How to Replace a Wood/Oil Furnace

A wood/oil furnace is used to heat an area, typically a house, in winters. These types of furnaces are made of metal and have a combustion compartment that produces the heat. Due to health and fire safety issues, furnace replacement jobs need to be carried out by certified professionals who have mastered the art properly. Wood and oil furnaces, although minutely different, can be replaced in the same manner. Follow the article below for more information.

Step 1 – Take Appropriate Precautions

Installing a furnace is not an easy job and requires extreme attention so as to avoid a fire. Make sure that the furnace is off before handling it in any way. Wear a pair of working gloves and face mask while removing an old furnace so as to protect you from dust and soot that builds up in the stovepipe and furnace outlet. Also make sure that the fuel compartment is empty and there is no oil or wood inside. After these precautions have been noted down, move on the next step.

Step 2 – Disconnecting the Stove Pipe

Use a screwdriver or wrench, according to the mode of connection, to remove the screws or joints that join the furnace exhaust outlet to the stovepipe. After this is done, use a cleaning rag to clean soot and grime from the pipe. Make sure that you do not handle the pipe roughly as it can be molded into an improper shape easily and that you wear gloves to provide protection against the sharp metal edges. After the pipe has been disconnected, move on the next step.

Step 3 – Removing the Furnace

Furnaces are either bolted to the hearth or screwed in place. Use a drill or battery powered screwdriver to remove these so that you can remove the furnace. Practice extreme caution in this regard; always call in extra workers to help you out, as a furnace is very heavy for one person to handle. After the furnace has been removed from your house, it is time to get a new one.

Step 4 – Purchasing a new Furnace

The type or size of furnace that you need depends on the size of the room that is to be heated. Some furnaces come with boiler systems that provide heat to all rooms and need to be installed in a central location usually in the basement while others provide point heating. This article will guide you through installing a point-heating furnace. Talk to a local dealership for more help on the type of furnace that you require. After the transaction has been made, move on to installing the new furnace.

Step 5 – Installing a New Furnace

A new furnace can be installed by following most of the steps given above in reverse order. It is recommended that you replace the fireproof boards on the walls and the floor to ensure maximum fire safety. Ask a local dealer to help you do this. Reconnect the exhaust outlet to the stovepipe; add some fuel and you are good to heat your home again.