this decision. but hey, I can still cut and split wood, enjoy the fire, and ease the gas usage a bit.

 

[Highbeam]

You need the gas furnace operable but you don’t need to run it. Every stick of wood you burn will reduce the propane consumption and centrally located stoves are really effective for most homes.

 

[brenndatomu]

That's the price for LP now...how about this winter? They kinda gotcha by the short hairs then...and a few winters back when there was a shortage...nah, not me.
If you can get a Tundra for $2k delivered, I think I would jump on that...metal prices have done nothing but go up, and now we have these tariffs...but the big one in my mind is the 2020 EPA regs...what if nobody except Kuuma can pass it? Gonna spend $5300 for a Kuuma then...think they will still be $5300 then...I don't.

 

[Highbeam]

Gonna spend $5300 for a Kuuma then...think they will still be $5300 then...I don't.

Either price hikes (hard to imagine) or backlog due to slow production.

 

[brenndatomu]

The strange thing is that I was told by a Menards employee that they can't even order them right now...IDK if that will change in the fall or not...seems odd to me...but they did still have an active SKU # for 'em, so whatever that means, if anything.

So yeah, just a seasonal thing I guess...Menards showing the Tundra II and the Heatpro available to be ordered in store again.
SKU # 638-1422 for the Tundra II ($1780 after the current 11% off rebate) and then SKU # 638-1421 for the Heatpro ($2313 after rebate)

 

[Boilers]

I have been to several Menards locations and none of them have been able to order any of these Drolet Furnaces. I even had some managers look into on the Menards product system and no dice. Then, I called Drolet and asked about ordering through Menards.... they did mention that they had recently gotten 1 order for a Tundra II from Menards, so it is possible... must have to fight pretty hard to get them to order you one.

On a brighter note, I have decided to dive in head first after all. My new Stihl MS362C-M is ready to go and I ordered a Drolet Heatmax II and cold air filter kit from myfireplaceproducts just earlier today.

Also for those concerned, Ive got the gas company coming out for a sight survey soon and they will be installing a 500 gallon tank and fillin her up.

Furnace installation and wood will be of primary importance now!

 

[brenndatomu]

I have been to several Menards locations and none of them have been able to order any of these Drolet Furnaces. I even had some managers look into on the Menards product system and no dice. Then, I called Drolet and asked about ordering through Menards.... they did mention that they had recently gotten 1 order for a Tundra II from Menards, so it is possible... must have to fight pretty hard to get them to order you one.

On a brighter note, I have decided to dive in head first after all. My new Stihl MS362C-M is ready to go and I ordered a Drolet Heatmax II and cold air filter kit from myfireplaceproducts just earlier today.

Also for those concerned, Ive got the gas company coming out for a sight survey soon and they will be installing a 500 gallon tank and fillin her up.

Furnace installation and wood will be of primary importance now!

Hmm...when were you there? Earlier in the summer they weren't available to be ordered, but more recently the dude told me when they show back up on the Menards website, then they can order them again...and they were showing up on their site 1.5 - 2 weeks ago now...

 

[Boilers]

I also noticed they were back on the website and thats when i went into the store to try and order one. I went to 3 different stores... in every store, theres a booklet near the wood stoves/furnaces. The booklet has pages for the Tundra II, Heatpro, Heatmax II, Heatpack, etc, but where the price tag belongs, they all have a red tag inserted saying, "Sorry this item in no longer available." I went to the department desk and they tried to order it on the menards website and said they always order them online and since theres no "add to cart" button online, they cant order it. I also went to customer service and they were no help. If anything, youll have to call menards corporate or something.

 

[Boilers]

Hmm...when were you there? Earlier in the summer they weren't available to be ordered, but more recently the dude told me when they show back up on the Menards website, then they can order them again...and they were showing up on their site 1.5 - 2 weeks ago now...

If you want to buy this furnace, I’d just purchase from myfireplaceproducts. I’ve heard Menards charges shipping for these, so you come out spending more than at myfireplaceproducts even after the 11% rebate. myfireplaceproducts Has the tundra II at $1899 and Drolet is offering a $150 rebate if purchased before 8/31. Shipping is also free and provides curbside delivery. Better get on it if you want it!

 

[brenndatomu]

If you want to buy this furnace, I’d just purchase from myfireplaceproducts. I’ve heard Menards charges shipping for these, so you come out spending more than at myfireplaceproducts even after the 11% rebate. myfireplaceproducts Has the tundra II at $1899 and Drolet is offering a $150 rebate if purchased before 8/31. Shipping is also free and provides curbside delivery. Better get on it if you want it!

Ha, I already have a Tundra! (see my sig line)
Menards did not charge shipping (to the store) when my sister ordered hers...but that was a couple years ago...things change.

 

[Boilers]

Ha, I already have a Tundra! (see my sig line)
Menards did not charge shipping (to the store) when my sister ordered hers...but that was a couple years ago...things change.

Oh awesome! Well you will be a good resource for me then
I couldnt tell you for sure on the menards shipping, but I would also have to pay taxes, whereas MFP did not apply taxes.

 

[brenndatomu]

Oh awesome! Well you will be a good resource for me then

Well, mine is one of the early T1's (that cracked) so even though there are many similarities I'm sure, not sure if I will be the best resource here...but we'll give 'er heck tryin!
If you are board sometime...https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/everything-drolet-tundra-heatmax.140788/page-1
Maybe you will hafta start the "Everything Tundra II" thread after you are done...

 

[Boilers]

Well, mine is one of the early T1's (that cracked) so even though there are many similarities I'm sure, not sure if I will be the best resource here...but we'll give 'er heck tryin!
If you are board sometime...https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/everything-drolet-tundra-heatmax.140788/page-1
Maybe you will hafta start the "Everything Tundra II" thread after you are done...

I have read through a LOT of that thread. I spoke with a tech from Drolet a few days ago and he had some really good info. He said that the overall design has not changed a lot from the Tundra I. The largest change is the plenum. It is supposedly more efficient at removing heat from the stove quickly when compared to the 2 8" outlets of the early model. Due to this, the Tundra II basically cannot be "overfired". He said they have not had any cracking issues since the redesign changes were made. Hopefully there will be no need for a "Everything Tundra II" thread! I will be sure to post up my install with pictures though! I am excited to work on this project. As I mentioned before, my dad is an electrician/HVAC tech by trade and installs gas furnaces/ducting fairly regularly, so I imagine with his help, my setup will end up being fairly nice. I imagine he wont be a big fan of routing multiple 6" ducts into my current main run of ductwork... might have to cut a rectangular hole in the plenum and just run rectangular duct. Ill have to check with Drolet on that though.

 

[brenndatomu]

The new plenum design will help, but the big difference (IMO) was when they quit welding the heat exchanger cleanout box to the front of the furnace! It needs to "float" because they are gonna expand/contract at different rates...and something IS gonna give if you weld them together.

 

[DoubleB]

He said that the overall design has not changed a lot from the Tundra I. The largest change is the plenum. It is supposedly more efficient at removing heat from the stove quickly when compared to the 2 8" outlets of the early model.

That makes me feel worse, not better. I think @brenndatomu is right. Enough people on here have done enough experimenting and almost universally got cracks, that the problem is much more than anything with a plenum. By now I take technical explanations from Drolet as interesting theories but nothing authoritative.

 

[Boilers]

That makes me feel worse, not better. I think @brenndatomu is right. Enough people on here have done enough experimenting and almost universally got cracks, that the problem is much more than anything with a plenum. By now I take technical explanations from Drolet as interesting theories but nothing authoritative.

Who knows... techs aren’t engineers by any means. With as many products as SBI makes, I’d expect they have a pretty good idea what they’re doing and something just got by them... there sure isnt a whole lot out there on the Tundra II, which leads me to believe the issue was resolved and they’re working well. Here’s to hoping!

 

[DoubleB]

Yep time will tell. I hope you have a good experience, and look forward to hearing any news or updates of how it goes!

 

[Boilers]

Yep time will tell. I hope you have a good experience, and look forward to hearing any news or updates of how it goes!

Anybody have any insight as to how these are shipped? Mine is at the freight place and I want to pick it up myself instead of them just dropping it at the end of the driveway. My 1/2 ton truck has a 6.5’ bed and a topper, which I reall don’t want to take off. Topper limits height to about 36”

 

[brenndatomu]

opper limits height to about 36”

You'll need to take that off...

 

[maple1]

Borrow a trailer? Or get a Uhaul trailer - pretty cheap for a day.

 

[Boilers]

Thanks guys... it took a lot of effort. A topless truck, a rented pallet jack, a hill, a bridge made of 3/4” plywood and 2x4s, and many sheets of plywood a laid on the ground to roll through the yard and finally through the garage door in my walkout basement. Just me and my wife. I can’t imagine going down stairs. Well I guess I have helped get many 500 lb gun safes down stairs before... not fun.

BUT IT IN THE BASEMENT!!

I’m thinking I’d like to put it on some blocks. 9 ft basement ceilings so no big deal there. I saw on the big thread this has been done before. Not sure how high I want it though.

 

[brenndatomu]

Nice work man! (pics required)
Puttin them up on 8" blocks is just about right IMO.
I don't have the headroom to pull it off here, so mine is on the floor...but my sisters is on 8" blocks, much better!

 

[Boilers]

Nice work man! (pics required)
Puttin them up on 8" blocks is just about right IMO.
I don't have the headroom to pull it off here, so mine is on the floor...but my sisters is on 8" blocks, much better!

10-4. Once I get it all un crated tomorrow I’ll get a better idea of door height and how much higher I may want to go.

My install will be interesting. I’d like to use my existing furnace duct for 80% of the heat distribution. Sounds like I’ll need auto closing (gravity)/opening (forced air) dampers everywhere....for tundra supply, tundra cold air, gas furnace supply, and gas furnace cold air. Sound about right?

Do you guys really follow the length of duct run rules specified in the manual? Also what about the 6” clearances? Is there really any more risk than with a gas furnace? I just can’t see myself running all new duct for the whole house and doubling the holes in my floor, etc. My main duct runs the length of the house and hangs from the bottom of the wooden floor joists. It’s really only close or touching the wood at the top corners of the rectangular duct.

 

[brenndatomu]

Do you guys really follow the length of duct run rules specified in the manual? Also what about the 6” clearances? Is there really any more risk than with a gas furnace? I just can’t see myself running all new duct for the whole house and doubling the holes in my floor, etc. My main duct runs the length of the house and hangs from the bottom of the wooden floor joists. It’s really only close or touching the wood at the top corners of the rectangular duct.

I dunno what the T2 manual says about length of duct runs...the main thing IMO is too make sure your static pressure is not too high when you are done.
6" clearance for the first 6' ft (or whatever it says for length) is a VERY good rule to follow! This is COMPLETLY different than your gas furnace! A gas furnace shuts off when the power goes out...no problem. When the power goes out on your wood furnace, the fire doesn't care...and this is the time when you need to have your ducts RIGHT, for gravity flow and clearance to combustibles (CTC)...these things can get EXTREMLY hot when the power is out...ignore this stuff and you may come home to find a bunch of nice fireman chopping holes in your roof. And that's if you are lucky enough to be away...what if you and your family are sleeping upstairs...are you positive everybody will be OK?
If you invite fire into your home, you play by its rules, not yours, follow the guidelines in the manual. Many if not all the guidelines having to do with furnace installations were made up to prevent more deaths...in other words, some one died because there wood furnace ductwork was too close to the homes framing...causing a fire...or CO poisoning. Here locally, a year or two back there was a couple (and their dog) that died right after installing a new coal furnace...CO poisoning after the power went out. I dunno what happened, but I'd bet something was boogered up on the install.

By the way...I have personally witnessed 214* F duct temps (close to the furnace) on mine after only ten minutes with no power...and this was with a relatively small fire built...I was sure glad I had good CTC!
Think 214* can't light your framing up? Wrong. Its been documented where a hot water line (heating) in an old apartment building caused pyrolysis to the wood beams and after years and years of being fine, one day it lite 'er up...and I don't know how they know this...but the water pipe temp was only 185*(or something like that)...pyrolysis...google it.

 

[Boilers]

6" clearance for the first 6' ft (or whatever it says for length) is a VERY good rule to follow!

I must’ve missed the first 6 feet part. That’s no problem. Fire risk you say? I don’t want any of that!