In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Fehrenheit endurance

Discussion in 'Pellet Stoves, Pellet Fireplaces, Pellet Furnaces' started by Ward8512, Feb 22, 2014.

  1. Ward8512

    Ward8512

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2014
    Messages:
    715
    Likes Received:
    2,034
    Location:
    Northeast WI
    We had a fehrenheit 50 endurance installed with our existing furnace yesterday. We have barely any airflow through out vents. We noticed that they did not install a backdraft damper to our existing furnace, only one by the new furnace. Could this be part of the problem? Any suggestions?
     
  2. eatonpcat

    eatonpcat

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2013
    Messages:
    9,379
    Likes Received:
    51,790
    Location:
    Eaton Township, OH
    Welcome to the forum...I can't help you, but I am sure some of the boys/girls will by shortly to assist you!!
     
    will711 likes this.
  3. Ward8512

    Ward8512

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2014
    Messages:
    715
    Likes Received:
    2,034
    Location:
    Northeast WI
    Thanks!
     
  4. brokenwing

    brokenwing

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2013
    Messages:
    638
    Likes Received:
    1,675
    Location:
    Northern MD, Near the PA LIne
    Hang tight, Professor Holmes will be along soon, i mean DEX, he will get you straight!:rofl: :lol:
     
  5. DexterDay

    DexterDay Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    12,411
    Likes Received:
    31,629
    Location:
    Northeast Oh
    Yes. A damper must be installed in the existing vent. Otherwise all your hot air is coming out of your furnace.

    A damper will seal off the existing furnace and allow much more airflow in the ductwork.

    Welcome to FHC, we have a few members with a Fahrenheit. With me included.
     
    savemoney likes this.
  6. Ward8512

    Ward8512

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2014
    Messages:
    715
    Likes Received:
    2,034
    Location:
    Northeast WI
    Thanks, from what I read online I thought that was the problem. Now to get them to fix their mistake...

    We did get them to throw in a ton of pellets with the purchase. They gave us Vulcan Wood Products, are these decent or not really?
     
  7. DexterDay

    DexterDay Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    12,411
    Likes Received:
    31,629
    Location:
    Northeast Oh
    Without that Damper on the existing furnace? Your throwing most heat back into the furnace and into the basement. Get the damper installed correctly and you should be surprised.

    How large is your home? One or two stories? Insulated well? What was your heat before?

    As for the pellets? Never tried them. Where abouts are you located?
     
  8. Ward8512

    Ward8512

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2014
    Messages:
    715
    Likes Received:
    2,034
    Location:
    Northeast WI
    We are near Green Bay Wi. We have forced air propane. The house is about 1200 sq ft. 2 stories, 100 year old farm house that we have remodeled. Tore the whole thing out down to the studs, rewired and reinsulated. Still at 100 years old it is drafty and cold.
     
  9. DexterDay

    DexterDay Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    12,411
    Likes Received:
    31,629
    Location:
    Northeast Oh
    At 1,200 sq, that furnace should do well if the dampers are installed correctly and and the duct work is sealed well and insulated.

    Any pics of the install? Is the stove in the basement? Is that counted as the 1st level? Or are you looking at 3 levels with the basement? And if so, is the Cold air return hooked up?

    I am hearing about 3,000 sq foot, but I also burn some wood in the basement next to the furnace. I don't have my Cold air return hooked up. So the furnace distributes the hot air from the wood stove via the ducts.

    But if your cold air return isn't hooked up? Then you must add the size of your basement to the heating requirements. Because the hot air you push up, must return as cold air. So you are heating a basement that you don't have to. Otherwise wasted BTU'S if your not down there.
     
  10. Ward8512

    Ward8512

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2014
    Messages:
    715
    Likes Received:
    2,034
    Location:
    Northeast WI
    Cold air return is not hooked up yet, they needed to order a part for it but it will be hooked up next week. We do not use the basement except for storage. We do have 3 levels with the basement. When we bought the furnace we had 2 choices, this one or the Harmon pf 100. The person who did our estimate said the Harmon would be an overkill for our house. I really hope we made the right choice, at 6000 bucks and not working correctly my Husband is not happy...
     
  11. DexterDay

    DexterDay Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    12,411
    Likes Received:
    31,629
    Location:
    Northeast Oh
    $6,000?

    How much was the furnace? Install? And venting??? How much duct work did they run?

    I paid $2,000 for mine and just paid $2,000 last week for my Brother in laws Fahrenheit. Granted they were both used, but $6K should have gotten a Harman.

    I don't doubt most dealers as they do it for a living? But some are crooked and some are straight shooters.
     
  12. Ward8512

    Ward8512

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2014
    Messages:
    715
    Likes Received:
    2,034
    Location:
    Northeast WI
    Furnace was $3995, venting was $580, duct work $150, Dampers $396 (but they only installed one), electrical $235, and labor $550. Prices were the same within $50 at all 3 pellet furnace dealers in our area. To get the Harmon our estimates were closer to $7300. We have a small area to put it which was another reason we went with the fehrenheit.
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2014
  13. Ward8512

    Ward8512

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2014
    Messages:
    715
    Likes Received:
    2,034
    Location:
    Northeast WI
    This is all I could do for pictures, it is a small room (used to be a like a cellar) 100 year old basement, not the prettiest ;)
     

    Attached Files:

  14. 343amc

    343amc

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    1,749
    Likes Received:
    5,765
    Location:
    Northeast Lower Michigan
    I'm Fahrenheit owner number 2 here. Welcome to the forums.

    I burned Vulcan pellets several years ago. They're made in the UP of MI. Never saw them again after that season.

    Are they planning to install a backdraft damper in the 10" round duct coming out of the furnace? It doesn't look like there is one installed in the pic. If you ever plan to use your primary furnace or central AC, you need one there as well.

    I'm scratching my head as to why the venting is set up as it is. Rotating the furnace 90 degrees would eliminate some twists and turns. And you really, really want a clean out tee.

    Got any pics of what was done for venting outside? I think that's a window they're going out. If the window doesn't open that may be OK depending what else is outside and above that window, but with some of the other liberties that appear to have been taken I'm not so sure.
     
  15. slvrblkk

    slvrblkk

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2013
    Messages:
    6,647
    Likes Received:
    29,535
    Location:
    Northampton, PA
    Dex and 343...do you you guys have surge suppressors on your furnaces?

    No oak on that furnace? At least I can't see it.
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2014
  16. Ward8512

    Ward8512

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2014
    Messages:
    715
    Likes Received:
    2,034
    Location:
    Northeast WI
    We had to have the furnace that way because of the small area. Also if we turned it the control panel was against the wall. The vent does go out the window but it is the same situation we had before because our propane furnace vent goes out there also. I will run out and get a picture of the outside vent.
     
  17. Ward8512

    Ward8512

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2014
    Messages:
    715
    Likes Received:
    2,034
    Location:
    Northeast WI
    Here is the vent.

    Cold outside! 7*, really wish the pellet furnace was working!
     

    Attached Files:

  18. 343amc

    343amc

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    1,749
    Likes Received:
    5,765
    Location:
    Northeast Lower Michigan
    I've got one, an I'd be surprised if Dex didn't.

    I didn't catch the lack of OAK. That's required per the install manual.

    As far as airflow through the ducts go, there are two speed settings for the blower on the furnace, either 600 or 800 CFM. I don't recall which is the default. But without backdraft dampers on the existing furnace, all you're doing is blowing air into the existing furnace on both the hot and cold air sides.
     

    Attached Files:

  19. 343amc

    343amc

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    1,749
    Likes Received:
    5,765
    Location:
    Northeast Lower Michigan
    That's what I get for looking at pics on my phone without clicking on the picture. I didn't see the other equipment in that room.

    I would ask your installers to put a clean out tee where the exhaust connects to the furnace. Without a clean out tee, that elbow could plug up with ash over time.

    I'd also ask them when they will be hooking up your OAK (outside air kit).
     
  20. Ward8512

    Ward8512

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2014
    Messages:
    715
    Likes Received:
    2,034
    Location:
    Northeast WI
    I am not sure what OAK is, I am very new to pellet heat and as you can tell, have no idea what I am doing. Please help me figure this out because they are coming back tomorrow and I want to be sure everything is correct. If it isn't going to work then they can load it back on the truck and I will take my 6000 dollars elsewhere. So not happy right now but with the propane shortage we needed to do something...