Advice Wanted: Wanting to Purchase a New Indoor Wood Furnace

[Hogan]

I live in an 1800 square foot ranch style home (no basement, 8ft ceilings) in central Illinois and would like to purchase an indoor wood furnace for supplemental heat. Currently, I do not have an indoor wood furnace and heat my home with a downflow gas furnace (LP). With the current price of petroleum, I would like to reduce my dependence. Ideally, I would like to install the wood furnace in my garage and run 6” or 8” duct into the house pushed by an inline electric fan. Before I purchase an indoor wood furnace, I would like to get your opinion on which unit/components would be best for my application. Further, I would like to spend less than $1200 and was looking at the United Stove furnace (1537G, https://www.ruralking.com/Store/detail.aspx?ID=7832 ) that is carried by an area business. Any advice and guidance appreciated.

Respectfully,

Hogan

 

[ericjeeper]

generally speaking

A wood burning appliance in an attached garage is generally frowned on by most Home insurance companies.
But if you must. The one Lowes carries is a pretty good unit for the price.

 

[woodfarmer]

don't forget you also need a cold air return to balance the system

 

[Hogan]

Ericjeeper,

Thank you for the quick reply. After reading many of the posts on this forum, I have concluded that other forum members are doing what I am attempting to do, thus covered by their insurance companies. How could I use a wood furnace that is acceptable to insurance companies (I am insured by AAA)?

Further, what wood burning appliance are your referring to at Lowes. After search www.lowes.com, I could not find such a product (might be a seasonal listing). I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

R/

Hogan

 

[ericjeeper]

I believe it is a Englander

I helped Shipper50 install one last winter. For the 1100 it is a decent furnace. Granted there are no automatic firebox controls..You simply just adjust the damper and walk away. You need to feed his stove about every 5 hours.
http://www.englandsstoveworks.com/28-3500.html

 

[Hogan]

Ericjeepers,

Thank you for sending the weblink (Englander 28-3500). The unit looks to be everything that I am looking for and I can purchase the unit at my local Home Depot. I would be interested to hearing Shipper50s opinion of the wood furnace. I did a search and discovered that he lives in central Illinois, probably not far from me.

On another note, I am interested to learn more about home owners insurance and wood heat. I don't want to do anything to void my policy and am interested to hear how others have managed to install an indoor wood furnace without voiding their insurance policy.

 

[Countrybois]

I don't know if a wood furnace would be different than a wood stove as far as insurance is concerned, but I am also in Illinois and I think my insurance went up $70 or so when I installed my wood stove.

 

[ericjeeper]

Shipper 50 is from southern Indiana.

The main insurance issue is installing it in the garage .. You can put one anywhere in the house except the garage.. due to open flame issues.
The furnace is probably as good as it gets in the under 1300.00$ range. But myself I would prefer a stove with an automatic damper or better yet a forced air draft and a larger firebox.
But this throws you up around 2200. is it worth it to me?yes. To others I am not sure.

 

[aandabooks]

I'm with AllState for my insurance. When I called my agent to ask about installing the indoor furnace, he never asked where I would be putting it. My rate didn't go up. The only thing is that they wanted some part of the install done by a professional. So I got a local heating/air company to come out and to the duct and electrical work. Those receipts were submitted to the insurance.

Where is everyone from in Illinois? I'm always on the lookout for people near me on this board.

 

[Hogan]

Thank you for the responses. I am going to contact my insurance company (AAA) within the next week to see what they say.

On another note, I live in Charleston, Illinois, which is in between Champaign and Effingham on I-57.

Thanks again for your guidance. Respectfully,

Hogan

 

[gruff4531]

Good Thread

Hogan, I have been thinking about installing a wood furnace or stove as well, and this thread has given me even more information. In talking with my insurance man he said it wouldn't effect my insurance if it was install in the house by a professional, it would only change if it was installed outside the house because it becomes what they call a non-conforming heat source.

As for where I am in Illinois - Central -- Streator/Pontiac/Hennepin areas

 

[aandabooks]

Gruff,

I'm in Putnam and my wife works at Woodland School over by Streator. Sounds like we're in the same neck of the woods.

Matt

 

[pipe welder]

Hogan we are pretty close as I live 6 mile south of Charleston just off the Lincoln trail. My insurance man can piss off its a rip off anyway. IF he don't like my system he can cheerfully refund my premium.

 

[gruff4531]

aandabooks

I probably pass your wife everyday on our ways to work, I live in Streator and work in Hennepin. Woodland school is only about 5 miles away from my house.

 

[Hogan]

Pipe Welder,

I am amazed that we live only 6 miles apart and we are meeting like this. I live a few miles north of Charleston (on the prairie as they say). I hope to speak to my insurance person early next week and see what they say. When I do, I will let everyone know how AAA handles indoor wood stoves.

R/

Lance Hogan

 

[pipe welder]

Well these insurance companies and agents are all different but they all have one thing in common. They want your money and they want no risk what so ever for it. I was inspected a couple of years ago and got a bunch of crap about my chimney. It is home built by me welded out of stainless and sits 3 feet off the house. Even if it got on fire it, which it never has in 30 years, it would not be a problem. Inspector told me I couldn't use it or we have a problem. I said well this is way it is, I have used it for 30 years and I don't plan to quit so do what you want but refund my premium. Just as soon as I said give me my money back, he started to back peddle, with well I guess if its worked for 30 years it will be alright. Just goes to show you they don't care about you or your property all they want is your money.

 

[Firestarter]

I got the 1537 from Rural King and it heats a 1900 sq feet house about 30 miles south of you guys, In Altamont, IL and a feed it about every 8-9 hours.

 

[Hogan]

I contacted AAA to find out about an indoor wood furnace. They stated, “Wood stove/furnace used for supplemental heat is an unacceptable risk.” At this point, I don’t know what to do. I can’t believe AAA will not insure an indoor wood furnace. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

R/

Hogan

 

[stihl025]

I contacted AAA to find out about an indoor wood furnace. They stated, “Wood stove/furnace used for supplemental heat is an unacceptable risk.” At this point, I don’t know what to do. I can’t believe AAA will not insure an indoor wood furnace. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

R/

Hogan

Start shopping for a new insurance carrier who will insure it. The money you will save through the use of the "add on" furnace will surely pay any insurance premium hike. See who everyone else is using and start getting quotes. You might even be able to get a one time discount for switching carriers. Like someone else said in this thread, all they want is your money with no risk...