How Do Outdoor Furnaces Work?
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Location
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As their name implies, outdoor furnaces are designed to be placed in a special cabinet separate from the house. Generally, outdoor furnaces can be placed up to 500 feet away from the location being heated. This gives homeowners flexible options for installing an additional heat source if inside space is limited.
Outdoor furnaces can be used with the heat source already installed in a home. If an electric or gas furnace is already used, for example, the outdoor furnace can help supplement this existing source to lower costs. Additionally, outdoor furnaces can provide heat for outbuildings, pools or hot tubs.
Fuel
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The most common fuel used by outdoor furnaces is firewood. This fuel serves as an inexpensive, alternative heat source that can be used even if power or utilities are interrupted. The fuel inside an outdoor furnace is contained in a firebox, which is sealed from the elements. Additional wood fuel is added, using access doors mounted in the side of the furnace cabinet.
Outdoor furnaces commonly feature blowers, which push air into the firebox and increase the flame size. This helps the wood fuel burn more efficiently and allows the entire unit to produce more heat.
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Heating
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Once the fuel in an outdoor furnace has created sufficient heat, water is pumped into the furnace via pipes placed underground. Coils within the furnace heat the water, which is then sent back into the house. Once inside, this hot water can be used in several ways. To be used with an existing heater, a radiator and fan are used to create supplemental hot air. Older homes with water pipe heating can utilize the additional hot water directly.
When the heat from the outside source has been used, water returns through the underground pipes into the outdoor furnace. This cycle is repeated as often as necessary to maintain the hot water flow and to provide sufficient heat.
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