Hi everyone,
There are some points that we would like to address.
The specifications between the Heat Commander and its predecessor the Tundra/Heatmax:
The main reason the specs are pretty much the same is because we wanted to have a similar product. The size of the firebox is the same, but in fact if you measure each one you will find that Heat Commander one is a bit larger to incorporate a better brick pattern and improve production. So why is it the same? Because the two were not measured in the same way, some areas were considered to be part of the combustion chamber volume which were rejected at this time because we felt that the user should not be put wood there (Ex: the steel lip between the glass and the brick was considered part of the volume of the Heat Max, but we don't think it is a good idea to do this). Regarding the heating area, it has always been a debate here. How do you determine the right size of the heating area for a product? You can have the same house in a different climate zone which required a different heating input. The only way to properly size the furnace is to determine the heat input required for your home. Knowing the maximum heat output of the furnace (42,234 BTU / h delivered to the plenum and 47,052 BTU / h overall) and the heat input required to heat your home, you will be able to determine if the furnace is large enough or not. The maximum heat output is determined during a test where the thermostat is always calling for heat, therefore we do not recommend using this value. The furnace can achieve it but isn't designed to run at is maximum capacity all the time.
*** Important *** To select the correct size unit, you must use a value of approximately 30,000 to 35,000 btu at a baseline. Why do we recommend this? Because the furnace is not designed to burn at full capacity all day and if needed, you will have enough power for the colder days.
We are convinced that the Heat Commander can heat a larger home than its predecessor. If you are willing to load the furnace more frequently, it could probably heat up even more. The biggest gain over the Tundra / Heatmax is the smoother heat distribution throughout a burn. Automation makes it user-friendly and ensures better overall comfort and less babysitting. Another difference is that the Heat Commander uses a larger blower than the Tundra / Heatmax, which should help with a longer plenum in a larger house.
Software update
To be clear, we are not allowed to make any changes that will affect the emissions. Whether it's software or physical changes. After approval, all documentation and algorithm are forwarded to the EPA. We are also inspected at the factory to confirm that our products are still compliant. If we make any changes that could affect emissions performance, they must be submitted, approved or retested.
What’s coming next
There is always stress when you launch new technology in the field. We did extensive testing before bringing the HC to market, but it's still difficult to represent actual use. We are still heating units here and are in touch with users for their feedback.
Now that we have a few months of heating, we can say that we are quite happy with the performance of the Heat Commander. As some know, the Caddy range will be complemented by the Caddy Advanced. The new family member is expected to be in production during the summer. The Caddy Advanced will be an upgraded version of the Heat Commander for HVAC instead of DIY users.
COMING SOON
Nicolas
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