Check out my new wood burning furnace...

[jasoutside]

I know there are a few wood burners that hang around here so I thought I'd post up.

My old Energy Mate wood furnace is now 35 years of age and it was starting to show. So, I just took delivery of this...

Yukon Big Jack! They were running a sale (only a couple of more days) and with the energy tax credit (10%) it was hard to turn down. Tax return sure helped too.

I only just got it off my trailer and unwrapped - not yet put together, not even off the pallet. My initial observations are that this thing is built like a super tank and should last for as long as I care to burn wood. I am very impressed by it's simplicity too - having a hard time identifying anything extra or weak that will break or burn out down the road.

Anyway, just thought a few of you fellas would appreciate it.

Have a great Easter weekend

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Check out my new wood burning furnace...

Perfect! Just in time for summer!!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Check out my new wood burning furnace...

Perfect! Just in time for summer!!

Ha! Maybe where you are!

Shoot, I saw it snow this week.:facepalm:

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Check out my new wood burning furnace...

Wow very nice. Yes it snowed here today

Are you going to get all the add on parts too? I looked at the website....... quite a nice unit.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Check out my new wood burning furnace...

Thanks Bob! Nah, didn't go for any add on stuff - no more money and unnecessary given what I have on hand and my set up.

For the past few years I have been chewing on the idea of how to fab/construct/plumb some sort of hot water tank system to work with a wood burning furnace. I think I about have it figured. Maybe another year or two before I have the time and finances to go for it.

Cheers!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Check out my new wood burning furnace...

A coil of 1/2" copper sitting on top of the unit even in the plenum will pre-heat your water and cut back on the hot water heater's work. The coil's of copper are usually "soft" copper but work fine.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Check out my new wood burning furnace...

Actualy, back in the oil embargo days (last major international economic mess, remember?) there was a little shell boiler that would hold a few scraps of pine in the firebox. You'd install it next to the water heater, and plumb it in so gravity circulated the water from it to the water heater. A quick fire would heat up a tank of water in about 15 minutes.

I had 9 kids, so I found an old 50 gallon gas commercial water heater, welded up the fire tube, which is what usually gave out on those things. Built a small firebox under it, and got pine scrap from the truss plant down the street. If the kids wanted a bath, they had to build a fire first, year round. Worked well, and didn't burn any propane at all.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Check out my new wood burning furnace...

......If the kids wanted a bath, they had to build a fire first, year round. ......

If I remember kids well, that could have been a big 'IF'!

 

[j_martin]

Re: Check out my new wood burning furnace...

If I remember kids well, that could have been a big 'IF'!

We had a saying, "If God didn't mean for kids to get dirty, why did he build them so close to the ground."

 

[rbh]

Re: Check out my new wood burning furnace...

NICE!!

So how much can you load in to it, and how long is a full box supposed to last?

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Check out my new wood burning furnace...

Ha! Maybe where you are!

Shoot, I saw it snow this week.:facepalm:

It's been 88-91? all week here...hope boating season starts soon...

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Check out my new wood burning furnace...

A coil of 1/2" copper sitting on top of the unit even in the plenum will pre-heat your water and cut back on the hot water heater's work. The coil's of copper are usually "soft" copper but work fine.

Yah, I thought about going that route. Thought about some sort of tank system too. Thought a bunch of other stuff too. I'll keep stewing on it for a while. It'll come to me.

Actualy, back in the oil embargo days (last major international economic mess, remember?) there was a little shell boiler that would hold a few scraps of pine in the firebox. You'd install it next to the water heater, and plumb it in so gravity circulated the water from it to the water heater. A quick fire would heat up a tank of water in about 15 minutes.

Simple, like it!

NICE!!

So how much can you load in to it, and how long is a full box supposed to last?

Thanks man!

Well, lots o factors there. Primarily, what type of wood I am throwing in. I burn EVERYTHING.

It has a little bigger fire box than my current one so I would imagine about the same burn times. So basically....

shoulder seasons, 30 deg range = one set in the morning

winter, 0 to 30 degree range = one set in the morning and one when I get home from work in the afternoon

cold winter, -20 to 0 degree range = morning, afternoon and after dinner

really cold windy winter, -20 and below = feed

My bride likes the house nice and warm, upper 70's. I don't mind one bit, all my wood is free

I figure I saved over $3K this year in LP costs. I like that!

It's been 88-91? all week here...hope boating season starts soon...

Show off! Oh well, my rig is still in "dry dock" anyway.

Cheers guys!

 

[mike64]

Re: Check out my new wood burning furnace...

Nice furnace! How many cords do you go through in a typical season?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Check out my new wood burning furnace...

Thanks Mike! Usually about 5 cords, sometimes 6. This year I burned more (probably a little more than 7 cords) as I ran duct work out to the garage for my Islander project. I can now direct all the forced air out to the garage and keep it in the mid 50's even when it's about 0 outside. The house stays warm (hot actually) with just radiant heat.