[skobydog]

Hi,
I currently am running an oil furnace and have a wood stove both in my basement and upstairs. I'm thinking about an add on furnace in the basement but didn't know if this was a workable solution.

The furnace would run in parallel so I'd be running the add on furnace by itself. I know it's hard to give advice without really looking at the setup but I've included pics to show how this would install.

The supply duct I would have to go into is 8 x 16. The existing furnace is behind the chimney 3 feet lower than where the coal furnace would be installed and there's no real physical access to do anything in there.

Coming off the existing oil furnace plenum there are 4 other smaller ducts feeding other areas of the house.

The add on furnace has an 1800 CFM blower. There would be a back-flow preventer added also as only one furnace would be used at a time.

I have access to a good deal on someone selling their wood add on furnace but obviously don't want to until I have a better idea of whether or not this could work. I'm not sure if there are any major obstacles you can see by looking at these pictures.

Thanks in advance.

 

[supers05]

For the record, I think that's a terrible setup, but that's only my humble opinion.

I'd check with local codes and your insurance company if they would allow this.

The return air should be taped into on the left, larger duct in pictures, 3,4, and 5. You'll have to make sure that the supply you're planning on using is big enough for this new appliance. A damper is also needed in that furnace too, if it doesn't come with one installed.

Is that a oil water water heater, or something in the front there? The low black box. If so, it's clearances must be met. The fresh air size will have to be verified that it's large enough, and to code. That goes for the chimney also.

I don't personally work on that type of equipment, so I'm real rusty on those codes. So maybe your local allows it, but do your homework first.

Cheers!

 

[beenthere]

A 16x8 duct is too small for 1800 CFM. It would be very loud if 1800 CFM were moving through it.

 

[skobydog]

With a little research I did notice that the duct is too small. There's no room to go directly into the oil furnace plenum without major home renovation.

Behind the wall to the left there's a very large living area. It's the living room with an open plan. In that room there's also a 24 foot high cathedral ceiling with an open loft.

I don't know if adding a large register into that there would solve the issue. Any thoughts?

 

[user_12345a]

You may want to check out some oil/wood dual fuel furnaces instead of having two units in parallel.

Be careful DIY installing wood burning appliances; if something bad were to happen, could be on the hook for lots of money. Insurance may deny the claim if it's not code complaint.

Venting and clearances are of particular concern.