Hot air wood furnaces that meet the new EPA regs...

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
I think I will pass on that reading, thanks. :)

Just kind of confirms what I have been thinking all along - a company could go out of the business despite being able to actually build a unit that passes the EPA regs, because of the exhorbitant time & expense required to get the little 'official' piece of paper that says it passes. Which is a shame.
 
I think I will pass on that reading, thanks. :)

Just kind of confirms what I have been thinking all along - a company could go out of the business despite being able to actually build a unit that passes the EPA regs, because of the exhorbitant time & expense required to get the little 'official' piece of paper that says it passes. Which is a shame.

Yes, you are correct. The market has to be large enough to support the investment as well. What happened is EPA views a forced air furnace in some regards as an outdoor hydronic heater. Now, industry has to deal with the false alignment of what are two distinctly different products and technologies. A very careful read of QQQQ is in your future! Put it on the list of things to do this coming holiday season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lampmfg
And hence the reason for the mass exodus of stoves in the 90's some of which could put most of current units to shame. I recently sold my home, the day before the closing I was still dealing with regulations compliance wise. Most of which are pure pasture droppings.
 
  • Like
Reactions: brenndatomu
  • Like
Reactions: woodey
EPA = heavy handed city slicker bureaucrats.
 
And here is a snip from the front of the manual...
upload_2017-9-19_23-10-48.png
 
They have 'em at the Wooster RKO? Or you have a closer RKO now?
I was planning a trip there soon anyways...hafta check it out...
 
They have 'em at the Wooster RKO? Or you have a closer RKO now?
I was planning a trip there soon anyways...hafta check it out...
I went up northwest to Toledo, I believe it was around the Sandusky area. It was more than I expected to see. I haven't been to the Wooster store in a while. If I recall they had 5 large stainless tubes up top.
 
If I recall they had 5 large stainless tubes up top.
I think that's what the parts diagram showed...firebox looks Caddy-ish
EDIT: 4 tubes on the 1330E, 6 on the 1440E
 
Last edited:
Those are very pricy tubes, only one blower- price hike of 600- same jam-a-matic auto overfire door damper and good luck trying to keep the feed door latch system tight. Never got more than 4 hours usable heat out it either. just sayin
 
The unit I seen didn't have a door damper, but a damper control on each side. I'm sure it's still the same bad blowers, but the firebox looks a bit different.
 
The unit I seen didn't have a door damper, but a damper control on each side. I'm sure it's still the same bad blowers, but the firebox looks a bit different.
Like this?
upload_2017-9-20_10-35-53.png
 
Yeah, maybe they do have a damper in the door. One thing I noticed with the epa furnaces that were listed, some of the cleaner furnaces had some poor efficiency numbers. The Caddy however was higher than some as far as emissions, but had a higher efficiency rating. The firecheifs seemed low.
 
The spin air damper in the cleanout door is gone as is the ability to shake grates if it still has them. the controls on the side must be for the 2nd tube air.
 
the controls on the side must be for the 2nd tube air.
It appears you can adjust the primary and secondary air separately, kinda odd...would think EPA would not like that...you could potentially open the primary all the way and close the secondary all the way...wouldn't be too clean that way...kinda like goin old school...
 
It appears you can adjust the primary and secondary air separately, kinda odd...would think EPA would not like that...you could potentially open the primary all the way and close the secondary all the way...wouldn't be too clean that way...kinda like goin old school...

Like most every single modern stove, the air controls are probably not allowed to completely close off. These furnaces will be running hot all the time to run clean like a modern noncat stove must.
 
Like most every single modern stove, the air controls are probably not allowed to completely close off. These furnaces will be running hot all the time to run clean like a modern noncat stove must.
Right, but even if they don't close 100%...primary full open and secondary closed probably isn't good either...
 
Right, but even if they don't close 100%...primary full open and secondary closed probably isn't good either...

It won't be closed. Nothing closes anymore!

Some non-cat stoves have adjustable secondary inlets, it's rare because most folks set it and forget it. The primary air control is far more effective at varying the burn rate.
 
I understand that it doesn't close 100%...ahhh never mind
 
So has anyone upgraded to a new stove?

I upgraded to a Kuuma VF 100 --- 1 - 1/2 years ago. I am heating a 2700 sq. ft. Civil war era victorian in northern N.Y.- 15 miles from the Canadian border. Been here and burning wood every year since 1984. Well into my second winter with the VF. and my house has never been this comfortable, and cutting wood consumption by at least 40%. If you are looking for a easy to use, efficient, safe wood burning furnace with extended burn times(12+ hrs on low) and a company with great CS. check out the Kuuma Vaporfire. American made with American steel. Works great in conjunction with a propane furnace.
 
Last edited:
I upgraded to a Kuuma VF 100 --- 1 - 1/2 years ago. I am heating a 2700 sq. ft. Civil war era victorian in northern N.Y.- 15 miles from the Canadian border. Been here and burning wood every year since 1984. Well into my second winter with the VF. and my house has never been this comfortable, and cutting wood consumption by at least 1/3. If you are looking for a easy to use, efficient, safe wood burning furnace with extended burn times(12+ hrs on low) and a company with great CS. check out the Kuuma Vaporfire. American made with American steel. Works great in conjunction with a propane furnace.
Welcome @woodey !
What were you heating with before the Kuuma?