Asthma & Wood Heat.....Any Ideas??

[B00kW0rm]

Hi Everyone,

We like the idea of possibly using wood heat. However I, and our youngest daughter, have asthma...and we've heard that wood heat is a "no, no". Any suggestions??

Thanks

[walls0stone]

Greenwoodsystems are awsome, they have almost no smoke at all! they reburn the gas from the wood...I understand that they are allowing them in towns due to low emitions.

[B00kW0rm]

Thanks for the info! I'll check them out:-)

[MadTripper]

They are pretty interesting. Here is a link for those interested:

http://www.greenwoodfurnace.com/index.html

Prices seem to be from about $7000 to $12000 for the indoor units. I'm not sure on the outdoor models. I'd consider one if I didn't already have a decent woodstove although cost might be prohibitive.

Tripper

[B00kW0rm]

MadTripper,

Thanks for the link ;D!

[flatwater]

The Asthma that flares up with wood heat isn't always connected to the smoke but rath to the dry heat it puts out. If this is the case for you two indoors , outdoors , smoke or no smoke it will still have a very dry heat. Check with your doc.
Flatwater

[B00kW0rm]

Hi Flatwater,

Thanks for your input:-) Our current heating system has an integrated humidifier. I wonder if there's a way to do that with wood heat?? Thanks again!!

[MadTripper]

Traditional wood stoves are bad for asthma sufferers however depending on the location of a Greenwood type furnace, there could be very little, if any impact. The heat is transferred to water for use in a baseboard or radiant system. If your wood furnace is located out of the common living areas, the typical agitators associated with wood stoves are removed and the air remains as it did with a traditional boiler. The key here is that you are heating the water and not the air like most wood stoves do. Sure, the water then proceeds to heat the air or objects but this is less drastic in terms of moisture than a traditional wood stove. I think the key is also that the system burns the fuel almost 100% so the chimney only puts out about the same pollution as a propane or natural gas boiler would. In this case, if the sufferer were outside, they wouldn't be as affected by stray smoke.

While pricey, I'm sure this would be a very viable option and you would get the most heat for the fuel as opposed to an older straight up wood stove that can be 50% or lower in the efficiency range.

Tripper

Oh, as far as humidifiers go, you could add a stand alone unit or probably integrate one into the plumbing although I doubt you would see a decrease in humidity over your current system unless your boiler is right in your living area which is pretty unlikely.

[JAK]

Waste of money, and they don't work.
Get a quality wood stove or nothing at all.
Install and use it properly.

[MadTripper]

Waste of money, and they don't work.
Get a quality wood stove or nothing at all.
Install and use it properly.


My Grandfather had a unit similar however not as efficient as the Greenwood. It worked great. On top of that, the original poster of the topic already mentioned the situation is that a traditional woodstove isn't possible in the house with the asthma situation.

Tripper

[walls0stone]

Friend of mine has a Greenwood buring in town right now.. no smoke or smell of any kind. They are awsome! His heats his water and all kind of stuff. Here in our area, wood lots are all over. So it makes sence to use wood to heat water.

[JAK]

It makes alot of sense to use wood to heat hot water.
It doesn't make any sense to shut the inlet air off.