Currently, there are approximately 200,000 outdoor wood furnaces in use. They’re one of the most popular types of residential furnaces because they’re reliable and extremely effective. That being said, it’s easy for problems to arise without proper maintenance and care. Here’s part one of our guide exploring some of the most common outdoor residential furnace issues and how to prevent them.
Excess Smoke
Some homes that use outdoor residential furnaces have noticed that excess smoke can pose an issue during certain times of year, certain conditions, and certain areas. Another factor that can contribute to excess smoke is the type of wood that’s being burned. Experts say that there’s minimal smoke associated with using your outdoor furnace in cold temperatures when you’re burning seasoned hardwood. With this in mind, outdoor furnaces aren’t designed for use in dense residential areas. They should also be placed downwind from the home and out of the way from any neighbors.
Unrealistic Expectations
The second mistake that comes into play when installing and using your outdoor furnace is not knowing what to expect as far as level of heat. The problem occurs because many manufacturers say that their furnaces should be placed 500 feet away from a dwelling, but abiding by these standards means that significant heat loss will occur due to the long distance it has to travel through the underground piping system.
Similarly, many manufacturers claim that their units can operate for up to a full 96 hours without needing to be reloaded. While these numbers may be accurate during the hot summer months when you only need to heat water, they aren’t accurate during the cold season, when they need to be loaded daily. Having clear expectations for your outdoor wood furnace can help you use it to its best potential.
Ultimately, being aware of these common problems with outdoor furnaces can help you to prevent them from happening and/or solve the issue as soon as it arises. Keep an eye out for our next post, where we’ll reveal some more outdoor furnace mistakes to avoid.