brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
That's a good solution for HY-C furnaces too!
Gross amount of creosote
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This is about the worst advise i have ever seen posted to this forum.
So, what is your job title at Hy-C?
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Just joined yesterday at 8:51am and the same day commented on two Hy-C products and that's it. One of them happens to be recommending a product which is known on this forum to have multiple issues from multiple people.
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Ha! Just in case you needed more confirmation, I viewed his profile a few times today and he's cruising the Shelter/HY-C threads, exclusively.
Well, JMac appears to have decided not to appear again in this thread.
Kind of hard to do when you know you will get dog piled on. I guess they thought better of it.
What strikes me is how as an owner and operator of a company manufacturing a heating appliance, you keep making and selling the same one when you know there are so many problems with it?
Kind of hard to do when you know you will get dog piled on. I guess they thought better of it.
What strikes me is how as an owner and operator of a company manufacturing a heating appliance, you keep making and selling the same one when you know there are so many problems with it?
brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
You see that a lot with unscrupulous companies...wring a brand or individual product out for all its worth...burn it right to the ground!
Pun intended...
Since this thread is fairly recent, hoping to drag it back (sort of) to the original topic. I'm buying a 3800SF, off-grid house in May. It already has a large wood stove in the (smaller) lower level, but there are no fans/ducting, and I'm worried the very open upstairs with vaulted ceiling will not get sufficient heat. There is a nice-looking Charmaster near me for $500, including some pipe/metalwork. The house has dual propane furnaces in the garage already, one each for upstairs and downstairs. I was wondering about sliding the Charmaster in there to help with heating. I currently heat a 3200SF house exclusively with propane, and it's $$$$ in the winter. I have plenty of wood, pinon mostly, and can definitely let it dry sufficiently. So - is this a bad idea, or workable? Here's the unit I'm looking at: (broken link removed to https://westslope.craigslist.org/app/d/cedaredge-charmaster-wood-burning/7293846943.html)
And let me know if you think it would be better to start a new thread! I assure you I'm not looking at a Firechief
And let me know if you think it would be better to start a new thread! I assure you I'm not looking at a Firechief
brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
FYI, Charmaster is no longer in business...so no parts unless you can find it elsewhere, or make it.Since this thread is fairly recent, hoping to drag it back (sort of) to the original topic. I'm buying a 3800SF, off-grid house in May. It already has a large wood stove in the (smaller) lower level, but there are no fans/ducting, and I'm worried the very open upstairs with vaulted ceiling will not get sufficient heat. There is a nice-looking Charmaster near me for $500, including some pipe/metalwork. The house has dual propane furnaces in the garage already, one each for upstairs and downstairs. I was wondering about sliding the Charmaster in there to help with heating. I currently heat a 3200SF house exclusively with propane, and it's $$$$ in the winter. I have plenty of wood, pinon mostly, and can definitely let it dry sufficiently. So - is this a bad idea, or workable? Here's the unit I'm looking at: (broken link removed to https://westslope.craigslist.org/app/d/cedaredge-charmaster-wood-burning/7293846943.html)
And let me know if you think it would be better to start a new thread! I assure you I'm not looking at a Firechief
And they are major smoke dragons too...my neighbor has one and there is almost always a smoke trail from his chimney...until its time to reload...
Yeah, I already got they aren't liked much around here . But I've seen it mentioned that they ARE good at heating large spaces, so it seemed it might be a good fit. And, it seemed like a good price on something that could knock a hole in the propane expense - I spend that much on propane (or more) in one winter month in my current house. I know it might be problematic splicing it into the ductwork, but the existing furnaces/ducts are very exposed and there is plenty of space where they are located, so I thought it might be fairly easy. It is also very close to the wood pile in the breezeway between house and garage, which would be convenient. Here's a pic of the propane furnaces, though it's not very good a showing the ducts. https://photos.app.goo.gl/9xGmWMjrsXc4g38f8.
As for the wood stove, it's a Woodstock "Ideal Steel Hybrid 210" - just not sure how much that will help actually heating the upstairs. There is a fairly wide and open stairway that is the only way the heat could circulate to the upstairs, but then it would also have to migrate down a 30' hallway to the bedrooms, and I can't see that happening much.
If you don't have anything better to do on a Saturday morning, here's a crappy/blurry 3-minute cell-phone video walkthrough of most of the house, starting in that breezeway: https://photos.app.goo.gl/9xGmWMjrsXc4g38f8. The garage is on the left, shown in the first 10 seconds. The only thing not shown is the hallway and the upstairs bedrooms - they are down to the left of the kitchen.
. But I've seen it mentioned that they ARE good at heating large spaces, so it seemed it might be a good fit. And, it seemed like a good price on something that could knock a hole in the propane expense - I spend that much on propane (or more) in one winter month in my current house. I know it might be problematic splicing it into the ductwork, but the existing furnaces/ducts are very exposed and there is plenty of space where they are located, so I thought it might be fairly easy. It is also very close to the wood pile in the breezeway between house and garage, which would be convenient. Here's a pic of the propane furnaces, though it's not very good a showing the ducts. https://photos.app.goo.gl/9xGmWMjrsXc4g38f8.As for the wood stove, it's a Woodstock "Ideal Steel Hybrid 210" - just not sure how much that will help actually heating the upstairs. There is a fairly wide and open stairway that is the only way the heat could circulate to the upstairs, but then it would also have to migrate down a 30' hallway to the bedrooms, and I can't see that happening much.
If you don't have anything better to do on a Saturday morning, here's a crappy/blurry 3-minute cell-phone video walkthrough of most of the house, starting in that breezeway: https://photos.app.goo.gl/9xGmWMjrsXc4g38f8. The garage is on the left, shown in the first 10 seconds. The only thing not shown is the hallway and the upstairs bedrooms - they are down to the left of the kitchen.
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brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
When you say the house is off grid, does that mean solar power?
FYI the furnace blower will be pulling 2-3 amps almost all the time when you have a fire going...unless you plan to set it up to gravity heat...which generally doesn't work the best with ductwork, unless it's specifically built for such.
FYI the furnace blower will be pulling 2-3 amps almost all the time when you have a fire going...unless you plan to set it up to gravity heat...which generally doesn't work the best with ductwork, unless it's specifically built for such.
Yes, solar power. It's a big system with automatic generator backup. According to the previous full-time residents, the gen rarely kicked in, but I take that with at least a few grains of salt. I wondered about the fan draw (and that might be why they didn't go that way with the Woodstock. I THINK it could handle that draw, but not really sure. Likely won't know until I'm actually in the house. But there's always the gennie, though that would at least somewhat defeat the purpose. Energy is never really free, is it!
brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
I know Daryl Lamppa said they used to sell a bunch of VF200's to off gridders because the smaller blower had a low draw...but that is probably too small of a machine for that size house...the VF100 would work, but you are right back to a larger blower.
The wood stove would work for warmer weather probably...does the basement have insulation? Concrete can soak up HUGE BTUs if not insulated!
The wood stove would work for warmer weather probably...does the basement have insulation? Concrete can soak up HUGE BTUs if not insulated!
Here's a link to the listing with a bunch of pics: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/501-Galloping-Goose-Ln-Ridgway-CO-81432/2089630908_zpid/?mmlb=g,0. Pic #22 shows the garage and the configuration of the existing furnaces. Seems to me the Charmaster would fit nicely next to them and patching into the existing plenums wouldn't be all that much work, but I'm likely being too optimistic (I usually am!). If the retrofit/install wasn't too hard or too $$$, seems it might be worth a shot. For $500-$1000, if it didn't work, I'm not out that much, and hopefully the metalwork would work for a newer/better furnace down the road. I know I'm ignoring your comment about them being out of business, but I'm thinking these are fairly basic units, so fabbing parts should be feasible - unless it's controls, I suppose.
Sorry I'm being so wordy. I figure I need to jump on this soon if I'm going to do it, so trying to make a decision today/tomorrow.
Sorry I'm being so wordy. I figure I need to jump on this soon if I'm going to do it, so trying to make a decision today/tomorrow.
The house is very well insulated throughout, yes. Not really a basement, the first level is at grade, with crawl space below.
brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
A wood furnace is out then...you would have to use down flow ducts, can't do that with a solid fuel furnace, if the power or blower fails things get very hot, very fast. There used to be emergency heat dump's for this purpose, but nobody makes them anymore.
brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
Nice place, I think that stove will do better than you think...it will take a big bite out of the heat bill anyways... probably what the former owner did. If the back corners of the house are cool you can always run a small fan on the floor pointing back toward the stove...that works well to move cool air toward the stove, and heat to the back of the house...that and a ceiling fan in the great room to push the heat back down.
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Ok, thanks. I thought the upstairs was updraft, but honestly didn't check very carefully. I guess that does look like return air on top, now that I look at the pic more carefully. Oh well - it was a thought!
Wait - a fan on the floor pushing back to the stove? Ok, I guess that makes sense, push the cold air toward the stove to get convection current going. Sure wouldn't have thought of it myself!
Ok, so your comment on the fan had me searching, and I came across this (old) thread: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/moving-heat-convection-air-currents-in-your-house.118583/, which talks about several different "fan" configurations. Given my layout, would you suggest a fan in the farthest bedroom, at the top of the stairs, or just experiment?
Oh, and that ceiling fan right above the stairs is obviously there to help - just not sure how much. Maybe it's all I need? It's a big sucker, at least 6' diameter.
Oh, and that ceiling fan right above the stairs is obviously there to help - just not sure how much. Maybe it's all I need? It's a big sucker, at least 6' diameter.
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brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
Start at the back....fan on low, pointing down hall toward the stove... but ultimately every house is different and you will need to experiment.
The principle is that cooler air is easier to move than warmer lighter air is....
Looks like HYC got the FC furnace re-tested. But still won't qualify for the 26% tax credit... thankfully. Maybe this will finally force them to design something safer and worth owning.
Nice to know the market currently has both the Heat Commander and VF100 to choose from to claim the tax credit.
Nice to know the market currently has both the Heat Commander and VF100 to choose from to claim the tax credit.
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brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
I did see that a couple weeks ago...can't believe it legit passed...maybe it didn't, maybe some pockets got lined...
The Woodstock IS is a reasonably stout heater at 3.2 cubic feet. It’s more efficient than any of the furnaces and no power consumption. Plus, it’s installed. You don’t need to go 100% wood heat. Even 75% replacement with wood will save you a ton of money on propane and really, keeping that IS going 24/7 might be all the effort you want to make.
The furnaces occasionally kicking on during the coldest weather will mix the air and exercise the units.
Try it as-is and see how it goes.
The furnaces occasionally kicking on during the coldest weather will mix the air and exercise the units.
Try it as-is and see how it goes.
That sounds like good advice. I was probably getting carried away. It's just that 2/3 of the SF is on the second floor, the stove is on the first, and I'm worried mostly about circulating warm air to the bedrooms. But I'll try those fan tricks and see how it does. I'm definitely not trying to go 100% wood heat, just cut that propane bill down to size!
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