I am not an owner of the Kuuma nor AN Caddy. But have been investigating them both for a future purchase.
While the Kuuma only emits 30-40,000 of BTU output, Daryl Lamppa's brochure for the Model 100 Kuuma indicates it will heat a 3500 square foot home.
The Kuuma model 100 weighs 695 pounds, whereas the AN Caddy weighs 560 pounds. To me, this means you are getting 135 pounds of more stainless steel, insulation, quality/value?, and heat transferring materials with the Kuuma.
The Kuuma, comes from Tower Minnesota, while the AN Caddy comes from Quebec Canada. Whether buying American guarantees parts supplies in case of future repair issues, or is better for America's economy...is a decision for each American buyer.
The AN Caddy is built by a large manufacturer, while the Kuuma is built by a small family business and directly distributed by them (Lamppa).
The AN Caddy (per our local distributor) requires the input cold air to come into the unit from the right or left side of the unit, while the Kuuma's require the input cold air to come into the unit from the back. (this "might" be a show stopper for either unit depending on how you will connect to the flu, or how much room you have in the basement, and the arrangement of any other furnaces you wish to conjoin with.).
While the AN Caddy has a glass front, unless the unit will be placed in the living/family room (as opposed to the corner of a concrete basement), to me...it seems unnecessary and a potential item to break. For instance, while attempting to replace the rope gaskets on the doors of our living room $3000 Hearthstone Heritage soap stone wood stove, I accidentally broke the glass front, which cost $150. We always (to see the great fire) have to clean the dirt off the glass on a regular basis with a special glass cleaner sold by the local dealer.
The AN Caddy now (January 2012) costs about $2800 from our local dealer, while the Kuuma 100 costs about $3450.
Per the EPA test results: I am impressed with the overall 83% EPA efficiency of the Kuuma, compared to the overall 76% EPA efficiency of the AN Caddy.
Per the EPA test results: I am also impressed with the 98% emissions/combustion efficiency of the Kuuma, compared to the 90% emissions/combustion efficiency of the AN Caddy.
The above information comes from the manufacturers: brochures, Websites, You Tube videos.
I recently had a phone conversation with Daryl Lamppa, and asked him how much the EPA testing done in Middleton Wisconsin cost for the Kuuma 100. He indicated it cost: $25,000. The accessibility of talking directly to the designer, manufacturer, and distributor in a quick phone call left a good impression.
For the last 32 years we have fired up an old 2800 WoodChuck add-on furnace in the basement. It has been bullet proof and I enjoy the challenge of operating it. However, the city is fast encroaching on our country life, and I am concerned about potential complaints from neighbors about even small amounts of chimney smoke, and creosote/safety issues in the chimney.
I appreciate the Hearth.Comm website information, and have learned much from its contributors.
Thank you.