Furnaces

Looking to heat your space with something other than the usual forced-air setup? Here's a quick guide to the most common types of furnaces you might consider:

Gas Furnaces
These classic workhorses generate heat by burning natural gas, offering reliable, strong warmth. While still popular, gas furnaces are gradually being edged out by electric models due to changing utility costs and environmental priorities.

Coal Furnaces
Running on various types of coal, coal furnaces are more common in areas where coal is in abundance and/or can be purchased in bulk. The heat produced can be impressive when using high quality coal such as anthracite. 

Electric Furnaces
Electric models skip the open flame, instead using heated coils to warm your home. They're straightforward to install and maintain, especially suitable for areas with mild winters or where gas isn't practical.

Oil Furnaces
Running on fuel oil (think: a cousin to diesel), oil furnaces are common in areas where natural gas lines don't reach. Some models can even burn kerosene, and you'll spot them by their external fuel tanks.

Propane Furnaces
Much like gas furnaces but running on propane, these are often found in rural settings and are also identified by their external tanks.

Wood and Pellet Furnaces
If you prefer to go the old-school route, wood burning furnaces use seasoned firewood or pellets to heat your space. While less common, you can still find new models online or at hardware stores, with some requiring a bit of electricity for thermostats or pellet hoppers.

Whether you're after the classic crackle and scent of burning wood or the convenience of modern gas and electric options, there's a furnace to fit every home and fuel supply.

Choosing the Right Furnace for Your Home

Selecting the perfect furnace isn't just about picking the first big metal box you see in the showroom. Every home - and family - has a different set of needs, quirks, and priorities. When weighing your options, keep the following in mind:

• Fuel Type: Are you drawn to traditional wood-burning warmth, sleek modern pellet stoves, or the reliable roar of coal? Consider fuel availability in your area, operating costs, and the quirks of each type. For instance, wood and pellet furnaces offer renewable heat, while coal remains a conventional favorite in some regions.

• Efficiency: Look for models with high efficiency ratings. This means less fuel is wasted, more heat winds up in your living room, and ultimately, you enjoy lower heating bills.

• Size Matters: An oversized furnace may cycle on and off frequently, wasting energy, while an undersized one will struggle to keep up. Make sure yours is sized just right for your home's square footage and insulation levels.

• Installation and Maintenance: Some furnaces are plug-and-play, others require professional installation (and perhaps a bit more ongoing attention). Check if the unit you have your eye on needs regular cleaning, annual servicing, or fancy filters.

• Budget and Long-Term Savings: Factor in both upfront costs and potential savings over time. A higher-efficiency model or one compatible with multiple fuel sources might cost more initially but pay off year after year.

Keep these points in mind as you explore the furnace landscape, and you'll be warming your toes in comfort and style all winter long.

What Is a Wood Burning Furnace?

A wood burning furnace is a heating system that uses traditional firewood or wood pellets as its primary fuel source. While they're less common than modern pellet or coal alternatives, wood furnaces remain a solid choice for those who prefer renewable resources and classic warmth.

How a Wood Burning Furnace Works

Here's the basic idea: you load seasoned firewood - or sometimes pellets - into the furnace's firebox. The furnace burns the wood, generating heat which is then transferred throughout your home, often via forced air or a hot water system. Because wood combustion produces smoke and gases, all wood furnaces are equipped with a flue or chimney for proper venting.

Some models require a bit of electricity to power features like thermostats or automatic feeders, especially with pellet-burning variants. Others operate completely off-grid, perfect for those rural cabins or anyone wanting to stay warm during a power outage.

Spotting a Wood Burning Furnace:

• Look for a substantial storage of firewood or wood pellets nearby.
• You'll notice a flue, chimney, or similar venting system.
• Some designs are installed outside, often in a shed, making resupplying the fuel a quick jaunt into the yard - but keeping the mess and smoke out of your living space.

Whether you're after that nostalgic crackle or just seeking energy independence, a wood burning furnace brings a timeless heat into the heart of your home.

Wood Burning Furnaces: Features and Considerations

Wood burning furnaces offer a classic and efficient way to heat your home, harnessing the warmth of seasoned firewood or pellets. For those with ready access to firewood, these systems can be an economical and eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels.

Key Features:

• Fuel Source: Primarily fueled by seasoned hardwood logs or wood pellets, making use of renewable resources.
• Installation Locations: Some units are designed for outdoor installation - often housed in sheds or outbuildings - to simplify venting smoke and carbon monoxide safely away from living areas.
• Ventilation System: All wood furnaces require a dedicated flue system to handle emissions and maintain air quality indoors.
• Heat Output: A properly sized wood furnace can supply steady, robust heat to an entire home, especially in colder climates.
• Manual Operation: Many models still need manual restocking of wood or pellet hoppers, with a few featuring electric thermostats or automatic feed mechanisms for convenience.

Potential Drawbacks:

• Labor Intensive: Unlike set-and-forget gas or electric options, wood furnaces demand regular attention - chopping, seasoning, and storing wood, plus frequent loading.
• Outdoor Trips: Outdoor models, while easier to vent and maintain, do mean braving the elements to keep the fire going.
• Maintenance: Creosote buildup in the flue and ash collection require routine cleaning for safety and performance.
• Space Requirements: You'll need storage for ample firewood or pellets, protecting your supply from moisture and pests.

If you value self-reliance, enjoy the ritual of tending a fire, and don't mind a bit of extra work, a wood burning furnace can provide both comfort and savings throughout the heating season.

What factors influence the type of furnace used in a home?

When it comes to choosing the right furnace, a few key factors are at play. First, the types of fuel you have access to - be it wood, coal, pellets, or something else - significantly shape your options. Local energy costs also make a big difference; what's economical in one region might be pricier in another. Finally, your climate matters. Homes in colder areas might need more robust heating solutions compared to those in milder zones.

These factors come together to determine which furnace makes the most sense for your home, both for comfort and for keeping your energy bills manageable.

Why Are There So Many Types of Furnaces?

Walk into a hardware store or browse an online catalog, and you'll quickly notice the dizzying variety of furnaces available. But why so many options? It all boils down to the unique needs of each household - and the patchwork of climates, energy prices, and available fuels across the country.

Each type of furnace is designed to answer three key questions:

• What kind of fuel is available in your area - wood, coal, pellets, or something else?
• How much are you willing (or needing) to spend on energy each month?
• Do you live in a place where winter means a gentle chill or a full-blown blizzard?

That's why in some corners of Minnesota, a wood-burning furnace is king, while in other parts of the country, pellet or coal varieties might rule the roost. The end result? An array of furnaces, each tailored to handle different fuels, local costs, and good old Mother Nature's quirks.

No two homes - or winters - are quite the same, and your heating needs shouldn't be, either.

How can you identify an oil furnace?

Spotting an oil furnace is easier than you might think. Start by checking for a fuel tank - these are usually made from metal or sometimes have a poly-coated finish for added durability. The tanks themselves tend to be a flattened oval shape, much like a giant pill box, and when you look at one end, it can resemble a big zero (0).

Some homes have double-walled tanks encased in a rectangular shell, which adds another layer of protection. If you're still unsure, there's another giveaway: a faint, telltale oily aroma, especially if the tank or lines ever develop a leak. That distinct scent is hard to miss - a far cry from what you'd find with wood, coal, or pellet heating. Keep an eye (and nose) out for these clues, and you'll quickly tell if your home's heart runs on oil.

We currently offer coal, pellet or wood burning furnaces for your home.