10 questions and answers about modulating furnaces

Surely many have had the question what is a modulating furnace? Why is it talked about so much and what are its advantages when compared to a regular fireplace – the ten most popular questions about modulating furnaces will be answered here.

1. What is a modulating furnace?

A modulating furnace is a furnace made of elements prefabricated in a factory, essentially a furnace like any other, its finished elements are just a larger and heavier, thanks to which the furnace can be installed in up to 2 days. Quick installation is good in that the furnace can also be installed in the middle of winter and the family’s life at home is disrupted for just two days.

2. What is a modulating furnace good for?

What are its advantages over a fireplace?
A modulating furnace is heavy and retains heat for a long time (up to 24 hours). If the customer does not want to be a “boiler operator”, two things must be considered when choosing a furnace: the weight and size of the furnace. Mass retains and size radiates the heat into the room. It takes up to 90 minutes to heat up a proper furnace and the furnace can keep the room warm for 24 hours. Whether the furnace needs to be heated more often than once in two or three days already depends on the thermal insulation of the house and the person’s own demand for heat. For some, +18°C is enough, for others even +24°C is not enough. Of course, the furnace must be higher than the person, this ensures the well-being of the person, because of how nice it is to place your back against a large furnace wall in winter. If the furnace is halfway up your back or shoulder, you may not get this pleasant of a feeling.

3. How to heat a modulating furnace?

The modulating furnace is heated like a regular furnace. Enough heating material for one time needs to be put in the hearth (up to 16kg of wood) and be sure to ignite the material from top. This is good because then the fire will burn out quietly and the walls of the hearth and the grate will start to heat up in a quiet matter – this will ensure a longer furnace life, cleaner air leaving from the chimney and all of will be able to live better.

4. What is a modulating furnace made of? How long does it keep warmth?

A modulating furnace is made of natural iron ore (Croval), which has passed through the kiln and been ground. The Finns have been making furnace in this way for 70 years. A modulating furnace can keep warmth for 12-36 hours, depending on the environment and the insulation of the building.

5. Is there a warranty for the modulating furnace?

Yes, a warranty applies. Two year for the hearth and five years for the furnace. The warranty is two years for the hearth, because we cannot control the heating process and if you do not heat the furnace with the proper material (just use any garbage), the life span of the furnace will be significantly reduced. The good news is that since modulating furnaces do not have arches, the chamotte stones in the hearth can be replaced. Chamotte stones can be exchanged through the furnace door, so the lifespan of modulating furnaces can extend to several generations.

6. How long does it take to produce a modulating furnace?

It takes just a day to produce a modulating furnace.

7. What is the history of the modulating furnace?

The Finns invented the modulating furnace in the form in which we produce it. Croval is essentially a surplus of the metal industry and a by-product of metal ore production – it does not need to be specially mined and burned like brick or chamotte stone. Thus, it can be said that the modulating furnace is an environmentally friendly furnace. Installers drive to the object twice, instead of visiting the site every day for a month, so the footprint on nature is definitely smaller.

8. Why can it be said that an Ahja modulating furnace is the best furnace?

Ahja modulating furnace is a furnace that is getting better, more economical and certainly also less polluting over the years. We work had to this end and co-operate with professionals in our field. We collaborate most with the boiler laboratory of the Estonian University of Life Sciences in connection with the testing of furnaces, the development of furnaces and furnace choke tubing.

9. Is it really possible to use natural stones, bathroom tiles for finishing? What other options are there?

Anything that does not burn or melt can be used in the finishing. Natural stones, clinker and solid mass tiles, furnace pots, heat-resistant paint, tin shells of different colours (furnace Gerda), plasters, clay plasters.

10. Is the modulating furnace really movable? How is it possible?

The furnace is really movable. As the furnace is made of modules connected with furnace clay, the furnace is easy to disassemble and move. Only the finishing of the furnace is lost, this can be redone.