Century Fireplace Furnace

[ch3ck]

Hello everyone. I’m stoked I found this place!

I’m building a new home and have been looking forward to purchasing the same fireplace my grandfather and father have in their home. But when I went to call them today, the number is disconnected. With a little investigating, I found that the business had a fire and they were not able to recover.

The fireplace I really wanted was a Century Fireplace Furnace (not to be confused with the other Century fireplace company). Is anyone familiar with this brand/company? They have a unique patented system, I recommend you check it out at their website. http://centuryfireplacefurnace.com/

I was really bummed to find out they may not be in business anymore. Does anyone have any other information on this company? I am dying to get my hand on one of their inserts.

Does anyone know of anything similar to this system? If I can’t get a Century fireplace furnace, I will need to find something else. And I’d love to have something similar.

I’m wanting to be able to pipe it into the rest of the duct work and move the heat throughout the house.

Any information on this company or any similar systems would be greatly appreciated!

CH

 

[begreen]

I don't see them listed on any EPA certification reports. The claim of EPA tested 92+% efficiency makes me suspicious. That is highly unlikely.

But no worry, there are several, good, high-efficiency ZC fireplaces that really are EPA tested to choose from that have remote ducting options. How big a fireplace are you looking for?

 

[bholler]

Yes lots of very questionable claims on their site. 167200 btus but only uses a cord of wood per 1000 sq ft to heat for 4 months

 

[ch3ck]

I don't see them listed on any EPA certification reports. The claim of EPA tested 92+% efficiency makes me suspicious. That is highly unlikely.

But no worry, there are several, good, high-efficiency ZC fireplaces that really are EPA tested to choose from that have remote ducting options. How big a fireplace are you looking for?

Apologies for being ignorant, but what do you mean how big? BTU output? Physical size? These things I really don’t know. I want it to put off enough heat to keep a large room warm and duct it to the rest of the house also.

The house is going to be 2700 sq foot with a 700 sq foot basement.

I want a wood burning fireplace insert surrounded by rock. No gas.

I appreciate any advice. Let me know what other info would be helpful...

 

[ch3ck]

Yes lots of very questionable claims on their site. 167200 btus but only uses a cord of wood per 1000 sq ft to heat for 4 months

Well, I only have anecdotal evidence. My grandfather built his house in the late 70s and put a Century in his home. My father built a home around 20 years ago and he put one in his. My uncle and cousin both have one.

My dad can put just a couple logs in and have everyone in the house stripping clothes and going outside. It seems extremely efficient and they all seem to love them.

 

[begreen]

Apologies for being ignorant, but what do you mean how big? BTU output? Physical size? These things I really don’t know. I want it to put off enough heat to keep a large room warm and duct it to the rest of the house also.

Physical and firebox size. A 2700 sq ft house in a cold winter area can usually accommodate a big fireplace, but that depends on the amount of insulation, windows and ceiling height for the new house and how open the floorplan is. Will this be mostly for nights and weekends or will it be burning 24/7 in the winter?

 

[ch3ck]

BTW, I spoke with the owner of Century this evening. He explained they had a burglary and the building was set on fire. So they are currently out of commission. But he is optimistic they will be back in business in the future.

However, we are moving forward quickly with our build, so I will need to find something else. Any suggestions would be great!

 

[begreen]

Tell us more about the house layout, window areas, fireplace location and ceiling heights. If you have a plan or a sketch of the floorplan that shows the fireplace location and where heat needs to be ducted to, that would help;
.

 

[ch3ck]

Physical and firebox size. A 2700 sq ft house in a cold winter area can usually accommodate a big fireplace, but that depends on the amount of insulation, windows and ceiling height for the new house and how open the floorplan is. Will this be mostly for nights and weekends or will it be burning 24/7 in the winter?

Nof 24/7, as we have day jobs, but I would say very regularly. I would like to use it as much as I can through the Winter.

It is a fairly open floor plan. The main living area where the fireplace will be will have a vaulted ceiling. The rest of the home will be 9’. It will be a well insulated home with many windows.

 

[ch3ck]

Tell us more about the house layout, window areas, fireplace location and ceiling heights. If you have a plan or a sketch of the floorplan that shows the fireplace location and where heat needs to be ducted to, that would help;
.

Here are the plans (still a work in progress, but will be very close to this). Sorry for the poor quality...

 

[begreen]

The imgur image just shows as black. It's better to post the image itself.

 

[bholler]

Nof 24/7, as we have day jobs, but I would say very regularly. I would like to use it as much as I can through the Winter.

It is a fairly open floor plan. The main living area where the fireplace will be will have a vaulted ceiling. The rest of the home will be 9’. It will be a well insulated home with many windows.

Many of us burn 24/7 while working full time jobs

 

[ch3ck]

The imgur image just shows as black. It's better to post the image itself.

Sorry, every forum is different. Hope you can see the image now..

 

[ch3ck]

Many of us burn 24/7 while working full time jobs

I understand. I guess I just meant I won’t be home to add logs during the day.

But if I find the right one, I guess I won’t have to!

 

[PaulOinMA]

Hello everyone. I’m stoked I found this place!

I’m building a new home and have been looking forward to purchasing the same fireplace my grandfather and father have in their home. But when I went to call them today, the number is disconnected …

Welcome!

I read that as your father and grandfather had their phone disconnected and didn't give you a new number to call them.

 

[spudman99]

Welcome and good luck.

Your starting from scratch and there are many, many options. Since the Century unit like those of your relatives is unavailable, might I suggest this.

Visit a local wood stove shop to look at the various options in inserts, free standing models and possibly Zero Clearance units. No substitute for seeing a real product in person to gauge its size, appearance and features. Some you will like, others not, but at least your narrowing down choices.

If a shop is too far from you then look up local licensed or certified Chimney Sweeps. Many times they rep certain lines of stoves and inserts, but more importantly they know what works in your area and what are good versus bad units. Sweeps can be a really good source of solid information since they are not salesmen by trade.

You need to determine what your fire burning capabilities are. Like the responses above, there are folks who work from home and can attend, fill and adjust a woodstove all day. Others work outside the home and use a 12 hour refill schedule, which then leans towards units that put out less high heat volume but constant heat over a long time. What works best for you and your family will have a large role in determining the best unit for you.

Finally you should obtain a source of wood NOW. That means purchase, cut or scrounge 2-3 cords of burnable wood and get it stacked to begin to season. Even if your house will not be ready for occupancy till next year, that wood will need/want at least 1 year of seasoning. I cannot UNDERSTATE that as an important factor. Apologies if you already are aware of that or have sourced the wood, I have no way of knowing your experience level or history with burning wood. Again welcome.

 

[begreen]

Can see the image now. What remote area(s) would need ducted heat?
Some units to look at are the Quadrafire 7100, RSF Delta Fusion and Opel2, Pacific Energy FP30, Osburn Stratford II for starters.

Fireplace Xtrodinair (FPX) units use a positive pressure system which may work well here. Take a look at the 44 or 36 Elite models.

 

[ch3ck]

Can see the image now. What remote area(s) would need ducted heat?
Some units to look at are the Quadrafire 7100, RSF Delta Fusion and Opel2, Pacific Energy FP30, Osburn Stratford II for starters.

Fireplace Xtrodinair (FPX) units use a positive pressure system which may work well here. Take a look at the 44 or 36 Elite models.

I would like to duct heat the entire home (including the basement, minus the garage).

There is a dealer near me that sells the FPX units. I’ll check those out.

Do the catalytic units have any downsides?

Is there more maintenance with these systems?

 

[ch3ck]

So doing a little reading on these Elite units, it looks like the blower has to be powered and cycling at all times while you’re burning? So if you have a power outage, you can’t use the fireplace (or at least add more wood)? Am I understanding this correctly?

If that’s correct, that may be a dealbreaker. I plan on using the fireplace in the event of a power outage. I will not have gas to the house.

 

[ch3ck]

Can see the image now. What remote area(s) would need ducted heat?
Some units to look at are the Quadrafire 7100, RSF Delta Fusion and Opel2, Pacific Energy FP30, Osburn Stratford II for starters.

Fireplace Xtrodinair (FPX) units use a positive pressure system which may work well here. Take a look at the 44 or 36 Elite models.

I appreciate the suggestions.

Out of all the ones you have listed, the Delta Fusion is closest to what I want. It’s big (4.4 cu ft, 24” logs) and it has the ability for central heating to the other parts of the house. I’m just not sure I like the 3 sided viewing and how far it would stick out. Maybe it would grow on me.

The others you mentioned are either too small or they don’t offer the central heating. (Unless I’m reading it wrong, which could be the case).

I like the FXP, but I don’t think it will work for the reasons I listed above.

Are there any others you could suggest?

 

[ch3ck]

I appreciate all the help, just wondering if I would receive more responses in another forum? Maybe I’m asking in the wrong place...

 

[ch3ck]

Welcome and good luck.

Your starting from scratch and there are many, many options. Since the Century unit like those of your relatives is unavailable, might I suggest this.

Visit a local wood stove shop to look at the various options in inserts, free standing models and possibly Zero Clearance units. No substitute for seeing a real product in person to gauge its size, appearance and features. Some you will like, others not, but at least your narrowing down choices.

If a shop is too far from you then look up local licensed or certified Chimney Sweeps. Many times they rep certain lines of stoves and inserts, but more importantly they know what works in your area and what are good versus bad units. Sweeps can be a really good source of solid information since they are not salesmen by trade.

You need to determine what your fire burning capabilities are. Like the responses above, there are folks who work from home and can attend, fill and adjust a woodstove all day. Others work outside the home and use a 12 hour refill schedule, which then leans towards units that put out less high heat volume but constant heat over a long time. What works best for you and your family will have a large role in determining the best unit for you.

Finally you should obtain a source of wood NOW. That means purchase, cut or scrounge 2-3 cords of burnable wood and get it stacked to begin to season. Even if your house will not be ready for occupancy till next year, that wood will need/want at least 1 year of seasoning. I cannot UNDERSTATE that as an important factor. Apologies if you already are aware of that or have sourced the wood, I have no way of knowing your experience level or history with burning wood. Again welcome.

Thanks for the reply.

I live out in the middle of nowhere. It’s a few hours to any possible stove shop. So I’m trying to do my research online first to try and narrow it down. Once I do that, I can find the nearest dealer and nearest city where I can look at some.

 

[begreen]

I am a bit dubious about the thought of it heating the basement too during very cold weather, or is that just to keep pipes from freezing there?

What dealers are in your area? No point mentioning brands that are not an option in your area.

 

[ch3ck]

It will be a finished basement. I’ve never had a basement, but I assume it would get chilly down there during the winter months...?

I’m more than likely going to have to find a dealer in the Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Amarillo, Dallas, or Wichita areas.

It’s going to be a haul no matter where I go...

 

[begreen]

If the basement is underground and properly insulated it will stay about 45-50º no matter how cold it gets outside. I'd treat heating that area as a separate zone off the primary heating system or just space heat with gas or electric. That will make heating of the house easier. Remember that during a power outage that blower will not be functional without a generator powering it.

Note that the blower for the fireplace (including the FPX) and pull air from the exterior or interior of the house. For this place I don't think I'd tie it into the hvac system, but instead would have it independent. It will draw less power and less wear on the hvac blower. For good circulation pull air from the far br area and use that to supply air to the fireplace convection blower.