Stove for elderly mother

Rob R. wrote:Define "Upstate NY".

Rob, Not as far north as you are... But she lives in a snow belt off the Mohawk Valley. They get hit pretty good with both snow and cold. Not as bad as the Tug Hill area for sure, but then, that's sub-artic up there... LOL

I recall having winters up there where they would go for several weeks with the temps never going above 0*F.... Used to get more snow than now, but still they get a lot more than I do down here in Southern NY...

dj

dlj wrote:

MURDOC1 wrote:I most certainly would NOT rule out an automatic stoker stove, in fact if it must be of the "stove" variety I would not even slightly consider a hand-fed!!! With exception of the power outage issue (which is an issue, no doubt) an automatic stoker stove IS the ticket to meet your requirements... You need 24 hr 100% maintenance free operation? Without a doubt a stoker can and will easily deliver this all while maintaining a consistent if not exact indoor set temp... Small generator can handle the outages easily, not to mention will (if sized properly) accommodate more than just keeping the heat on, lights, fridge, etc.......

I am a single guy, heating 100% with 2 stoker stoves, keep the place at 75 degrees round the clock via Coal-trol control, no temp swings, easily get 24 hours between tending on both of them (Harman Mag Stoker 100# hopper heating 1600 Sf. of drafty old converted barn upstairs living space and older Alaska Stoker Stove II downstairs in the garage having a 90# hopper)... I am a truck driver and in the winter months the possibility is always there that I may not be able to make it home due to bad weather or truck issues/breakdowns etc... I have now been heating with these 2 units for 3 years with not one single issue... I tend the stoves right before leaving for work (if they even need it, going 3 days easily without any tending in this weather as it's been), top off hoppers and swap out ash pans, stoves are good for an easy 24 hour run in the dead of winter at this point and I go to work worry free, knowing I will come home to a warm place and if I were to be stuck out on the road a simple phone call to 80 year old Fred across the driveway will get it done until I can get there, he's a stoker stove operator himself at his place... Never had to make the call in like I said 3 years...

You're talking leisure line here? Isn't that the make that has the Coal-trol? Or are you putting that on the other stoves? I just went over to the leisure line web site and it looks pretty good. Stove would be in her living room if we do install it. So it does have to look decent. I like the looks of the stoves I see in the leisure line stoves. They also seem to be fairly well reviewed here. I'll be looking more...

dj

dj, yes, my preference would be a Leisure Line stoker stove, yup, they come standard with the Coal-trol and while I do not own one personally I know several that do including Old Fred across the driveway, well built stoves, great customer service, fair and reasonable price, easy maintenance/part availability if/when needed, simple design, they have their own section of this Forum and the list goes on and on...... I agree with Pastor Larry as far as size/BTU... Although 110K BTU may very well be overkill it has its advantages, one of which is Mom will NEVER be cold, the Pocono (110K BTU) model offered by Leisure Line comes equipped with a 200# hopper, that is a whole lot of rice coal and certainly will assure you extended time between tending... The guys at LL can add brass rub rails and an ash vendor to pretty it up a bit if needed... Then there is always the smaller, but very capable Pioneer that is their most visually appealing stove in the lineup... At 90K input BTU they are no slouch either, very capable, smaller hopper @ 110#, top vent or rear vent take your pick... I know that a Pioneer would easily heat my place here just as well as my Mag Stoker does and again, a very nice looking stove... A quick call to Matt or Dave at LL can accomplish a lot, who knows, maybe they could fab up an additional larger capacity hopper for the Pioneer for an additional charge if you don't like the looks of the Pocono? Who knows? Worth a call at very least...

How far from the drive way split to the house?

Insulated pex 1" is 11$/foot.

A shed with a huge ash pit, housing an elevated refurb efm and a 4 ton bin could last for a whole season with minimum weekly maintenance. Depending on distance and sisters heating cost/type it may justify conversion.

You could drive right up to the shed for inspection and get bulk delivery for additional savings, carbon monoxide, fire issues become less critical.

Potentially install remote wireless cam to sisters house, which you can also monitor temp, draft, etc.

It will probably take 10 years to break even, if its just mom running it. Depending on sisters heating/dhw costs it may be 5 or less.

ValterBorges wrote:How far from the drive way split to the house?

Insulated pex 1" is 11$/foot.

A shed with a huge ash pit, housing an elevated refurb efm and a 4 ton bin could last for a whole season with minimum weekly maintenance. Depending on distance and sisters heating cost/type it may justify conversion.

You could drive right up to the shed for inspection and get bulk delivery for additional savings, carbon monoxide, fire issues become less critical.

Potentially install remote wireless cam to sisters house, which you can also monitor temp, draft, etc.

It will probably take 10 years to break even, if its just mom running it. Depending on sisters heating/dhw costs it may be 5 or less.

It's a great idea, but it's a real country drive way.. I'm not sure how far it is between the two houses, but it's probably 500 yards maybe a bit more. Then there's a stream in the way and a lot of rock... If they were right in front of each other or side by side that would be a really good way to go...

dj

I still think that tuning up the oil furnace would be the safest & in the long run the least expensive solution to your situation.Nothing but a financial burden fuel wise on the family instead of having to keep daily vigilance on no matter what type of stove you would choose. The safety variables are too great in this old farmers opinion and not worth the risk. I mean, come on, she's your 90 yr old mother. How does she feel about all this???

Yep, It should be up to Mom...
The kids are right there...
She does come over for dinner every day...
So...
If both mom and the kids want to do the coal thing...
Then all is good...

freetown fred wrote:I still think that tuning up the oil furnace would be the safest & in the long run the least expensive solution to your situation.Nothing but a financial burden fuel wise on the family instead of having to keep daily vigilance on no matter what type of stove you would choose. The safety variables are too great in this old farmers opinion and not worth the risk. I mean, come on, she's your 90 yr old mother. How does she feel about all this???

We keep her furnace tuned up. Has been every year and will continue as such. Safety? You mean, you think she's going to burn herself up or something along those lines? CO poisoning? What exactly is your "safety" concern?

Oh, and believe me, nobody is going to put a stove in her house without her having a say in it. She will have her opinion. And it will be her opinion that will decide a do it or not. She's the one calling me on the phone telling me her oil bill is a problem and lets see what we can do about it.I told her how about a coal stove and she replied who's going to take the ashes out? Whatever the solution is, I don't know it yet. But I will figure it out. It might be super-insulating her house. It might be a number of options. I don't know yet. But I'm asking questions, listening to other peoples thoughts and seeing what comes back at me. There's only so much I know, asking questions is the best way I know of learning more. But as long as I can help her stay in her house as independently as possible, that's what I'm working towards...That is, in the end, what she wants.

dj

But as long as I can help her stay in her house as independently as possible, that's what I'm working towards...That is, in the end, what she wants.

Thats what we all want...
The 'rents are in the same boat but they are a 30 minute ride each way...
So does someone pick her up for the ride at dinner time...
If so the that would e time to load and dump ashes...
Battery inverter for backup all is well...

CapeCoaler wrote:

dlj wrote:But as long as I can help her stay in her house as independently as possible, that's what I'm working towards...That is, in the end, what she wants.

Thats what we all want...
The 'rents are in the same boat but they are a 30 minute ride each way...
So does someone pick her up for the ride at dinner time...
If so the that would e time to load and dump ashes...
Battery inverter for backup all is well...

In the winter, they come get her, in the summer she used to walk up, now she drives up, but that doesn't matter for the stove. Battery inverter is a good idea if she has a stoker. I'll also set her up with a generator power back-up. that's not going to cost me anything, I have the gen set and the cabling to connect her up. that kills my house for power back up, but I hardly ever loose power... She needs it more than I do... She can't start that thing, but my brother-in-law can and with the battery back up keeping everything running until he can get there that should work.

So now I need estimates for the stove and chimney, then I can talk to everyone up there and see what they think. I really don't see a less expensive alternative.

dj

Whatever happened with this dlj?

There are some issues that you must address prior to installing a stove. Many were covered here already.

Number 1 is safety. Ensure that all precautions are taken and don't be afraid to go further. Get CO detectors for the house. You can even install a fire suppression system if you wish. It is all how far you would like to take the project.

Her age and ability to maintain the stove seems to be an issue. To solve that you would want to make this stove as user friendly as possible. For ashes which are a concern, why not have an auger automatically remove the ashes? The other concern would be moving around the ash containers. You can put them on wheels to make replacing the ash can that connects to the auger discharge easy to replace. All she would have to do is roll one away, and replace it with another. To add, there should be one lid designed to attach to the auger, and one lid to cover the full ash can when it is not in use. This way she puts the new can in place with the auger lid, and places the regular lid on the ash can that is full.

As for filling the hopper, another auger should run from the bin to the stove. This could be operated by a switch in which you're mother could operate to fill the hopper. That would be really the only action necessary for her to operate the stove aside from lighting it, and ensuring everything is operating properly. This will also keep her mindful of the stove as well, as she would have to fill the hopper at certain intervals.

There are some who are advising against a coal stove. On the other hand I think the installation can be done. For what if the oil unit malfunctions? What if there is a fire? What if the sprayer plate gets clogged? What if the pump fails? What if there is an oil leak that causes a fire? Any heating system can have issues.

All the best of luck to you and you're mother.

Soooo, dlj, back to the question, what did the Mom & family decide? That was a lengthy post to not give us the outcome.

Coalfire wrote:5K investment , you could buy alot of fuel oil at that point. I don't know the health of this women, but one question comes to mind how much longer will she be living there? The best option may be to just leave it as is and if there is a problem with money just shoot a little cash her way


Eric

My thoughts right along........... As long as she's keeping warm with the unit she has, simply help her out a little. My mother is useing my 50-93 for heat. My brother still lives at home, and tends the stove. My mother made the comment of not being able to shake the stove, and empty ashes.................and she's nowhere near 90 years old.

freetown fred wrote:Soooo, dlj, back to the question, what did the Mom & family decide? That was a lengthy post to not give us the outcome.

Sorry, just realized this question got posted, I rarely go over on the stoker side of these forums...

OK, so the bottom line was we decided to use some really nice high efficiency electric space heaters. Easy, cheap and she can have one anywhere she wants in the house. I had 4 of them here kicking around in my house so I just brought her up a couple and she has one in her living room and one in her bedroom. No installation costs, no hassles of any kind. They have a thermostat that you set and they work very well. If you want to know the brand, they are Vornado.

dj

That keep it simple theory works pretty damn well, don't it. Thanx for the update