Hi there. New member here. I currently have a Forced Air LP furnace (for back-up) and a Pacific Energy Alderlea T5 that has been going non-stop since Propane prices spiked! House is 2200sq ft bungalow. Looking to install either an Add-On wood furnace or an indoor boiler and I would like to know opinions on both. I am looking at the Napolean HMF-150 as an add-on but I have not seen ANY reviews. I have no preference on boiler but the two that come to mind are the Econoburn or the Empyre Elite (pressurized and non-pressurized) Most important factor to me is long burn times. Looking mostly for reviews and Pros/Cons of Add-On vs Boiler. Thanks!
Add-On or Boiler
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The Napolean HMF-150 (and 200) looks interesting. I've been hoping to get a Max-Caddy (either double fuel or triple fuel) sometime soon. The numbers for efficiency look pretty good, but I haven't heard anything about them, either.
Anyone have any experience with the Napolean furnaces?
Anyone have any experience with the Napolean furnaces?
B891, very interested in this as well. Similar situation - took ownership in the fall of a 2 story Century farm house that was converted to propane 20 years ago (furnace, range, dryer, water heater, the works). All fine and dandy till this winter - $0.42/L to $1.09/L in a short few months.
Inherited a wee Jotul 602 and it's doing a fair job of keeping most of the main floor toasty, but the layout leads to cold rooms. While we have kicked the baseboard heaters on upstairs (at $0.10 per hour each, they are a deal right now).
I'm on the fence too and don't want to get caught next year, so what to do?
- Add-on wood fired warm air or boiler in basement
- Outdoor boiler
- Add a second wood stove to mainfloor (or even upstairs)
Have you considered the Yukon Eagle add-on wood furnace? (the Big Jack) They start around the $2000 mark, but don't have the electric back-up. This may also be a little small given your 2200sqft footprint.
The outdoor boiler is a big investment at the moment, but pretty tempting! Even at a bush cord a month, it'd be peanuts to operate compared to the propane.
Really trying to weigh all the options and costs to make an informed decision this summer.
I'll help as I learn
Inherited a wee Jotul 602 and it's doing a fair job of keeping most of the main floor toasty, but the layout leads to cold rooms. While we have kicked the baseboard heaters on upstairs (at $0.10 per hour each, they are a deal right now).
I'm on the fence too and don't want to get caught next year, so what to do?
- Add-on wood fired warm air or boiler in basement
- Outdoor boiler
- Add a second wood stove to mainfloor (or even upstairs)
Have you considered the Yukon Eagle add-on wood furnace? (the Big Jack) They start around the $2000 mark, but don't have the electric back-up. This may also be a little small given your 2200sqft footprint.
The outdoor boiler is a big investment at the moment, but pretty tempting! Even at a bush cord a month, it'd be peanuts to operate compared to the propane.
Really trying to weigh all the options and costs to make an informed decision this summer.
I'll help as I learn
You may not see the burntimes with a furnace like you did with your stove. The demand for heat, condition of the home, etc. will determine your lengths of burn.
I've heard of 2 or 3 people on here that commented on the Napoleons. A couple of users had nothing bad to say about their furnace's, but one user had some troubles with the intake damper sticking. Since the posts, his furnace was corrected with a new part. They are nice looking units, and appear to be modeled after the Caddy line of furnaces. I would think their prices are comparable to the Caddy. They contain a start up damper, which helps keep the exchanger cleaner by bypassing initially, and an insulated or glass door option.
I've heard of 2 or 3 people on here that commented on the Napoleons. A couple of users had nothing bad to say about their furnace's, but one user had some troubles with the intake damper sticking. Since the posts, his furnace was corrected with a new part. They are nice looking units, and appear to be modeled after the Caddy line of furnaces. I would think their prices are comparable to the Caddy. They contain a start up damper, which helps keep the exchanger cleaner by bypassing initially, and an insulated or glass door option.
JRHAWK9
Minister of Fire
I was too trying to decide what to do with LP prices the way there are. I plan on having something done by next winter. I pretty much have decided on the Kuuma Vapor Fire 100 installed as an add-on to my LP forced air unit. My main concern is with efficiency, I want something very efficient and with long burn times.
I am also looking to do something other than my blaze king Sirocco in my family room. I stopped at a stove shop a week ago and they had a napolean 100 in the show room. I inquired about it and the salesman said it's basically a napolean stove in a furnace box. From what I've read on this site, people are happy with napolean products. I had him price me a 150 with a steel door (you can either get a door with glass or a solid door - no glass) and the blower and it was $3650. I asked about the burn times and he said I would be able to get atleast an 8 hr burn. It all depends on the size of house, insulation, moisture of wood, etc. The brochure says you can burn 24" wood like the vf100. The brochure also says it's 88.6% efficient. I also looked into the vf100 and talking with them it would be $5400 shipped to my door in NE ohio. Daryl with kuuma assured me I would get atleast a 10 hr burn with his furnace. So I don't know what to do either. Not much info on the napolean.
Chicken Farmer
Burning Hunk
pros of wood furnace - cheaper to buy, possibly cheaper to install.
Cons of wood furnace. Limited burn time. No option of storage or radiant heat.
Pros of boiler - can add storage that extends times to load to when it's convenient for you. no staying up late to put that last load in, getting up in the middle of night or early morning to keep the house warm.
Can do radiant heat, no noise of fan blowing and very comfy.
Cons of boiler. More expensive to buy and install.
No personal experience with the two boilers you mentioned, but from reviews on here I'd steer clear of the empire elite.
Edit : Another pro to boiler is the ability to heat your domestic hot water. for me the knocks around $50 / month off my electric bill.
Cons of wood furnace. Limited burn time. No option of storage or radiant heat.
Pros of boiler - can add storage that extends times to load to when it's convenient for you. no staying up late to put that last load in, getting up in the middle of night or early morning to keep the house warm.
Can do radiant heat, no noise of fan blowing and very comfy.
Cons of boiler. More expensive to buy and install.
No personal experience with the two boilers you mentioned, but from reviews on here I'd steer clear of the empire elite.
Edit : Another pro to boiler is the ability to heat your domestic hot water. for me the knocks around $50 / month off my electric bill.
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Chicken Farmer
Burning Hunk
Check the classified sections for a nearly new wood furnace that has a factory hot water loop in it.......
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