List of Current Prices for low end small furnaces

[Conflict]

I have no experience with furnaces and I am about to purchase one. The following is what I think I have learned of the current state of the market. Corrections/additions would be appreciated.

$1000 range -- 500 cfm, 280-430 lbs, bi-mtl draft ctl
DAKA 521, USS 1300, Vogel 1500, Fire Chief 300

$1200-1300 -- double the cfms and add a few lbs
850-1100 cfms, 480-550 lbs, bi-mtl draft
Englander 28-3500, USS 1400, Vogel 2500, Daka 621

$1400-1550 -- add forced draft
USS 24 & 30

$2000-2100 -- add some claims of sec burn or sec exchanger of dubious value
1100-1800 cfm, 525 lbs, forced draft
FC500, USS1602

$2360-2600 -- no improvement
Energy King 365, Big Jack 90, Woodchuck 526, Thermo-ctl 200

$3000-3900 -- true second burn & certifications
Vapor Fire 200, Napoleon 100 & 150, EK 385, Woodchuck 2900, Charmaster Chalet, Mini-Caddy

I think $1200 will do the job but if I triple that, I chop and clean less. Ideally I'd get an outdoor unit but dirty boilers are 4500 and gassers are closing in on 5 digit price tags. Maybe when I'm employed again.

 

[stee6043]

Keep in mind whichever way you go you're going to have to have all of the ancillary items to go along with the wood burner. Even if you have an existing chimney you could easily spend $1,000 to install a $1,200 wood burner.

I personally wouldn't be looking to make this kind of investment if I were not currently gainfully employed. I tend to lean towards risk aversion in most cases...

 

[gandrimp]

I am interested in the Arctic Fox. Did you happen to look at that stove. I have only saw it online, so no personal experience.

 

[Conflict]

I had not seen the arctic fox. It looks pretty and makes big claims (90% efficient secondary burn). I don't see an ash cleanout door so you may just have to rake the coals around and shovel from the loading door, like the thermo-control, which also makes big claims about a very efficient "down-draft" and secondary burn going up the back behind a baffle. Can't find enough info to make an educated guess. I wasn't considering an outside forced air unit. Seems like running big air ducts 20 ' and then through brick would be problematic. If it does what it claims, $3450 doesn't seem unreasonable.