Purchased a fire chief 1700 off facebook marketplace. No success heating my home effeciently since it was purchased and installed. It was installed but a HVAC professional. My home is around 3200 sq ft. vaulted ceiling in 3 rooms(I understand its not ideal for heating). Furnace rated to heat 2500-5000 sq ft. That number varies based on website you are using. After intial install I struggled to heat my house to 70 degrees when 30-50 outside. I had poor air flow throughout the house and the blower would only run 5-7 mins at a time with a raging fire. I bought dry cord wood in case mine wasn't truly seasoned which didn't help. By the end of the season, I had local fire chief dealer evaluate the issue and make recommendations. He made 3 recommendations 1. Remove a portion of the baffle(approx half) to increase airflow around the firebox 2. Install larger plenum to further assist air flow. 3. tie into cold air return. This year, I made the first 2 modifications. I removed 50 of the baffle and had a 20x20 plenum installed(factory plenum was 2 eight inch rounds). Unfortunately, similar issues persist with slight improvement. I can heat the house to 70 degrees, occasionally I can get up to 72, but I am burning a ton of wood just to attempt to maintain that temp with outside temp in the 30-40s. When I wake up in the morning, the house is 65 degrees with a good amount of hot coals in the firebox.
I consulted a friend and have added thermometer in the flue and hot air supply, damper on the flue and a manometer. If my manometer is reading .4-.5and flue temp 300-400, then I get about 3-5 mins of 95-105 degree air. Then the blower is off for 5-10 mins. If the mano is at .4-.5 and the flue temp is 500-600 then I can get heat output closer to 10-15 mins(maybe longer) of 95-105 degree air. In talking to my friend, this seems pretty abnormal. If his flue temp is 300-400 his blower is running almost constantly pumping out 100 + degreee air. His setup is different but the numbers are starkly different to me. I am doubtful this adding the damper has solved the problem.
Looking for suggestons on possible solutions. Is it just furnace itself? Where is all of the hot air going/why does the blower shut off so quickly?
Other possibilities I have considered: 1. bad limit switch 2. need to connect to cold air return(the furnace is in the basement which is large and the door to the basement is wide open) There is no shortage of air for the furance. I appreciate any info to help make this unit function properly!! This has been very frustrating.
I consulted a friend and have added thermometer in the flue and hot air supply, damper on the flue and a manometer. If my manometer is reading .4-.5and flue temp 300-400, then I get about 3-5 mins of 95-105 degree air. Then the blower is off for 5-10 mins. If the mano is at .4-.5 and the flue temp is 500-600 then I can get heat output closer to 10-15 mins(maybe longer) of 95-105 degree air. In talking to my friend, this seems pretty abnormal. If his flue temp is 300-400 his blower is running almost constantly pumping out 100 + degreee air. His setup is different but the numbers are starkly different to me. I am doubtful this adding the damper has solved the problem.
Looking for suggestons on possible solutions. Is it just furnace itself? Where is all of the hot air going/why does the blower shut off so quickly?
Other possibilities I have considered: 1. bad limit switch 2. need to connect to cold air return(the furnace is in the basement which is large and the door to the basement is wide open) There is no shortage of air for the furance. I appreciate any info to help make this unit function properly!! This has been very frustrating.
) and still not make enough heat to keep the blower on for more than a few seconds to minutes?! (even if operated manually, I'm told the supply plenum temp just drops like a rock)
