Why don’t you offer a dual-fuel option on your furnaces?

While this option may look appealing at first glance, it really doesn’t offer anything most customers don’t already have in the form of an existing indoor heat source. When installing a furnace you can set the existing heat source as the back up as simply as using another thermostat. Then if there is a power outage or a pump failure, there is still heat for the customer whereas the dual-fuel furnace would give you no back up.

Why is it that MF eSeries furnaces can burn multiple fuels (wood, coal, corn) and others can’t?

What allows our MF eSeries to burn multiple fuels is the air being blown under the rocker grates and below the fuel being burned. Our MF eSeries works particularly well with lump coal and cob corn.

What is the difference between a forced air and natural draft furnace?

The difference is how the air to stoke the fire is brought in to the firebox. Natural draft furnaces open a damper that allows air to draw in to the firebox directly from outside. Forced air furnaces use blowers to blow air directly in to the firebox with more control then natural draft furnaces while also having the option of using variable speeds to better control your firebox burn rate. They also allow the furnace to burn hotter.

What is the difference between a pressurized and non-pressurized furnace?

Pressurized furnaces are sealed systems that operate on higher temperatures and use steam power to heat. They can generally put out more BTU’s but are made only for large industrial purposes. While they do put out more BTU’s they offer more danger to the customer and cost more money to purchase and maintain because you need a certified boiler technician to install and repair the furnace. Pressurized furnaces are usually only available in industrial size models.

Why do some wood burning furnaces have a longer warranty?

Always read what the manufacturer will guarantee and warrant, the longer the warranty gives the customer the assurance that they are purchasing a quality wood furnace, it also expresses the manufacturer’s confidences in their product.

Can wood burning furnace burn different types of fuel?

Yes and No, No if the furnace does not have grates or a forced air system it will not function properly or effectively when burning multiple types of fuel such as wood, coal or cob corn..

Is an outdoor wood burning furnace considered a good investment?

Yes, the people that have invested in a good quality furnace have stated that, the payback is short-term and the financial and health benefits are long-term.

Will an outdoor wood burning furnace add value to my home?

Yes it will add value because it is a safe and the most economical way to heat a home, providing you install a furnace that has a reputation for efficiency and long term quality. Example, you are selling your home and another one similar to yours is for sale and all things being equal, except you are asking $10,000.00 more for your house. The other house has a heat and hydro cost which is in excess of $4,000.00 a year and will increase as heating and hydro costs go up. Your heat and hydro cost is only $1,500.00 for the year. Which house do you think will sell first?

grates

How do the rocker grates work? What makes them worth the money?

Rocker grates are exactly what the name describes. They allow the user to burn wood, coal and cob corn (or a combination at the same time). They also make it extremely easy to keep the firebox clean and well-maintained by having the ashes fall into the ash pan. This feature is probably the most popular feature on the market right now. Many manufacturers are trying to copy the idea with little success.

What makes the HeatMasterss a better buy then other furnaces?

What makes our units rise above the competition is bang for your buck. Customers get the most square footage, the most features and best quality for what they pay. Our stainless steel furnaces are priced at the price of mild steel furnaces and offer more of the features customers want because we avoid distributors and sell dealer direct saving the customer hundreds of dollars.

Bottom Line – They get more for the money they pay.

Is it true that most outdoor wood burning furnaces will burn green wood?

That is true, but, there are a number of negative and dangerous results when doing so.

  • Burning green wood creates a large amount of smoke and creosote which is certainly not good for your environment and the environment in general.
  • Creosote will build up within the firebox and flues reducing heat transfer to the water, that make the furnace burn longer in order to heat the water therefore more wood is consumed.
  • Creosote will accumulate in the chimney restricting air flow or eventually causing a chimney fire.
  • When burning green wood you will consume approximately up to 50% more wood because 50% of the wood is consumed in order to dry the other 50% and as a result you are using twice the amount of your wood supply and cutting and splitting and piling two times more wood. Watch wet wood burn and you will see water sizzling out of it which turns to steam, steam is moisture/water, fire fighters use water to extinguish fires.

Tip-Cut or have your wood supply cut during the winter months for two reasons:

  • The wood will dry faster because there is only a small amount of sap in the tree (sap is moisture)
  • Hauling the wood out when the ground is covered with snow prevents dirt and stones becoming embedded into the bark and wood thus makes cutting easier and getting longer life on the saw chain. Having less dirt and stones in the woodshed and furnace is a plus, why heat up dirt and stones.
Will Northern Heating always be in business?

There are many businesses that have changed ownership over the years and continue to operate in the same manner as the original owner. The sole owner of Northern Heating has established a very successful business and in the event that he retires the company will be sold and the new owner would be foolish not to continue to operate the business in the same professional manner.