Clayton 1800 Warm Air Furnace

pburchett

Member
Is anyone heating with a Clayton 1800 Warm Air Furnace, from the US Stove Company? I was wondering how long a load of wood last and if you are using the secondary heat exchanger feature or not.
I have one (in basement and connected to attic air handler via 12 inch duct) and have to reload it in the middle of the night and the secondary heat exchanger just seems to collect more creosote than add any benefits. I am heating 5000 sq/ft to 72-75F in 10F-40F weather with a natural draft and a 4inch outside air intake in the ceiling above the stove. Four feet of stove pipe and a six inch double stainless steel , insulated flue goes up through the house 24 feet with the last 5 feet of the flue sticking out the roof. I typically burn all you can get on a large wheel barrow in a 24 hour period.

Does this typical for wood consumption?
 
It sounds about right, but hard to compare one place to another. Are you using all good hard-wood and is it split or whole-rounds?

I had a Clayton 1800 (came from Central Tractor) and changed later to a Myers Woodchuck 4000. No big change in technology. The Woodchuck is just more HD with much thicker steel. Has the same basic 9 cubic foot firebox. The Clayon was used when I got it and getting warped.

On a typical 20 degree F day and 10 F degree nights - I fully load it at night, turn the thermostat down to 60 F, and there's plenty left in the morning. 1/8 to 1/4 remaining maybe? NO restoking at night. But that's all hard-maple, ash, or oak and not split a lot. If I use split wood, it burns out faster.
I purposely save my big whole round, unsplit wood for loading the fire at night before bed.
Even when temps get down to well below zero, there are still ample coals left in the morning. I never had a fire burn out and never reload during the night. The furnace also heats all our hot-water and the house is easily 70F all day and evening. Old somewhat insulated but drafty farmhouse, half built in 1820. About 32 feet by 65 feet with an upstairs.

I also have a three and half story barn and workshop with an old Thermo-control #500 wood-furnace (biggest they made). It also holds a fire all night with one load - but again, I never load at night with split wood. Only whole-round pieces. They will burn slower and more controlled.

All three furnaces have some sort of "heat chamber" you could/can engage for higher-effeciency. They only work in extreme cold. Otherwise, they just cause a creosote problem.

As far as a "wheel-barrow" load a day? I suspect I use more then that, but it's hard to keep track. All my wood is inside, so it's easy to get and stoke the furnce. Maybe I'd notice more if I had to go outside for it. We keep at least four full cords around the furnace, in the house. Note I said "full cord", which is 4' X 4' by 8'. I figure I've already burned 3-4 full cords this season, so far. By the time I have to bring more wood in, the house is do dry it needs moisture. So, we bring in snow-covered wood, it dries off and rehumidifies the house - and is plenty dry by the time we have to use it.
 

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