New Furnace

[johneh]

I am in the process of replacing my 30 some year-old Wood/oil
combination furnace. The dealers close to me offer these units
1)Caddy Oil/Wood combo
2)Napoleon/Continental Propane/Wood Combination Only unit of this type OKd in Canada
What I am looking for is some real-world users of both types
what do you like/dislike and if cost were no object which would you install?
Thanks for any feed back

 

[woodey]

If you are only looking to purchase one of the two mentioned above I would go with the Caddy combo. If you are open to other options I think you would be alot happier with a wood furnace and a propane furnace running in conjunction with each other (separate units) if your set up allows for this.

 

[johneh]

wood furnace and a propane furnace running in conjunction with each other (separate units) if your set up allows for this.

This is what I am thinking

Wood & Propane Combo – Carleton Refrigeration

carletonrefrigeration.com

 

[hedge wood]

I can't speak for the brands you mention. Over the years of working in HVAC field I have taken a few the the combo units out as most were old and needed up dated. Around here oil is almost completely gone and I replaced the combo units with propane furnaces. Not knowing your age and how long your going to live in the house or will want to burn wood if it was me and I had the room in basement I would use two furnaces one for propane and one for wood. The last combo set up I did that's what we did for the customer and he has been happy with it and with propane being cheap around here the last couple of years he hasn't even been burning wood. I was just out to this house last week servicing the AC so I just had talked to him and he said he hadn't burned wood the last two winters.

 

[johneh]

Hedge Wood
Thank you for your insight.
Here we can get a unit or units propane furnace
with a wood furnace attached through a transition kit.
My old unit was 1 furnace that burned oil or wood
I have not used any oil in the last 20 years but I have to have it
to keep the Ins. company happy. Wood costs me nothing except
the taxon 220 acres and my labour (also sons) to process
So the wood is important. I was hoping someone had the wood/propane system
with real-world experience and would not have to rely on the glossy brochure

 

[lampmfg]

I am in the process of replacing my 30 some year-old Wood/oil
combination furnace. The dealers close to me offer these units
1)Caddy Oil/Wood combo
2)Napoleon/Continental Propane/Wood Combination Only unit of this type OKd in Canada
What I am looking for is some real-world users of both types
what do you like/dislike and if cost were no object which would you install?
Thanks for any feed back

I would never buy a combo unit. Usually, they are average at best using each fuel source.

 

[brenndatomu]

I would never buy a combo unit. Usually, they are average at best using each fuel source.

This ^ ^ ^.
I had a Yukon combo...had.

You will probably find very little feedback out there on the Napoleon furnaces...and the little bit I have seen wasn't great...sounds like they are high priced and quality control and customer service was lacking.
On the other hand, you will find many happy Caddy owners here...and since the add-on oil burner uses a seperate pot (not the wood firebox) I think a combo unit would work just fine in this case...they just share a flue and the distribution blower.

 

[Highbeam]

This ^ ^ ^.
I had a Yukon combo...had.

You will probably find very little feedback out there on the Napoleon furnaces...and the little bit I have seen wasn't great...sounds like they are high priced and quality control and customer service was lacking.
On the other hand, you will find many happy Caddy owners here...and since the add-on oil burner uses a seperate pot (not the wood firebox) I think a combo unit would work just fine in this case...they just share a flue and the distribution blower.

Doesn’t that caddy require an odd flue for the combo units?

 

[brenndatomu]

Doesn’t that caddy require an odd flue for the combo units?

Yeah I think its 7"...not that hard to get though (from what I hear)

 

[Highbeam]

Yeah I think its 7"...not that hard to get though (from what I hear)

And way more common in canadia

 

[smilehvac]

I am in the process of replacing my 30 some year-old Wood/oil
combination furnace. The dealers close to me offer these units
1)Caddy Oil/Wood combo
2)Napoleon/Continental Propane/Wood Combination Only unit of this type OKd in Canada
What I am looking for is some real-world users of both types
what do you like/dislike and if cost were no object which would you install?
Thanks for any feed back

I would not recommend you to buy Napoleon - in my experience, they break very fast. I know you didn't mention this in your message but if you have this opportunity it's better to buy Lennox - the best furnace in my opinion

 

[johneh]

I would not recommend you to buy Napoleon - in my experience, they break very fast. I know you didn't mention this in your message but if you have this opportunity it's better to buy Lennox - the best furnace in my opinion

Thanks but too late they installed a 9600 propane furnace a transition kit and a hmf 150 wood furnace
it is Napoleon but under there Continental nameplate.
They are the only propane /wood furnaces approved for Canada
so little choice didn't want oil hated changing never used never had oil in them tanks
every 10 years for the insurance co.

 

[Gomerpile]

Thanks but too late they installed a 9600 propane furnace a transition kit and a hmf 150 wood furnace
it is Napoleon but under there Continental nameplate.
They are the only propane /wood furnaces approved for Canada
so little choice didn't want oil hated changing never used never had oil in them tanks
every 10 years for the insurance co.

How are you liking the unit?

 

[johneh]

We are really happy with the total package
It was a large expense and I was disappointed that I could not have the
HMF200 ( clearances ) but very happy with what I have
Used a lot less wood on a very cold winter last year. seamless operation
between wood and propane Have had no problems.
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