It’s no secret that 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. In the last post, we discussed some of the most essential outdoor furnace maintenance steps in detail. Heatmor parts are designed to last for years with proper maintenance, but there are several other important maintenance processes that must be performed in a timely manner in order to make sure your system continues to work safely and properly. Here’s part two of our homeowner’s guide to outdoor furnace maintenance, where we’ll get more into detail about important ways to take care of your outdoor wood burning furnace.

Ash Rotation
For outdoor furnaces that receive heavy use, ash rotation should be done on a weekly basis. Start by removing the ashes when the furnace gets low on wood. If the furnace you choose isn’t equipped with a system including an ash auger, you can simply use a shovel in order to move ashes from the firebox’s front and then use a rake to pull them from the furnace’s rear to make a new bed of hot coals.

Keep in mind that ashes are ideal for gardening, but in any case, they must be disposed of properly in order to prevent forest fires. Experts recommend placing the ashes in a metal container equipped with a tight lid. The container should then be left on the ground, out of the way of any combustible materials, for at least 48 hours.

Off-Season Maintenance
During the off-season, protect your furnace from damage by securely putting the chimney cap in place. The furnace should also be visually inspected to assess for moisture damage potential; it’s necessary to ensure a proper seal so that moisture can’t enter your furnace and cause damage during the off-season. The ash auger, if you have one, should be removed, cleaned, and reinstalled as well to avoid the moisture and ashes from eating away at the metal.

Ultimately, 83% of Americans think having a yard is important and 90% of those with a yard think it is important that it is also well-maintained. Understanding and prioritizing proper maintenance for your outdoor furnace is the key to optimizing its performance and durability. For more information about Heatmor parts, contact Outback Heating of Virginia, Inc.

As we’ve discussed in previous posts, there are countless advantages that come with investing in an outdoor furnace such as a Heatmor. For example, current owners of outdoor furnaces report that they are using up to 25% to 70% less wood compared to traditional wood furnaces and of course have far more efficient heating compared to using other heating sources or fuel sources. And while Heatmor furnace prices do vary, it’s more important to understand the maintenance involved with outdoor furnaces before investing in one for your home. Here’s part one of our homeowner’s guide to outdoor furnace maintenance, where we’ll discuss some of the most essential tips for taking proper care of your outdoor wood boiler.

Spring Flushing
First and foremost, it’s critical to make time to drain your furnace each spring and flush it properly. Most furnaces drain after you open the drain valve and let the contents empty themselves completely. In order to flush your outdoor furnace efficiently, it’s typically best to leave the drain valve open but close the pump valve. From there, let the system flush for a couple minutes before closing the drain valve and reopening the pump valve. Finally, refill the stove and add any boiler treatments as soon as possible.

Adding Annual Boiler Treatments
Adding boiler treatments helps your outdoor furnace work as efficiently as possible. Some manufacturers may differ in their recommended products and processes, but they generally consist of the same basic steps: first, let the furnace burn for about two hours. Then, ensure that the water is at a minimum of 100 degrees before adding the treatment. Many manufacturers recommend wearing protective clothing during this maintenance step.

Bleeding The System
There’s no set timeline for this maintenance process, but it’s important to stay vigilant and inspect your furnace often to determine when it needs to be done. Keep an eye on the water level light — if it’s not lit, you may need to add water. Slowly add water until it starts to overflow from the vent pipe located on the top of the unit.

Ultimately, there are currently around 200,000 outdoor wood furnaces in use. Understanding how to properly maintain your furnace is the key to maximizing its lifespan. Keep an eye out for the next post, where we’ll discuss some more essential maintenance tips for outdoor wood boilers, and for more information about Heatmor furnace prices, contact Outback Heating of Virginia, Inc.

In the last post, we discussed some compelling reasons to invest in an outdoor furnace, specifically, a Heatmor brand furnace. Current owners of outdoor furnaces report that they are using up to 25% to 70% less wood compared to traditional wood furnaces and of course have far more efficient heating compared to using other heating sources or fuel sources. But before you invest in your own Heatmor residential furnace, it’s important to understand the full range of unique benefits they provide. Here’s part two of our guide that will explore some more convincing reasons to invest in a Heatmor residential furnace.

Insulation

Heatmor furnaces are truly built with maximum efficiency in mind. The Heatmor brand does its best to optimize heat retention and limit energy loss. They achieve this by insulating their outdoor furnaces with a fiberglass bat insulation, which is the same type of insulation that is used to heat homes. The sides of the outdoor furnace are covered with R-19 insulation, and the top is covered with R-38 insulation. This insulation is not flammable. It’s also easy to access, long-lasting, and contributes to the structural integrity and efficiency of the furnace.

Ash Auger

Heatmor furnaces are equipped with a tool for easily removing ashes, called an ash auger. The ash auger removes ashes from the rear of the furnace, making for a much easier process than the traditional method, which often requires the operator to wait until the fire has completely burned out or shovel the ashes out through the front door. This tool makes the tedious job of removing ashes easier than you ever thought possible.

Customization Options

Finally, Heatmor outdoor residential furnaces are available with many different options regarding color and functionality. They can be equipped with a shaker grate system to burn certified types of coal. There’s also the Pellet Burner and Used Oil Burner, an option that has the ability to burn both wood and used oil.

Ultimately, being aware of the many unique benefits of Heatmor furnaces can help you decide whether or not they’re right for your needs. Don’t hesitate to contact a Heatmor dealer near you for more information about the one-of-a-kind features that only a Heatmor furnace can provide.

Outdoor furnaces are becoming an increasingly popular form of heating, with about 200,000 currently in use. This is largely because 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. But of all the brands that make outdoor wood burning furnaces, Heatmor brand furnaces are especially known for their durability and overall effectiveness. Here’s part one of our guide that will explore some of the most compelling reasons to consider investing in Heatmor residential furnaces.

Versatility

Contrary to popular belief, outdoor furnaces are capable of doing so much more than simply heating your home. They can also heat your garage, essentially turning it into another livable area or workspace for a number of projects or hobbies. Most surprisingly, Heatmor outdoor furnaces can also be used to heat your swimming pool or hot tub. Invest in a Heatmor furnace and you can say goodbye to those pricey pool-related energy bills. A Heatmor can handle it all!

Heatmor furnaces are also versatility regarding the materials they can burn. It’s not just firewood — you can also burn coal, pellets, or used oil. This gives homeowners maximum opportunity to gather heat sources and prepare for countless emergency situations.

Stainless Steel Construction

Heatmor furnaces are created using an incredibly durable type of steel, called 409 Stainless Steel. The company has been doing this since 1994 due to the material’s improved resistance to oxidation and corrosion. The company ever deduced that outdoor furnaces made of this type of steel can last about three times longer than those made using carbon steel, the former industry standard. You can rest assured that your Heatmor furnace is among the most durable and long-lasting on the market.

Ultimately, understanding what makes Heatmor furnaces such a good value is the key to making the right heating decisions for your home. Keep an eye out for the next post, where we’ll discuss some more compelling reasons to consider investing in an outdoor Heatmor furnace.

Congratulations on moving into your very first home! You probably made a long checklist of all the items you’re going to need inside your kitchen, your bathrooms, the bedrooms, and all the other interior areas of your property. But what about the outdoors?

So many first-time homeowners forget about their outdoor landscaping needs until it’s much too late. So don’t make that mistake; start planning for all the items and tools you will need to keep up with your property’s landscape. Proper landscaping can actually increase your home’s resale value by up to 14%, so it’s important to know what you’re doing and what items you will need.

Here is a helpful list of all the items that first-time homeowners should get to ensure they can do all the necessary outdoor landscaping tasks when they are needed:

• Hedge trimmers — Hedge trimmers are essential so you can keep your property’s bushes and shrubs looking great and improve your curb appeal.
• Leaf blower — Without a leaf blower, your property will start to look like a mess to everyone in your neighborhood. Don’t let the fall ruin your property with all those leaves; get a working blower and clean up your lawn.
• 200 series lawn mower — Having a zero turn mower is great for keeping your lawn clean and looking amazing. The 200 series lawn mower is a great option, and properties are better off with one.
• Chainsaw — Chainsaws are great for trimming those larger bushes or cutting down any trees to improve your property’s site line.
• Shovel — You never know when you’ll need a shovel for gardening purposes, so make sure you have a good one.
• Rake — Once you have all those giant piles of leaves on your property, you’re going to need to rake them up somehow, right? Get a nice rake and get to work.

If you want to find some of these outdoor items and learn more about the 200 series lawn mower, contact Outback Heating of Virginia Inc. today — and good luck on your property maintenance!