I have a 1983(?) Devonshire indoor wood furnace. Extra credit if you have ever heard of that brand! It is installed in parallel with a electric downdraft furnace that provides the blowers and backup heat and has AC coils above the wood furnace. It is in the basement, has a thermostat to open the draft door and limit switch to operate the blowers. It works OK, but the doors and latches are wearing out, I have repaired several minor parts on the latches. One unexpected feature is that the amount of rising heat keeps the house warm 80% of the time without ever running the blowers. It has an 8" pipe to tile/masonry chimney.
It seems that many of the add-on furnaces don't have thermostat control.
I suspect that the flue would over draft modern furnaces and probably need a barometric damper, but that seems to be counter to a hot flue and air infiltration.
I've considered an OWB, but I feel like I'd use more wood than this antique.
Firewood isn't a problem now, I can cut all I need on our land, but I'm 60.
This setup will work without power. I remove the filter cover and put a toothpick in the draft door, that setups a slow controlled burn.
We also have a conventional fireplace w/o doors that we used for mental health, not for serious heat when it's much below 35F.
It is appealing to get the "mess" out of the basement, but I don't like the thought of loading a furnace in the rain or snow. If I had an OWB, I would want a cover over it.
Thanks for any ideas
It seems that many of the add-on furnaces don't have thermostat control.
I suspect that the flue would over draft modern furnaces and probably need a barometric damper, but that seems to be counter to a hot flue and air infiltration.
I've considered an OWB, but I feel like I'd use more wood than this antique.
Firewood isn't a problem now, I can cut all I need on our land, but I'm 60.
This setup will work without power. I remove the filter cover and put a toothpick in the draft door, that setups a slow controlled burn.
We also have a conventional fireplace w/o doors that we used for mental health, not for serious heat when it's much below 35F.
It is appealing to get the "mess" out of the basement, but I don't like the thought of loading a furnace in the rain or snow. If I had an OWB, I would want a cover over it.
Thanks for any ideas
