Author Topic: indoor wood furnace question (Read 1936 times)

bmill · « **on:** March 18, 2008, 08:33:05 PM »

I'm looking at building a tornado shelter for my old farm house and I've come up with an idea that I would appreciate some input on. To make this easy to understand (I don't have pictures), let me put it this way;

Visualize a square two story farm house. Off of one side you build a 28' long attached enclosed/insulated walkway. At the end of this you have a 10' x 10' all concrete storm shelter (buried into a bank). Now the question: If I were to put a forced air wood furnace inside the shelter, can I put a 30' run of pipe from the furnace, along the ceiling of the insulated walkway, then into the house? I know there will be circulation issues, but my main question is can I put a big enough fan to push hot air 30'?

I think I can resolve circulation issues, but if I can't push the hot air that far, it's a mute point. The reason I'm toying with this idea is because it's going to cost me almost $2000 to get the old chimney in the farm house safe. It's an old house that isn't very tight that my son lives in. I have an infinite supply of bur oak on the 70 acres so I'd like to burn wood vs the $380 electric bills this winter.

Thanks for any ideas, and if I need to clarify this, please ask!

isawlogs · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2008, 09:22:25 PM »

I have been in some houses that where 50' long with the furnace in the basement at one end , heat was coming out at the other end 40odd feet away.
For what you want to do it is some what different , you not only have the 30 feet from the house but also the house to cross with the ductwork , but I would be willing to try it out , as I am sure it can be done . How much heat you will loose from such a long run I have no clue as to how one can count this .
You might need a fan in the ductwork to help push the air some , aint no big deal .

submarinesailor · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2008, 05:54:43 AM »

Use insulated duct work and I don’t see were you should have any problems.

Bruce

rebocardo · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2008, 04:14:21 AM »

> but my main question is can I put a big enough fan to push hot air 30'?

Easy, no problem at all. I would think 8" round duct work would do. I would super insulate it though and build a box around the insulation too. Question would be how many CFM needed to heat the house, I have no idea how to calculate that? Going by what 8" blowers cost, maybe 300 cfm would be enough?

york · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2008, 06:12:08 AM »

Hi there,i think you should be thinking "Hydronic"

sawdust · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2008, 08:54:06 AM »

Are you going to have your cold air return coming down the tunnel? It might be pretty cold unless you duct it back as well. I grew up with hydronic heating and did not realize the benefits until I built my own house and used scorched air because it was cheaper. (only to install)

sawdust

york · « **Reply #6 on:** March 20, 2008, 10:28:47 AM »

Here is a link,you should check out,may help....Bert

york · « **Reply #7 on:** March 20, 2008, 10:31:56 AM »

Hi there,here is a link ya may want to look at...

http://forum.doityourself.com/forumdisplay.php?f=129

LEES WOODCO · « **Reply #8 on:** March 20, 2008, 01:48:20 PM »

My furnace is 25' from main ductwork in a seperate bulding. I would recomend insulated flexible duct with a box and more insulation and definetly a cold air return like others have said. I would keep the doors at each end of the hallway closed and what little heat comes off duct would be enough to keep it warm. Mine works fine but I do have a 3 speed blower on furnace.

mike_van · « **Reply #9 on:** March 20, 2008, 04:29:10 PM »

bmill, just a thought, make an EASY EASY way to move wood into the bunker - Carrying or wheelbarrowing really gets old fast!

bmill · « **Reply #10 on:** March 20, 2008, 07:13:05 PM »

Thanks for the replies. I am going to build a door into the walkway to haul wood in so I don't have to drag it through the house. i do plan on running a cold air return back to "the bunker" along the floor. I'm going to start with a 600cfm fan and adjust as necessary. I'm getting close to starting the project, I'm going to do a bit more homework though. By the posts, I think it's doable. I appreciate the hydronic suggestions, but I'm probably going to stick with "scorched air". If I get this going, I'll post some pictures.

jackpine · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2008, 07:13:42 AM »

Bmill

One thing to keep in mind if your furnace is going to be in a small room is how to vent the smoke. My wood-fired boiler is in an 8' x 12' room and when I open the door the smoke can be very heavy and fill the room quickly. In your bunker I think you would want a powered exhaust fan that you could turn on before opening the door.

Bill

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