Re: High efficiency wood-furnaces?

Posted by jdemaris on February 27, 2005 at 20:35:03 from (209.23.30.155):

In Reply to: Re: High efficiency wood-furnaces? posted by FarmerDave on February 27, 2005 at 15:11:26:

I've researched a lot of that stuff already. As far as Vermont Castings and Jotul goes - I used to work for a place that sold them. They're built fine and so are a lot of other woodstoves. I have a Hearthstone which also comes from Vermont, and I love it. But, there is a big difference now adays between what the federal government calls a stove and a furnace. Seems what is going on right now is similar to what happened when farm tractors first hit the scene. Many wild unsubtantiated claims were being made by manufacturors, and finally Nebraska Tests started, and separated the bad ones from the goods ones - and gave farmers some way of sifting through all the hype. Today, instead of Nebraka Testing as it relates to tractors, we have the EPA regs. on woodstoves. So, now - generally speaking, they ALL preform comparibly. Some last longer or look better than others, but if they meet EPA specs. they are all pretty close. Problem is, Wood-furnaces are exempt - so the B.S. goes on. That's not to say that there are not some good ones - but even the better ones are still using old technology. That because they don't have to improve. I am sure that a woodfurnace can be built that will be as efficient as the EPA woodstoves. The only furnace tested by the EPA so far, the EPA Caddy in Québec, might be that good - but I was unable to buy one so I don't know.
As far as the catlytic combustor goes, as I see it, it's a total waste of money. The first EPA woodstoves that came out had them, but technology improved and now the best stoves with the highest ratings do it without the combustors.
In my area, for outdoor furnaces, we've got Johnsons, Empyres, Centrals, Mahonings, and I'm sure more. They all use very low technology in the combustion area - but for some people, it doesn't matter. To me it does since wood is work no matter how much woods you have. And, if you don't have your own woods, then you have to pay for it. My Hearthstone woodstove can almost heat our entire house, even when it's 30 F below zero - but since it a stove, not a furnace, it does not have a forced-air system and is not capable of transfering heat to remote areas of the house or down the basement. Thus the reason for our furnace. I will guess that if the furnace burned as clean as our stove, it would use half the wood and provide the same heat.

Follow Ups:

• Re: High efficiency wood-furnaces? VaTom 05:20:41 02/28/05 (2)
  • Re: High efficiency wood-furnaces? jdemaris 06:17:48 02/28/05 (1)
    • Re: High efficiency wood-furnaces? VaTom 14:54:45 02/28/05 (0)

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