Is it right for me?
Over the years we have developed a very simple pre-qualification checklist for those interested in CrossFire™ Outdoor Wood Furnaces. It is best to consider these items before going any further in the process. CrossFire™ Outdoor Wood Furnaces are fabulous They are however, not for everyone.
1. I have access to free or inexpensive wood.
This may seem obvious, but if you are going to have to buy wood – a wood burning outside furnace is probably just not worth the investment. Most of our customers have timber on their property that supplies their needs. Some have friends in the tree trimming business. Others have scrap wood available to them at their place of business. Whatever the source – it is usually free or inexpensive.
2. I live in a rural area.
You probably have experience burning wood in a wood stove or a fireplace in your home. Normally, the chimneys on these extend 2-3 feet above the peak of the roofline, thereby projecting the smoke up and away from the house and the neighbors. Occasionally, when the wind blows just right, your neighbors (who are probably burning wood too) may notice a little wood smoke. Not a big deal.
Notice that our CrossFire™ Outdoor Wood Furnaces have relatively short chimneys. If the wind is blowing in the right (or wrong) direction the smoke could hang close to the ground. Proper placement of the stove is important – and relatively easy in a rural environment. If you live in downtown Cleveland – or in a tight subdivision – this may not be for you.
3. I am willing to do a little work to save money.
Well, someone has to put wood in the furnace! Our goal is to design your system in such a way as to get 24 hours out of a load of wood. Most people like the idea of loading only once a day – maybe twice a day if it is really cold and windy.
4. I am spending too much on heating fuel.
– and/or –
5. My house is cold.
When your heating bill is as much as your mortgage payment – something has got to give! Either you are keeping warm and paying the price for it – or – lowering your thermostat to save money and paying the “price” for it! Either way someone is uncomfortable.
On more than one occasion we have had customers tell how their gas or electric utility sent a representative to their house to investigate a problem with the meter. They tend to notice when you go from $250 per month to $15 per month.
Outdoor Wood Furnace FAQ
- How complicated is the installation?
- Where can I get technical support for my furnace?
- How do I perform an above ground (winter) installation?
- What is the CrossFire™ outdoor wood furnace?
- Who is Timber Ridge?
- How can the CrossFire™ heat my home and water?
- What are the advantages of the CrossFire™ outdoor wood furnace?
- How long will the furnace last?
- How long is the warranty?
- What can I expect to pay for an outdoor wood furnace?
- Is this furnace (boiler) pressurized or non-pressurized?
- Can I connect the CrossFire™ to a forced air heating system?
- I only have baseboard electric heat, how can I use the CrossFire™?
- Can I heat my domestic hot water with the CrossFire™?
- Can I connect the CrossFire™ to a pressurized heating system?
Timber Ridge, Inc.
2020 Highway 11-E
Jonesborough, TN 37659
For Sales and Service
Toll Free: 1-866-966-3432
Phone: (423) 913-0515
Fax: (423) 913-1579
Send us an Email
Design Consultants Available: 9AM to 6PM (M-F)
FAQ
How complicated is the installation?
Timber Ridge pre-plumbs and pre-wires all of the main components at the factory so that the remaining work mostly involves digging the ditch and installing the underground piping and electric wire from the furnace to the home. In a nutshell, you set the furnace in the desired location, dig the ditch from the furnace to the home, mount the water-to-air heat exchanger (duct coil) in the plenum of your existing furnace or duct work, mount the optional water-to-water heat exchanger and tempering valve on your hot water heater, run a 110 VAC wire to the furnace, install (and insulate) the flexible water piping from the furnace to the exchangers, and add an additional thermostat. In most cases, Timber Ridge delivers the furnace direct to your home and sets it on your pre-prepared site.
Where can I get technical support for my furnace?
You will receive a detailed Owner’s Manual which addresses Installation, Operation, and Preventive Maintenance for your furnace. We find that (if read) it covers 99% of the questions you might have. You will also receive some basic orientation and “DOs & DON’Ts” from Timber Ridge personnel when your furnace is delivered. Should you have further questions or need additional parts we encourage you to talk to the Timber Ridge consultant who worked with you through the sales process by calling Toll free 1-866-WOODHEAT. (They usually provide their cell phone numbers for those after hours and weekend questions that might come up.)
How do I perform an above ground (winter) installation?
If the ground is frozen or too wet to install the underground piping, the pipes can be insulated and run on top of the ground for immediate use. The lines can then be buried later when weather and soil conditions are more favorable.
What is the CrossFire™ outdoor wood furnace?
The CrossFire™ is a “wood burning hot water maker” that sits 20’ to 200’ (or more) from you home or shop. Hot water from the furnace is pumped continuously through underground insulated lines into the home or building where the heat is extracted in any number of methods - for forced-air heating, domestic hot water heating, boiler system heating, pool heating, or anything else you can think of.
Who is Timber Ridge?
Timber Ridge manufactures and sells direct to consumers across the country pre-assembled hydronic heating system packages. We help size and configure the components of each system to meet your specific needs. We then provide you with pre-assembled/plumbed main components plus a “kit” or “package” containing the remainder of the installation materials that you will need to “connect the dots” to install your furnace. In most cases we deliver and set the furnace on your pre-prepared site and professional installation is also available. More about Timber Ridge.
How can the CrossFire™ heat my home and water?
A shell and tube water-to-water heat exchanger is mounted on your existing water heater. A water-to-air heat exchanger is installed in your existing duct work. Heated water from the furnace travels through the water-to-water heat exchanger heating the domestic hot water in your tank. Next, the heated furnace water is piped through the water-to-air heat exchanger to heat the air that is blown through your existing duct work. The water then returns back to the furnace to be re-heated so that it can be re-circulated through the loop of exchangers.
What are the advantages of the CrossFire™ outdoor wood furnace?
Personalized, up-front design of every system is performed to meet your specific needs. A Boiler Plate firebox and water jacket provide longer life. The water jacket is vented to atmosphere for safe operation. Combustion air is fan-forced for fast fire recovery. Furnaces are delivered fully plumbed and wired with proper pump(s) and shut-off valves. The furnace is packaged inside an attractive Hunter Green metal shed. A high-limit switch is included to shut off power to the furnace should the water temperature exceed 195°F. The furnace carries a 20-Year Limited Warranty. The furnace is delivered to your home and set in place with a kit of everything you need to install it. Consultants are on-hand to answer questions concerning installation and operation.
How long will the furnace last?
The furnace should last at least the duration of the warranty if the following is performed:
1. Use of a stainless steel chimney cap to keep water out of the firebox
2. Always keep the pH level of the water between 7.5 - 8.5 range and the correct concentration of corrosion inhibitor. Drain the water, flush, re-fill, and add corrosion inhibitor once a year.
3. Empty the ashes and scrape the firebox below the ash line at the end of the season.
4. Burn only seasoned hardwood (do not burn plastic, treated wood, garbage, etc).
5. Do not allow the furnace to freeze and burst.
How long is the warranty?
The furnace is covered by a limited 20-year warranty on all Boiler Plate components. Coverage for the first 5 years is 100% then pro-rated to 80% the 6th year, 60% the 7th year, 40% the 8th year, 30% the 9th year, 20% the 10th year, and 10% the 11th-20th years. Purchased parts such as pumps, thermostats, limit switches, and heat exchangers carry that manufacturer’s warranty which is normally one year. The warranty does not cover abuse, negligence, freeze-up, etc.
What can I expect to pay for an outdoor wood furnace?
Keep in mind that you are purchasing a complete system that is sized and configured to meet your specific needs. The system will include the fully plumbed and wired furnace plus a self-install kit containing the pipe, insulation, wire, heat exchangers, etc that you will need for the installation. You can expect to pay $5,000-$8,000 for a forced-air type system for a normal sized home. Forced-air type systems for large homes or small commercial buildings will run $8,000-$12,000. Forced-air type systems for commercial buildings, multiple buildings, or greenhouses will normally cost $15,000-$20,000. Radiant floor type heating systems can run an additional $5,000-$15,000 due to the cost of the tubing, manifolds, and controls.
Is this furnace (boiler) pressurized or non-pressurized?
The furnace is vented to atmosphere and as such is non-pressurized.
Can I connect the CrossFire™ to a forced air heating system?
Yes! One of the simplest ways to heat with the CrossFire™ is to add a water-to-air heat exchanger (duct coil) into the plenum of your existing forced-air heating system. This allows you to use your existing fan and duct work to distribute the heated air through your home plus your existing system remains in place for backup heat.
I only have baseboard electric heat, how can I use the CrossFire™?
The most common method of heating a home without existing ductwork is
1) Install Ductwork and Fan Coil. Provided there is adequate room in the crawlspace or basement, adding central heat (and possibly air conditioning) is an attractive option. Timber Ridge can supply the duct coil or complete hydronic air handler for this application.
2) Install Free Standing Fan Coil with no ductwork. Timber Ridge offers an attractive heating fan coil that can be mounted on the wall or ceiling in a room for localized heat. Many people use this as they would a wood stove by heating one central room and allowing convection and fans to circulate the heat throughout the home.
Can I heat my domestic hot water with the CrossFire™?
Yes! To heat your domestic hot water, a water-to-water heat exchanger is installed on your existing domestic water heater to heat the water in the tank. An anti-scald tempering valve is also added to the hot water line to regulate the water temperature leaving the tank. Your tank remains connected to electricity or gas so that you will still have hot water if there is no fire in the furnace.
Can I connect the CrossFire™ to a pressurized heating system?
Yes! A brazed plate type water-to-water heat exchanger is installed on your boiler piping so that one side of the exchanger is connected to the furnace (which is a vented loop) and the other side is connected to your existing pressurized system. The exchanger pre-heats the water in the pressurized system just before it enters the boiler so that your existing boiler acts as a backup heating source. The heated water is circulated through your existing radiators and/or baseboard heaters as it normally does.