Kuuma Vaporfire in Mild Weather

At brenndatomu and other's suggestion, I am getting the contractors lined up to have a VF100 installed in my house in NC. I have a neighbor that has a wood furnace, though not a VF100. They have trouble that on the coldest days the furnace doesn't keep up with heating needs, and that when the weather is mild but still need heat in the house, it makes too much heat. Should I be concerned about too much heat on mild days with the VF100? I know it won't lack for output when needed!

Thanks for the help as usual folks!

 

The VF is like any wood furnace in that the amount of heat it makes is largely controlled by the type and amount of wood that you load into it...my VF100 is a little "big " for our house this time of year, so after this warm spell gets past us, I will start loading small loads of low BTU wood like the box elder that I have on queue.
The difference in the VF is that you can turn the computer up for a faster burn ( more BTU's) in colder weather...and that no matter if it's on low, or high, it will keep the fire burning hot and clean...just hotter on high.
Congrats on the VF...the wood furnace that makes wood heat so easy that it's boring.

 

Thank you sir! So easy it’s boring is what I’m after, for sure. A number of people have mentioned the work required to make firewood and load/manage the furnace. I find that odd because it takes at least as much work to earn the money to pay for the replacement electricity and propane costs to heat the house otherwise.

 

If I recall, you have a decent sized house, no?
With the milder climate of NC the VF100 should be able to keep up on the coldest days, but if loaded light as I said, not be "too much" on warmer days...well too a point anyways...once it gets too warm out I either just use my little Drolet 1400i stove in the living room fireplace, or burn a little oil...

 

I am heating 4000sqft, so yes it’s a decent sized heating area. I plan on having a high efficiency fireplace or two also, so that should help with the shoulder season as well. I am okay with the heat pumps running when it’s above 35° outside, so that should make shoulder season easier?

 

Yup, I think you'll be a happy camper...

 

Do you already have the furnace?

 

Not yet, I was waiting on the final approval of the contractors. But I think I’ll get my order in tomorrow now that you have instilled further confidence in the approach! Thanks!

 

I imagine it will take a bit to get it since they are just slammed busy.

 

It’s not that big a deal for us, we have other heat obviously. And it’s 65° here right now! But getting the order in soon so we can get to wood heat ASAP.

 

It was 75* here yesterday, 58* at midnight, been dropping all day, 42* now...just fired a small load in the Kuuma as the house temp has been slowly slipping all day...Indian summer is over me thinks...

 

Get your name on list then?

 

Ran out of time today, but early next week for sure!

 

Could you remind me how you run yours? Do you have a thermostatic control for it, or let it run full speed all the time?

 

I have never used the tstat on it...I tried activating high speed on the blower one time, didn't seem to make a huge difference to me, but it may be different for a larger home?

 

Rush Battle make sure you or your installer read the directions for the installation and check flaps/dampers. My original installer said they had it correct but they didn’t have the check flaps in the correct location. I chased my tail the first several seasons because of this.

 

There ya go... Matthewchopswood has one closer to your neck of the woods there Rush Battle ...should be a good resource as far using one "in mild weather"

 

Thanks brenndatomu !

Matthewchopswood do you use a thermostat or just run the blower on low all of the time as well?

 

Do you find that the thermostat controls house temp much, or is it more the load in the firebox?

I have an existing home that I am adding the furnace onto two existing heat pump and propane furnaces. It is going to be tricky to get the chimney out of the house, but I have some help in that regard. I am heating the bottom and middle of three floors, about 4000sqft.

Thanks for the help!!!