Blaze King APEX-CBT Forced Air Wood Furnace

[BKVP]

Good morning one and all! Blaze King has returned to production with our APEX-CBT forced air wood furnace. As the "family" here at Hearth.com is well aware, we suspended production as we were experiencing significant back orders on our wood stoves and inserts.

This post is intended to just update the community understanding on our Apex furnace that they are available.

The Owners & Operators manual has been updated to the 2015 EPA requirements for "work practice and operating standards".

Thank you,
Chris

 

[Highbeam]

Good morning one and all! Blaze King has returned to production with our APEX-CBT forced air wood furnace. As the "family" here at Hearth.com is well aware, we suspended production as we were experiencing significant back orders on our wood stoves and inserts.

This post is intended to just update the community understanding on our Apex furnace that they are available.

The Owners & Operators manual has been updated to the 2015 EPA requirements for "work practice and operating standards".

Thank you,
Chris

Still a 7" flue requirement?

 

[Rossco]

Still a 7" flue requirement?

Put a halt on my purchase.

Would have been something special.

 

[BKVP]

Still a 7" flue requirement?

Yes.

 

[maple1]

7" flues are pretty common around here.

 

[Highbeam]

7" flues are pretty common around here.

Though the 7" flue may be available and common in certain areas the 7" flue is not common in industry. Look at the other furnaces available and then all of the stoves.

Of course, me personally, I have a 6" flue installed and moving that to a 7" is not easy or cheap. Sometimes the manufacturers provide some allowance to use undersized flues and I was hoping to see that.

 

[velvetfoot]

Does the cat enable it to approach a gassifier's performance?

 

[BKVP]

Though the 7" flue may be available and common in certain areas the 7" flue is not common in industry. Look at the other furnaces available and then all of the stoves.

Of course, me personally, I have a 6" flue installed and moving that to a 7" is not easy or cheap. Sometimes the manufacturers provide some allowance to use undersized flues and I was hoping to see that.

Highbeam,

I can only provide anecdotal observations from consumers that have attempted to run the Apex with a reduced chimney (6"). More often then not, the user experiences spillage problems during reloading, complicated more with a wall exit. To avoid this issue, the APEX should be installed with a 7" system, straight up and out and all the time mindful to keep the chimney system within the confine of the home when possible.

 

[Highbeam]

This thread was probably meant to celebrate a return to production. It is great that these things are back up and meet the 2015 rules.

I have often read that it is "illegal" to use a 6" flue for an appliance with a 7" collar unless the manufacturer specifically allows it. Does BK specifically allow for the 6" on this furnace? The last thing I want to do is jeopardize my insurance coverage or worse yet, be liable.

 

[Highbeam]

Does the cat enable it to approach a gassifier's performance?

A gassifier boiler or a gasifier furnace? Some would say that a regular non-cat is a gasifier.

 

[velvetfoot]

Some would say that a regular non-cat is a gasifier.

I don't dig that.

I'm thinking Kuuma.

 

[BKVP]

This thread was probably meant to celebrate a return to production. It is great that these things are back up and meet the 2015 rules.

I have often read that it is "illegal" to use a 6" flue for an appliance with a 7" collar unless the manufacturer specifically allows it. Does BK specifically allow for the 6" on this furnace? The last thing I want to do is jeopardize my insurance coverage or worse yet, be liable.

We do not allow for nor suggest a 6" system. And we have confirmed the with EPA that the emissions are plenty good from now through 2020, by the Apex in its current design.

 

[brenndatomu]

Looks like a monster...to be rated to heat only 1400 sq ft?

 

[sloeffle]

@BKVP

I am interested in how you are getting such (broken link removed to http://www.blazeking.com/EN/furnace-apex.html)from these furnaces and who performed the EPA testing ?

 

[BKVP]

Looks like a monster...to be rated to heat only 1400 sq ft?

The firebox is quite large, however being a catalytic equipped furnace, it can operate at much lower combustion temperatures and burn ultra clean. There are certainly many folks that heat a bit more square footage than is mentioned, however, we try to under promise and over deliver on our products.

It's is quite rare that someone purchases one of our products and says our claims are false. We just simply do not want those calls...so let someone else have them.

 

[BKVP]

@BKVP

I am interested in how you are getting such (broken link removed to http://www.blazeking.com/EN/furnace-apex.html)from these furnaces and who performed the EPA testing ?

I believe there are only two test agencies in the USA that are ISO certified at this time to conduct testing as required in the 2015 NSPS. I suspect many other test agencies are seeking that accreditation.

OMNI Test in Portland Oregon did the testing. They used the CSAB415.1-10 test method. The test report is being filed shortly with EPA. As to efficiencies, it is a catalytic appliance and therefore tends to take advantage of the inherent improved performance traits of catalytic equipped solid fuel heaters.

The large firebox can hold quite a bit of wood and when operated in a smaller home, the burn times are excellent...for an indoor forced air wood furnace.

 

[Highbeam]

I believe there are only two test agencies in the USA that are ISO certified at this time to conduct testing as required in the 2015 NSPS. I suspect many other test agencies are seeking that accreditation.

OMNI Test in Portland Oregon did the testing. They used the CSAB415.1-10 test method. The test report is being filed shortly with EPA. As to efficiencies, it is a catalytic appliance and therefore tends to take advantage of the inherent improved performance traits of catalytic equipped solid fuel heaters.

The large firebox can hold quite a bit of wood and when operated in a smaller home, the burn times are excellent...for an indoor forced air wood furnace.

So did this furnace accomplish EPA certification? What was the GPH? WA still requires GPH and not that other joules rate.

 

[BKVP]

So did this furnace accomplish EPA certification? What was the GPH? WA still requires GPH and not that other joules rate.

EPA has all the documents and we are awaiting their review prior to them issuing certification. It was 3.3 gr/hr.

WA state will consider any application but only after the EPA issues a certificate of compliance.

Keep your fingers crossed....