Time for a new wood furnace

Which model Yukon would you have interest in? FYI, they will be re-releasing their current models in newly updated "EPA certified" form in the next few months (by next spring for sure ) I'm excited to see what they have done and to see how that compares to the mods I have done on mine.

 

I'm guessing my home is between a Big Jack (90k btu) and Super Jack (125k btu). Someone said it might be helpful to compare the size of my heat pump /AC system, which is 2.5 ton.

I can't wait until spring. And frankly, if they had to make changes for the EPA I don't want to be the very first customer to deal with the bugs. My experience with "EPA mandated" anything has been roundly awful.

 

Yeah, I hear ya on the first year stuff, but if there was a company out there that I was inclined to gamble on a first year model with, it would be Yukon...very well engineered and top notch customer service. Nobody else out there has a 30 year warranty on their wood furnaces (and not just the "welds on the firebox" either)
Depending on what they do exactly, and how much cost and work there will be to update my Husky, I very well may do that, and then eliminate the Tundra...or the Tundra may stay and the Yukon will go...we will see!

 

Let's say I could buy a lightly used Husky for $2500, and it has a right-handed flue to suit my furnace room...

The BTU rating should still be ample. Also it gives me the later option to convert to gas, which my wife feels is a great thing. $5300 wholesale, the used unit seems like a great savings.

What would I want to inspect before committing to it?

David

 

How old is it? That's a pretty good price if it is a newer one.
I don't know that there is any one thing specifically. You can tell a lot just by looking over the general condition inside and out. Operate all the doors and latches looking for alignment, latch, and gasket issues. A newer one will have a stainless heat exchanger so there shouldn't be any rust issues there. Open the HX cleanout door, are the HX tubes reasonably clean, or covered in gooey tar. Examine everything for cracks/warping. Take a mirror and light so you can look at the condition of the ceramic liner in the oil (gas) burner pot and you can see the head of the burner too. I would expect it to be a little black and dirty, but not all creosoted up...and no fins melted/warped/missing on the burner head.
If there is a black smoke stain above the loading door then they may have poor chimney draft (not your problem...just saying) Check out all the firebrick to see if any are cracked/broke/missing, they are a little pricey and only available from Yukon...very heavy so shipping is pricey too! Check the grates, see if they warped. If it is still hooked up then you can fire the oil burner to check operation.
Be aware that these units are rated to be somewheres in the 80% efficient range on oil/gas...which is fairly normal on oil furnaces, but when running on gas (or propane) it compares more so to the older gas furnaces...not a problem for "backup" heat...but not great if you decide to completely quit burning wood.

 

FYI, there is a wood/gas Husky on CL (Pittsburgh) for $1000 (OBO) but it looks like it has been used pretty hard...the loading door has white on it...a sure sign that it has been overfired.

 

So I had a contractor out to estimate the installation and the Jack set up as an add-on will be nearly a drop-in. The Husky will require reducting the whole furnace room.

Also I talked to someone at Yukon and they suggested the Husky would probably be too much heat - it has a high and low burn mode and would spend most of its time in low burn, smoldering. It performs well heating a 2000-3000 sq ft home in Minnesota, and I have 1500 sq ft in southern Pennsylvania. So they thought the Jack would do very well for me.

 

The Super, or the Big Jack? Yeah the Husky on idle all the time doesn't burn clean...that's why I modded mine.
When you talked with them, did they mention anything about the new models coming? The curiosity is killing me If you get a Jack, let me know, I learned a few tricks on running 'em when I had mine...get to thinking about it...if you are interested in a used one, my sister is selling hers. (Big Jack)

 

I'm getting a Jack. The used Husky I mentioned earlier won't be available until spring. A new Husky costs quite a lot more than a wood furnace and at the end of the day the propane heater efficiency is only in the low 80's percent. Plus with a Jack it basically drops into my current ducting, and a Husky requires major duct reconfiguration.

Tell me about the Jack for sale - I'm ready to place an order any day now. How old is it? Where is the air inlet cut?

I asked about the new models, they said their intent was to change as little as possible and of course avoid a catalyst. The catalysts work best when an operator is nearby to adjust the burn after it gets properly heated, and their goal with a furnace is to make it as hands-off as possible. By the sound of it, they definitely won't have designs tested and ready for production this season.

 

It's a Big Jack.Where is the inlet cut? You mean where the return air comes into the blower box? Top and center of the blower box as I recall. That is easily changed though.
I would guess it is 10-12 years old...not used every winter though.
I think she was wanting $1k for it...