Hitzer 82FA or 55FA Furnaces They Any Good?

http://www.hitzer.com/contact/thankyou.html Does anybody run these units? Do they have any problems?

I guess it depends on how much you are trying to heat and what you have available to burn in it. Just do a Search on HITZER on here, there are quite a few that own other models from them.

I just put in an 82FA in October. What would you like to know? I can tell you one thing for sure, I probably should have got a 55FA! All BS aside, the damn thing works great and I couldn't be any happier. In order for it to run efficient, I can't get the house under 80 with anything but a smoldering underfired burn going. I purchased it to burn mostly wood but it is going to make a great coal burner, once the idiot running the stove figures out how to use it properly! I love it and will be more than happy to answer ANY questions you have. I checked out some other brands and was still worried about my decision, but without bashing them, I am positive I made the right choice.

How many sq ft. is your house, my house is a 1200sq ft. walk out ranch with a poured wall basement that sticks out of the ground 3’ so the basement is a huge heat sink? What is the shape and dimension of the fire box? Is it triangular like the hot blast? I'd like to know what the characteristics the furnace has for burning coal. Woods easy. I’m going to take a look at one this week end.

My house is 1250 sq. ft. (25x50) and is totally open on the front level with a kitchen and large dining area. The back level, which has a living area, bathroom, and two bedrooms, is 3 ft higher with a knee wall seperating the two levels. The Hitzer is located in the back of the lower half (yes, it's right in the house which I will probably move down under the house at some point in time) and I purchased a $8 12" elbow to direct the heat towards the front of the house and with natural convection of heat rising, it goes right up to the back level and the front and back are at the most, 2* difference. I have included a photo to help you get the idea and remember, my house is on 8x8 poles with no foundation underneath. The bottom of the back half is cold storage and is where I now keep my wood and where I kept my bagged rice when I was using my stoker. Now, I did insulate the floors when I got the house but the wind can blow right under it, unless we get lots of that poor man's insulation that falls from the sky, which helps a lot! You will notice the small coal bin on the front porch, which holds about 3/4 ton. I am teaching myself how to use the coal, slowly, a little more each time, but am still using wood too. What I do is get a good bed of wood coals in the bottom, then throw on some coal. I burn a little more each time as my confidence is gaining. I can't remember the size of the firebox and I apologize. It is not triangular like the 1557M, but large and square, and what I have read on here, that is a good thing for burning coal. Personally, I think the 82FA is going to be a great coal buner but for right now, I think the stove is smarter than me. I have a neighbor who purchased the Hot Blast and is very jealous of my Hitzer. Any other questions, please feel free to ask.

I went and looked at an FA82 last weekend. Looked like a great unit. I am a bit concerned about the shaker grates though. Two one piece units that are the full length of the fire box, they are flip style. Have you had any problems with this unit dropping the coal charge into the ash pan during the shaking procedure? Thank you as always Marlin

I did have that problem Marlin... Once. I then learned (and read it in sevearal different threads on here too afterwards) that if you just shake the ash with several short, choppy movements of the grates, you will have no problem. I have not mentioned that the only thing I don't care for is that the blower is a little loud. My only other problem is the damn thig will heat me right out of the house. When we had -0 nights, with the highs for the day being no higher than 10 degrees outside, I opened her up a bit to see how it would do. With out overfiring the stove, I had it up to 97 in here before I turned it back down. But that was with wood as I hadn't got too comfortable burning coal in it yet. Not sure if you have seen my other thread yet but here is what happened when I tried burning coal in it for a few days....
Please... Help Me With My Hitzer!

70marlin wrote: I am a bit concerned about the shaker grates though. Two one piece units that are the full length of the fire box, they are flip style. Have you had any problems with this unit dropping the coal charge into the ash pan during the shaking procedure?

Yes, but I promise you will only do it once!

The grates are very durable and tough to jam, you will quickly learn how far to move them when shaking.

Would you please explain it to me in detail? Thank you again.

70marlin wrote:Would you please explain it to me in detail? Thank you again.

Which part Marlin?

With any shaker grate system that is capable of dumping the fire into the ashpan, I recommend taking a look at the grates when the unit is new, with a clean firebox. Move the shaker handle to see how far you can turn the grate without opening a gap wide enough that the coal would fall through. Then using chalk on the outside of the stove make a few marks showing the max travel limits for the shaker handle..

Using this method, you can watch from outside, and feel the action of the grate with the ash. You will soon learn the right 'action' as well as handle travel. For most stoves, short jerky/choppy motions shake up the ash the best and get the most to fall through the gaps in the grates.

Greg L

no74falcon wrote:

70marlin wrote:Would you please explain it to me in detail? Thank you again.

Which part Marlin?

Your stoking and shaking method. Also your loading and firing cycles?

Greg summed up the shaking method above. I have been burning mostly wood this year but that will change next winter. I have only put one good burn of coal through mine and here is the link... Please... Help Me With My Hitzer!

70marlin wrote:How many sq ft. is your house, my house is a 1200sq ft. walk out ranch with a poured wall basement that sticks out of the ground 3’ so the basement is a huge heat sink? What is the shape and dimension of the fire box? Is it triangular like the hot blast? I'd like to know what the characteristics the furnace has for burning coal. Woods easy. I’m going to take a look at one this week end.

i am thinking of buying a Hitzer 55FA.I have 1300 sq. ft to heat.The furnace will go in the basement[uninsulated] and I have to push the heat 20 ft to the other side of the house.the fire box is only 14" wide x 20" deep x 9 " high.only 9 " high is my concern.Ive burnt wood all my live,and I know you cant get much of a fire in only 9" high.Id have to burn limb wood or split it down to 4",also id be filling the stove every 2 hours.Is this stove strictly for coal burning?And does anyone have one that would correspond with me?How long a burn time with coal will it have,and what type of coal does it burn,chestnut,rice,ete?

no74falcon wrote:I did have that problem Marlin... Once. I then learned (and read it in sevearal different threads on here too afterwards) that if you just shake the ash with several short, choppy movements of the grates, you will have no problem. I have not mentioned that the only thing I don't care for is that the blower is a little loud. My only other problem is the damn thig will heat me right out of the house. When we had -0 nights, with the highs for the day being no higher than 10 degrees outside, I opened her up a bit to see how it would do. With out overfiring the stove, I had it up to 97 in here before I turned it back down. But that was with wood as I hadn't got too comfortable burning coal in it yet. Not sure if you have seen my other thread yet but here is what happened when I tried burning coal in it for a few days....
Please... Help Me With My Hitzer!

i am thinking of buying a Hitzer 55FA.I have 1300 sq. ft to heat.The furnace will go in the basement[uninsulated] and I have to push the heat 20 ft to the other side of the house.the fire box is only 14" wide x 20" deep x 9 " high.only 9 " high is my concern.Ive burnt wood all my live,and I know you cant get much of a fire in only 9" high.Id have to burn limb wood or split it down to 4",also id be filling the stove every 2 hours.Is this stove strictly for coal burning?And does anyone have one that would correspond with me?How long a burn time with coal will it have,and what type of coal does it burn,chestnut,rice,ete?