What is the "right" wood furnace?

[yram]

I had a Jensen "Solution" wood furnace for 36 years which was perfect in my house. But it developed warped internal components so I shopped (and shopped and shopped) before finally settling on a Drolet Heat Commander. I really do not like the automatic damper business. I understand all the pluses but the minus is you have no control over it, specifically, achieve a slow overnight burn/ I did a lot of adjustments with the installation to get it working properly but it still burns way to too hot when you fill it for the night. Plus the dampers had a problem and although I was able to make them work, the thin metal piece that activates the damper seems cheap, all things considered. I've looked online at Fire Chief, Shelter, Breckwell, Hitzer, and others. I kinda like the Hitzer. I'd appreciate some insight from those of you familiar with these products and their pluses and limitations. Thank you.

 

[hobbyheater]

I had a Jensen "Solution" wood furnace for 36 years which was perfect in my house. s. Thank you.

Have you considered the Kuuma Vapor 100 .?

 

[yram]

Have you considered the Kuuma Vapor 100 .?

It seems overly big. I don't need something big or complicated. For warm air circulation I only have a short length of 9" round duct that blows into a central stairwell.

 

[brenndatomu]

A 9" duct is WAAAY too small to properly cool a heat commander!

Run, and I mean FAST from anything by shelter/fire Chief, they are awful! Tons of horror stories on this site about them! I only recall hearing of one person that liked his.
I see used ones for sale regularly where people bought them, installed, and fought with them for a while, then realized they bought a turd.

Can't speak for a hitzer.

The VF 100 sounds like it would work for you, it would need a larger heat duct though (they all will!) but it will be by far the easiest to operate!

 

[brenndatomu]

Or try to find a nice used furnace...good luck, most are roached.

 

[yram]

Or try to find a nice used furnace...good luck, most are roached.

I've been looking at used, and you're right, they'll sell something saying it's in good shape yet photos show visible warping/breakage/signs of overfire.

 

[blades]

Had a couple units auto dampers, or as I call them auto over fire items. snap switches or bi-metal springs neither seemed to work that well.

 

[yram]

Had a couple units auto dampers, or as I call them auto over fire items. snap switches or bi-metal springs neither seemed to work that well.

So you know what I'm talking about!

 

[brenndatomu]

Had a couple units auto dampers, or as I call them auto over fire items. snap switches or bi-metal springs neither seemed to work that well.

You talking about hotblast?
Those things were almost as bad as the newer fire chief/shelter furnaces...

 

[blades]

one was hotxxxx the other i can't remember., older black finish -well what was left of it. either way had to nursemaid them .