Thread: Small Wood Furnace Install & Rating

I am considering the purchase of a small wood furnace for install in my 8' x 12' foot utility room. If I install there the install area is 22" x 24" zero clearance and 8 feet of vertical room. The utility room doubles as an arctic entry with washer & dryer & electric hot water heater located there.

My chalet home is 1450 square feet over a 33" dry crawl space. 250 of the square feet are in the loft. Currently I heat without ducts with a Quadra Fire propane stove that allegedly puts out 30,000 BTU's. The heat does not move well although I have a ceiling fan. Last winter It cost about $1100. for the propane for heating. This summer I plan to build a garage 22' from the opposite corner of the home (opposite the utility room).

What do you folks think? What brand furnace do I use or do I install in the garage? How would that work? Could I heat my hot water from both locations?
I would like an efficient system.

Is there a combination wood furnace and ground source heat system on the market?

Thanks for any help, Fitwon

Originally Posted by Fitwon2002

I am considering the purchase of a small wood furnace for install in my 8' x 12' foot utility room. If I install there the install area is 22" x 24" zero clearance and 8 feet of vertical room. The utility room doubles as an arctic entry with washer & dryer & electric hot water heater located there.

My chalet home is 1450 square feet over a 33" dry crawl space. 250 of the square feet are in the loft. Currently I heat without ducts with a Quadra Fire propane stove that allegedly puts out 30,000 Btu. The heat does not move well although I have a ceiling fan. Last winter It cost about $1100. for the propane for heating. This summer I plan to build a garage 22' from the opposite corner of the home (opposite the utility room).

What do you folks think? What brand furnace do I use or do I install in the garage? How would that work? Could I heat my hot water from both locations?
I would like an efficient system.

Is there a combination wood furnace and ground source heat system on the market?

Thanks for any help, Fitwon

I know that you can get a few different variations of Combination Wood Furnaces. You can get a Wood/Oil, or Wood/Electric, or just Plain Wood.
You would have to call somebody, that deals with Home Heating, to find out what is on the market, and talk to your Insurance Agent, to find out what the Codes for Clearances for your Duct Work, from your Floor Joists.
I don't know about heating water with one, but they are very efficient with wood. I have a Combination Wood/Oil here, and the last 2 winters, I never Burned a Drop of Oil. Bruce

Fitwon- Check out the Lil' House Heater. It won't do hot water, but sounds like it would take care of your house fine. I bought one last year and it is great. With the crawlspace area you have you should be fine on places to run the cold air return.