Boiler vs. boiler

I am wanting some input on 2 different boilers (coal). I have a forced air gas furnace and am heating a 1500 sq. ft. drafty 2 story house with an unfinished basement which I wish to finish this year. LOVE COAL HEAT! I am wanting to heat my hot water and was going to put a coil in my plentum for forced air heat and probably heat my one car attached garage with some kind of hotwater coil that has a fan. I am looking at the next to smallest keystoker and the harman boiler. Just want some opinions on the different models and which is better for my house. I live 40 miles west of pittsbugh pa. so I get pittsburgh type weather.

Out of the two you are looking at, it is my opinion that the Keystoker would be my choice. I just have a better feeling about it from reading the great reviews here on this forum. I almost purchased one, until I read about the Axeman-Anderson AA130 Anthratube. So, I decided to wait on my anthracite coal boiler purchase until I can afford a AA130. I'm sure you will get a lot of good information by other members here which will help you make the correct selection.

I think if you do a Search on here on KAA2 (or KA2) or VF3000, there are quite a few people that have both and very happy with either one. Either should have plenty of capacity to heat your smaller house.

I have a similar house and situation as you do.

I have an oil-fired hot air furnace that heats my house to a toasty 60 degrees!

If I could have any coal heating appliance I wanted, it would be a boiler. But, economics won't permit me that luxury right now so I plan on installing a Leisure Line stoker stove.

I could either locate it on the 1st floor or the basement and let the heat radiate or install it in the basement and hook it into the existing plenum.

Either way, that option far exceeds the boiler in respect to initial cost while achieving a similar outcome.

Mark

I think the VF3000 is more versatile in its application. Yo can change the side the doors are on, the position of the stoker and the exhaust also if I remember correctly. I'm not sure the Keystoker can dothat.

If auger feed interests you, take a look at an EFM 350.

-Rob

A member here (Stoked) has a Keystoker KAA-2.

He may be willing to share his experience with that unit if you contact him.

Another reason I was steering toward the Harman was the outlet size of "7 that is what my flue is the keystoker is "8. I am wondering if the keystoker would work in my flue being that my flue is '25 tall? Any opinions?? Thanks

When I was just recently at keystoker trying to decide on the Koker or the a-120 one of my concerns was the flue size. I was told by them that going down a size wont hurt the performance and if I did buy the a-120 that the reduction in size should be made on the chimney side not the stove side. No personal experiance just what the manufacturer had to say!

Kaa2 here, heating 3500 sq ft, 1700 of it fairly tight living space, plus big block wall basement and a 2 car garage.

It runs hard in single digit weather, but gets by. South of you in MD, but 2000 or so elevation, so weather is similar.

Dave