Central Furnaces and Boilers


Sometimes wood stoves are impractical because the room design, walls, or other barriers impede heat flow throughout the home. In this case, you may want to consider a wood-or multi-fuel furnace or boiler for central heating. These heaters are most popular in the Northeast and Midwest. Central wood furnaces may distribute heat with a forced-air or hot-water system and are available to heat a home of any size and design.

Usually, a wood furnace uses the existing pipes or ducts in the home and is controlled by a thermostat. When enough heat has been delivered, the damper closes so that the fuel smolders. When heat is needed, the dampers open and the fire comes back to life. Before purchasing a wood furnace, make sure that you have easy and reliable access to wood fuel. The average wood burning central heater uses 6 to 10 cords of wood yearly.

Wood Burning central heaters can be installed in your basement, garage (check local codes), outbuildings or a mechanical room in the home. Be sure to allow plenty of room around the unit for loading and tending, and consider the easiest way to move wood to the furnace or boiler.

A Multi-Fuel furnace or boiler uses several sources of energy such as wood, coal, oil, or gas. Two fuels are usually not used simultaneously.

Maintaining a wood-fuel furnace is more demanding and critical than an oil or gas furnace. You must feed the fire periodically and clean the ash box and chimney. However, if you really want to heat your whole house with wood, this is a good way to go !

Some sources of Central Heating Products:
New Horizon - High efficiency, clean burnings wood boilers - also Coal and waste wood units.
Energy King - Hot Air and Hot Water add-on Furnaces using Wood or Pellets/Corn
Magnum - Pellet/Corn Hot Air Furnaces
Greenwood - High Efficiency Hot Water heating


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