I’m purchasing a 3000 sq ft home in northern Wisconsin. It has an old wood furnace. But I’m not sure it will pass inspection. So I’m trying to be ahead of the game just in case I need to replace it. So this is a hard question because there are so many variables. But what would be the best furnace on the market. I did have a OWB at my home I sold. But heating w wood indoors is all new to me. Obviously you have to have a good draft so the higher the chimney the better. You also want something that will burn wood long and hot. That obviously depends on the wood and moisture content. There is also the BTU’s I’m assuming about 175,000. The people selling the home said they heated the home for 34 years. With that wood furnace but they haven’t needed to since their boys moved out. That’s nine years. They said they never used the Propaine forced air furnace in 34 years. So they don’t even know if it works. I do want something that’s probably going to be more efficient but not €P@ crazy. They truly don’t want people heating with wood is their agenda. My family can’t be stuck without heat this winter. What would you guys do?
Wood Furnace
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Well first things first, your wood burner should be a “secondary” heat source in my opinion, it’s only producing heat if you’re there to load it. That being said my furnace is my “main” heat source BUT I have the propane in case I’m out of town for over 24 hours. If your going with a wood furnace you have 3 options, the Kuuma vapor fire the drolet heat commander and the caddy advanced I believe. I have the Kuuma and it’s been around the longest I highly recommend it. I would definitely worry about the wood furnace later you don’t want to be trying to figure out a 34 year old wood furnace when it’s -20 out.
brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
The heat Commander and the caddy are made by the same company and are more or less the same furnace... Chevy/GMC type of thing.
To the OP, you'll find there are a metric TON of Kuuma Vaporfire VF 100 fans here...and they have a well deserved reputation too! Also the only one made in the States...Tower Minnesota to be exact. Not cheap, but WAY less than what it would take to install an OWB! And they eat a lot less too...you'd be hard pressed to put more than 5, maybe 6 cords a year through a VF (we use about 4-4.5 normally)
Kuuma Wood Burning Furnaces & Sauna Stoves | Lamppa MFG
Shop for wood-burning furnaces and sauna stoves at Lamppa Kuuma today. The Kuuma Vapor-Fire 100 is Phase 2 EPA-approved - tax credit eligible
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I was in a similar situation last year moving into my grandparents house last year with a 50 year old furnace.
First question is what is the current chimney setup? Being 30+ years old it is likely a masonry chimney. Is it inside the house or exterior? Mine was a busted up 9x9 clay. I had to get a 6" stainless insulated liner put in. My old furnace worked fine with the old chimney but it also sent most of its heat up the chimney.
This is my first year with the vapor fire 100 and still learning its operation but it seems to run better as time goes on I can already see the reduction in wood consumption. Expensive it is but the peace of mind is worth a great deal too. Load up and I don't feel nervous walking away.
First question is what is the current chimney setup? Being 30+ years old it is likely a masonry chimney. Is it inside the house or exterior? Mine was a busted up 9x9 clay. I had to get a 6" stainless insulated liner put in. My old furnace worked fine with the old chimney but it also sent most of its heat up the chimney.
This is my first year with the vapor fire 100 and still learning its operation but it seems to run better as time goes on I can already see the reduction in wood consumption. Expensive it is but the peace of mind is worth a great deal too. Load up and I don't feel nervous walking away.
We were unable to have it inspected before ice and snow was on the roof. I believe it is clay lined.
You might possibly be able to take the stove pipe down out of the thimble, where it goes into the chimney and use a light or small mirror on a sunny day and take a peek up the chimney.
My old setup was in such a way that most of the soot would fall back into the thimble and mine was busted up the worst just inside the thimble. I'll see if I can post a pic of it, it was bad.
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