Fire Chief Wood Furnace
- Thread starter dwinch53
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YCSTEVE
ArboristSite Operative
Fire Chief is a good furnace. I purchased a cheaper furnace when I did my set up. Mine is a Hot Blast 1400 that cost me about $1000 and it works good I just wish I would have been able to spend a little more money.
Someone I know had an older fire chief and I liked the way his was set up and he was very happy with it.
I like the Fire Chief because Its taller instead of longer. I don't have an outside door to my basement so I have to go down a set of stairs and turn a tight corner. Its a very old house. This was difficult with a long stove.
I like the roller grates on that stove and the secondary burn chamber.
Good luck with your stove. You will enjoy it this winter.
As with any wood stove just make sure you have a good chimney that's save and drafts properly.
Someone I know had an older fire chief and I liked the way his was set up and he was very happy with it.
I like the Fire Chief because Its taller instead of longer. I don't have an outside door to my basement so I have to go down a set of stairs and turn a tight corner. Its a very old house. This was difficult with a long stove.
I like the roller grates on that stove and the secondary burn chamber.
Good luck with your stove. You will enjoy it this winter.
As with any wood stove just make sure you have a good chimney that's save and drafts properly.
dwinch53
ArboristSite Operative
Ycsteve, thanx for the comments, i am looking forward to the install,i was hoping to get more pros and cons on this furnace...i have been studing this furnace and speaking with the factory for apx 6 mo. i think it will be a very good furnace from what i know about it...thanx again Dan
I have the identical unit (500). This will be my 3rd season with the furnace. It was put in when my home was build new. Personally I wouldnt get too excited about the "thermostatically controlled draft blower". It may look good on paper, but in all reality there is no way to control the heat of the fire by a thermostat. I have my draft blower wired so I can "manually" turn the draft fan on and off. I seldom use it, when I do its just mainly to get a new fire burning.
What I disagree with mostly about the thermostat is if it kicks in the draft blower, the fire starts ROARING. And its going to keep rip-roaring until the desired temp is reached and the thermostat will shut it off. This could take several minutes or longer depending how fast the heat will travel and warm the home. Secondly, once the draft blower has shut down, the furnace is still very hot, and the plenium blower will continue to run as long as the furnace is hot and could blow for hours, which it will. The plenium fan has a dual purpose. First off, to keep air flowing around the furnace to keep it from getting too hot. Second; to distribute the warm air throughout the home.
I just feel the furnace runs way too hot for my liking when using it the way the unit is set up for. And with the draft blower blowing, it consumes wood like my wife spends money, faster than I can make it. I much rather control the fire by the damper, it works well for me.
The furnace will consume much more wood than a wood stove, it seems it takes a bit to get it up to temp, and then levels off to keep the temp there.
But the even distribution of the unit is where the furnace shines. There are no hot or colds spots in the house, except in the basement where the furnace is, its a bit hotter with the radient heat. But overall, you should be satisfied with it. I'd like to see some pics when you get it installed, and hear how it is treating you. Have to run, further questions, just ask.
What I disagree with mostly about the thermostat is if it kicks in the draft blower, the fire starts ROARING. And its going to keep rip-roaring until the desired temp is reached and the thermostat will shut it off. This could take several minutes or longer depending how fast the heat will travel and warm the home. Secondly, once the draft blower has shut down, the furnace is still very hot, and the plenium blower will continue to run as long as the furnace is hot and could blow for hours, which it will. The plenium fan has a dual purpose. First off, to keep air flowing around the furnace to keep it from getting too hot. Second; to distribute the warm air throughout the home.
I just feel the furnace runs way too hot for my liking when using it the way the unit is set up for. And with the draft blower blowing, it consumes wood like my wife spends money, faster than I can make it. I much rather control the fire by the damper, it works well for me.
The furnace will consume much more wood than a wood stove, it seems it takes a bit to get it up to temp, and then levels off to keep the temp there.
But the even distribution of the unit is where the furnace shines. There are no hot or colds spots in the house, except in the basement where the furnace is, its a bit hotter with the radient heat. But overall, you should be satisfied with it. I'd like to see some pics when you get it installed, and hear how it is treating you. Have to run, further questions, just ask.
dwinch53
ArboristSite Operative
fire chief
Reaperman...Thanx for your comments, I know about the blower and agree with you. I, years ago had a FRANKS wood and coal furnace and it came with a draft blower, i also did not use it to much, what i did was found a device that fit the same hole and was controled by the same thremostat and it just open up a little door and used a natural draft without the blower, now that worked well, so i just might do the same with this one...thanx again for your comments, Dan
Reaperman...Thanx for your comments, I know about the blower and agree with you. I, years ago had a FRANKS wood and coal furnace and it came with a draft blower, i also did not use it to much, what i did was found a device that fit the same hole and was controled by the same thremostat and it just open up a little door and used a natural draft without the blower, now that worked well, so i just might do the same with this one...thanx again for your comments, Dan
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