In the last post, we discussed some of the most common issues people typically have with outdoor furnaces. And even though residential furnaces including outdoor models are useful with proper care, being aware of the most common issues and how to prevent them is the best way to maximize your outdoor or residential furnaces’ lifespan. Here’s part two of our guide that will explore some of the most common issues with outdoor furnaces and how you can be proactive and avoid them altogether.
Understimating Physical Effort Required For Maintenance
This is more of a user error than an error with the furnace itself, but it still needs to be addressed. It’s important to be aware that outdoor furnaces, albeit useful, require quite a bit of maintenance in order to work their best. As mentioned in part one of our guide, the amount of maintenance is highly dependent on the temperature and climate of the area. Warmer temperatures are easier to maintain, while colder temperatures may require the operator to go out and reload the wood up to three times each day.
Plus, if your outdoor furnace happens to be your only heat source, you’ll have to find someone to keep up with maintenance to prevent freezing pipes if you plan on leaving home during the winter for more than a few days at a time. Make sure you can keep up with these tasks as well as add water to the boiler before you decide whether it’s the right type of furnace for you.
Not Having Sufficient Resources
Finally, another issue arises when people run out of resources. Making sure you have a sufficient and consistent supply of wood before you even think about getting an outdoor wood furnace is essential. Though useful, they aren’t always efficient with wood consumption and can require as much as 10 cords of wood as well as a reliable place to protect it from the elements. However, as a whole, outdoor furnaces are a cost-effective source of heating energy. Owners who cut their own wood, or can obtain free wood as fuel, can entirely eliminate their heating bills. Over a 10-year period, a homeowner or business may save $10,000 to $50,000 or more on heating costs.
Ultimately, outdoor furnaces are exceedingly useful in that they’re often used to heat garages, farm buildings, and other outbuildings. Their fuel — wood — is readily available in many rural areas. That being said, it’s important to be aware of the maintenance they truly require, which includes knowing about these potentially problematic issues and how to avoid them. For more information about outdoor and residential furnaces, contact Outback Heating of Virginia Inc.