Woods furnace choices

[Mustang71]

I have a daka wood furnace and I hate it. Does it heat my house? Yes does it burn wood down to dust? Yes The damper that regulates the air to the stove is a pile of crap and I'm always down there moving the wood around to get it to burn hot and completely. I've had it for 3 years not and welded a Crack by the door once.

 

[unclemoustache]

The OP is talking furnace not stoves!!! The title needs to be changed. Maybe @TonyK can give the guy a hand before he has 3 pages of useless info.

I don't recommend the Lopi Leyden. That's a horrible stove.

 

[JRHAWK9]

cry once.....Kuuma.

 

[Nickatnite]

New to this site as of zero dark thirty today. Can anyone point me in the direction of a new stove that meets the following criteria? I am growing up and putting on my big boy stove pants. I am currently running a Englander 28-3500.

In order of importance

1.Firebox build/quality gauge steel
2.Secondary Burn with quality burn tubes for longevity
3.Firebox size for 24in logs
4.Ease of adaptability with single 8" plenum feed
5.Warranty for cracking
6.Cost

 

[NSMaple1]

New to this site as of zero dark thirty today. Can anyone point me in the direction of a new stove that meets the following criteria? I am growing up and putting on my big boy stove pants. I am currently running a Englander 28-3500.

In order of importance

1.Firebox build/quality gauge steel
2.Secondary Burn with quality burn tubes for longevity
3.Firebox size for 24in logs
4.Ease of adaptability with single 8" plenum feed
5.Warranty for cracking
6.Cost

Sounds like your talking furnace and not stove?

 

[Nickatnite]

Sounds like your talking furnace and not stove?

I appreciate the symantics, yes furnace wood only.

 

[Mustang71]

I don't know if cost belongs on that list...

Maybe a drolet but again cost.

 

[NSMaple1]

Since cost was at the bottom - my first look would be at a Kuuma. I don't know what it specs for plenum hookup though - and we don't know anything about your heat load. But if you're talking 8" plenum feed, and if the Englander kept you warm, it can't be huge?

(You would need dry wood).

 

[brenndatomu]

New to this site as of zero dark thirty today. Can anyone point me in the direction of a new stove that meets the following criteria? I am growing up and putting on my big boy stove pants. I am currently running a Englander 28-3500.

In order of importance

1.Firebox build/quality gauge steel
2.Secondary Burn with quality burn tubes for longevity
3.Firebox size for 24in logs
4.Ease of adaptability with single 8" plenum feed
5.Warranty for cracking
6.Cost

I don't think you will find any one furnace to check all the criterion off.
The new Englander 28-4000 maybe? Drolet Tundra II, or the larger HeatPro? Can always go with the higher priced PSG Caddy/Max Caddy if you are afraid of the Drolet name...

 

[Nickatnite]

I don't know if cost belongs on that list...

Maybe a drolet but again cost.

Drolet HeatPro was in the top three but then I kept going back to the last one (7th on list) Clayton 1802G. I just don't like that it doesn't have a secondary burn. Yes I know it is sold as a coal stove but it is a heavy beast, that translates into build quality for me. Also is there one out there that is manufactured with three gauge rolled steel?

1.Max Caddy
2.Kuuma Vapor Fire 100
3.Drolet HeatPro
4.Ashley AF700
5.Neopolen HF200
6. Yukon Big Jack
7.Clayton 1802G

 

[Nickatnite]

I don't think you will find any one furnace to check all the criterion off.
The new Englander 28-4000 maybe? Drolet Tundra II, or the larger HeatPro? Can always go with the higher priced PSG Caddy/Max Caddy if you are afraid of the Drolet name...

I do like the Englander 28-3500 that I have now, the firebox does not seem like a quality build unless they improved on the 4000? I bought my first stove in 2006 (28-3500) and after 5 years I started to smell wood gas so I opened the shell up that spring only to discover weld burn through in multiple places. They actually shipped me a replacement and took back the defective one no charge. I now have a partial baffle plate rail that has cracked off on the right side.

 

[Nickatnite]

Since cost was at the bottom - my first look would be at a Kuuma. I don't know what it specs for plenum hookup though - and we don't know anything about your heat load. But if you're talking 8" plenum feed, and if the Englander kept you warm, it can't be huge?

(You would need dry wood).

I have a 3000 sqft home on two zone HVAC. After thinking about it I would require a dual 8" take off . One to feed 1st floor and another to feed up to air handler on second floor. I will have to open up a channel in the exterior garage wall to get to main trunk feed. My Englander has a single 8" take off into my HVAC air handler

 

[Nickatnite]

I have a daka wood furnace and I hate it. Does it heat my house? Yes does it burn wood down to dust? Yes The damper that regulates the air to the stove is a pile of crap and I'm always down there moving the wood around to get it to burn hot and completely. I've had it for 3 years not and welded a Crack by the door once.

I have read to stay away from DAKA.

 

[Nickatnite]

Hey fellers I have a question. I'm looking to upgrade my woodstove. Right now I have a old woodchuck that was made in 1979. It's a good stove but there is a few cracks starting around the base where the door shuts. I was looking at a shelter and a drolet heatpro. My house is about 2000 square feet. I like the idea of the shaker grates and forced air with the shelter. The drolet I love the plenum that comes with it but I don't like the fact it doesn't have the shaker grates and how you scoop out the ashes. I realize prob anyone of them will be a step up from what I have. So my question is which one would be more efficient as far as burn times and heat. I have heard some things about the drolet with cracking issues. And my wood isn't always seasoned. I have neverror had a problem burning it and I have plenty of heat. Would drolet handle some green wood or not. I would to see some options on which stove would be better thanks everyone for the reply

When I started looking for an upgrade "Woodchuck" came across my radar and I was ready to pony up. I could not find any retailers on line so I called Myer and to my displeasure they no longer manufacture them. If I were you I would find a decent welder if you are not already one and get that thing back on line.

 

[Mustang71]

I have never herd "stay away from daka" they are a cheap primitive furnace like the hot blast. Basic technology that works but is not very efficient.

 

[Nickatnite]

I have never herd "stay away from daka" they are a cheap primitive furnace like the hot blast. Basic technology that works but is not very efficient.

What stove, furnace if you wish would you recommend for 3000 sq ft?

 

[brenndatomu]

Drolet HeatPro was in the top three but then I kept going back to the last one (7th on list) Clayton 1802G. I just don't like that it doesn't have a secondary burn. Yes I know it is sold as a coal stove but it is a heavy beast, that translates into build quality for me. Also is there one out there that is manufactured with three gauge rolled steel?

1.Max Caddy
2.Kuuma Vapor Fire 100
3.Drolet HeatPro
4.Ashley AF700
5.Neopolen HF200
6. Yukon Big Jack
7.Clayton 1802G

What stove, furnace if you wish would you recommend for 3000 sq ft?

The Max Caddy/Drolet HeatPro is my recommmendation...the HeatPro being the most bang for the buck there.
The Kuuma is by far the best furnace on the list, but also the most expensive.
The Ashley is an unproven new model by a copy cat cut rate manufacturer.
Napoleon has very little feedback from furnace owners, the little bit that is out there is mostly bad.
The Big Jack is too small, you want a SuperJack, but they are no longer available to the USA (new) so that would be a used purchase only...and they are not the cleanest burners either.
The Clayton, no...just no. Just because it is made from the heaviest gauge metal does no mean it is built the best...much better off with a Yukon. (the Clayton is made by the same company as the Ashley, USSC)

 

[Nickatnite]

The Max Caddy/Drolet HeatPro is my recommmendation...the HeatPro being the most bang for the buck there.
The Kuuma is by far the best furnace on the list, but also the most expensive.
The Ashley is an unproven new model by a copy cat cut rate manufacturer.
Napoleon has very little feedback from furnace owners, the little bit that is out there is mostly bad.
The Big Jack is too small, you want a SuperJack, but they are no longer available to the USA (new) so that would be a used purchase only...and they are not the cleanest burners either.
The Clayton, no...just no. Just because it is made from the heaviest gauge metal does no mean it is built the best...much better off with a Yukon. (the Clayton is made by the same company as the Ashley, USSC)

Your opinions are much appreciated and you are insightful in a minimalist way. My research pointed me to the top two in your list so at this point I certainly respect your opinion. I am going to finish out the season with the 28-3500 and shift it to the garage for a few reasons. Since I am going to wait until spring do the prices come down in an off season? I have the funds now so...

 

[Nickatnite]

The Max Caddy/Drolet HeatPro is my recommmendation...the HeatPro being the most bang for the buck there.
The Kuuma is by far the best furnace on the list, but also the most expensive.
The Ashley is an unproven new model by a copy cat cut rate manufacturer.
Napoleon has very little feedback from furnace owners, the little bit that is out there is mostly bad.
The Big Jack is too small, you want a SuperJack, but they are no longer available to the USA (new) so that would be a used purchase only...and they are not the cleanest burners either.
The Clayton, no...just no. Just because it is made from the heaviest gauge metal does no mean it is built the best...much better off with a Yukon. (the Clayton is made by the same company as the Ashley, USSC)

Something else you can help me understand... why with the others Ashley, Clayton, Hotblast, Englander all have very high BTU output but the Big Jack is far less for more money?

 

[brenndatomu]

Keep your eyes open for mid season sales...I've seen some great ones.
FYI, here in the Midwest we have Menards, which is a direct competitor to Lowes and Home Depot, and they carry the HeatPro. Even though the easternmost store is here in Ohio, a good sale may make the "ship to your home" option attractive. They do a "11% off everything" sale every so many weeks...and sometimes that discount (actually a mail in rebate) is on top of sale prices...I've seen the HeatPro as low as $2k (ish) after sale and rebate...