How do Outside Wood Furnaces Work?
Increasing Popularity With today’s fuel costs, outdoor wood furnaces are increasingly popular for their ability to provide relatively low-cost hot water and heating without the indoor mess traditionally associated with wood heat. Advantages include that they can be used with almost any existing residential heating system, either as the main energy source or as a supplement. Disadvantages include the labor required for operation. One manufacturer, Central Boiler of Greenbush, Minnesota, says that the outdoor boiler unit may be located anywhere from 30 to 500 feet from the dwelling, and can be used to heat several buildings. The company’s explanation of its technology points to the use of water jackets that surround the firebox and provide hot water to insulated, underground pipes supplying the interior heat system. The specs explain how heat from the hot water is forced into existing heating systems such as forced-air furnaces, radiant baseboard or radiant floor, allowing the home-owner
