2nd Year With Hitzer 503
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newbiecoal
- Member
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 18, 2009 11:00 am
This will be my 2nd year with my hitzer 503. I'm really new when it comes to coal as I grew up in the city. I'm assuming I need to have my chimney cleaned out. I did have a stainless steel liner installed with the stove. Also, last year, I had a lot of trouble with shaking the ashes. There was alot of ash accumulation in the corners eventhough I did shake vigorously and used a fireplace poker to push some ash down in the corners. Any suggestions. Last question, has anyone with a hitzer 503 or any other fireplace insert mounted a flat screen tv above it? I want to do it, but I'm concerned that the heat may damage the tv. Thanks for your help. BTW-last year was very successful with burning coal, I estimate I saved at least $1500 in heating costs on my drafty house. I'm going to try to save even more. This stove is going to pay for itself in 3 years at the rate I'm going.
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stingray
- Member
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Sun. Aug. 22, 2010 4:10 pm
- Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 983 F.P. insert
- Coal Size/Type: Nut/Stove Jeddo Anthracite
- Other Heating: Electric ( never use it )
I have a Hitzer 983 insert ( same kind of unit but with no hopper). Before I shake the grates, I slid on bothsides of the fire box with the poker and give the poker a slight twisting action towards the fire, and in the front the holes above each grate nob, I poke in at the ash. Then I shake the grate(s) but not to strong. I shake the grate lightly, until I just see the glow of the fire reflecting in the ash pan, then move on to the next. I take care of the unit twice a day. As far as the tv, I have no clue, sorry.
Try this tip. On the air flow door at the bottom of the unit, mark (with a black Sharpie) a line from the beginning of one of the air flow holes up to the door then write the temp. range above the line on the door, ex. ( 18 to 25 degrees). As you adjust the air flow, ( warmer or colder outside), just match up the lines. It kind of takes the guess work out of figuring your air flow adjustments. It worked great for me. Hope it helps.
Try this tip. On the air flow door at the bottom of the unit, mark (with a black Sharpie) a line from the beginning of one of the air flow holes up to the door then write the temp. range above the line on the door, ex. ( 18 to 25 degrees). As you adjust the air flow, ( warmer or colder outside), just match up the lines. It kind of takes the guess work out of figuring your air flow adjustments. It worked great for me. Hope it helps.
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LsFarm
- Member
- Posts: 7383
- Joined: Sun. Nov. 20, 2005 8:02 pm
- Location: Michigan
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Self-built 'Big Bertha' SS Boiler
- Baseburners & Antiques: Keystone 11, Art Garland
Your chimney should not need cleaning, but your flue pipes, tees and elbows connecting your stove to the chimney must be cleaned.. any horizontal flue pipe will collect fly ash, and eventually become clogged..
The vertical chimney will shed it's fly ash into the bottom tee or elbow where the flue is hooked to the chimney..
Just diassemble the flue pipes, and vacuum them out. Use a good shop vac with a 'drywall' filter.
Greg L
The vertical chimney will shed it's fly ash into the bottom tee or elbow where the flue is hooked to the chimney..
Just diassemble the flue pipes, and vacuum them out. Use a good shop vac with a 'drywall' filter.
Greg L