Musings After the First Week With My Coal Stove...

Thank you again to all who helped me craft my decision to purchase my Hitzer 983. The install was a bit brutal, fighting for 1/2 inches at a time for connections, and squaring it up, but after about 6 hours she was in. Got the first fire going, banked the coal and we were off to the races. I put 2 beer can chickens, and a rack of ribs on the Big Green Egg at lunch time, and we all had a nice dinner while the coal stove started to cook along. The stove drafts great with out the SS liner. I'm in business!

After, the stove just purred along. Let it snow I say. Let me say that this house has never been over 70 in the winter, ever. That evening it was 73. Very pleasant. It was funny that my wife slept with out covers, another first.

Next morning, house was fairly warm. Shake, empty ashes, add coal, warm up, and we are GTG. wOOt.
This stove runs great with with little attention. Empty ashes, add coal how hard can it be???????????

My wood stove poker is way too short, too hot to clear ashes from edges. Wife says I need a longer poker. Chuckles. Wonders off. Fantastic.

Show wife how good you got this down. Shake, dam#! Nut in grate, Dam#! Fire bed falling into ash pan, Dam#, work it loose, wipe sweat from brow, swear a bit more just because wife is chuckling, Dam#, square away firebox, hope I can rebuild fire, OK . We are back on track. Wife and children amused, Great.

Bit colder next AM. Lots to figure out, little adjustments here and there. For every action there is a reaction. Some good, some not so good. We'll figure it out on the way. Learning curve a bit vertical. Come back an read more here.

House now 76 at bedtime. Dog wakes up at 1 am wimpering (much warmer than bedtime). Thought he had to go to the bathroom, nope outside just taking in the cool air. Chase him in my underwear, thinks we are playing, swear again to self, finally get him into the house. Back upstairs, after 5 min wimpers again, let him out of kennel, he runs downstairs and plops down on cool tile floor, grunts and falls asleep. Decide to let sleeping dog lie....... Not a bad idea.

Daughter wakes up early, puts on shorts, starts to leave for school, runs back in and changes into jeans and sweatshirt, mad that I tricked her into thinking it was warm outside........

Have to move fire fixing back in 30 min increments until the correct fire fixing time is 08:00, apparently no one in the house appreciates a good coal stove shaking of the grates at 06:00 but me........... grumps shesh.

Have to check for breathing and pulses on the dogs every hour. Have not moved from in front of the stove for days.

And that's the way it's meant to work. Outstanding. Looks like the important ones appreciate all your efforts.

Good Story ! I like reading that ! I see in your house that it is no longer 2 dog night's since you went to coal ! Good job!

Looks Nice........... As Rob R. said, fill to top of fire brick, and then bank / round up. Also, when tending, empty ashes first, then shake. This way fly as isn't rideing the heat thermals all over that nice looking room. This way the ash pan is cooler. You're not emptying hot coals anywhere. Shake after emptying ash pan. PS: You mentioned both ways in your post. Oliver

I never thought I'd hear of the day when I would be accused by my bride of having the house too warm (over 73deg)!! And we have a 2500sqft house with vaulted ceilings in the living/great room! If the weather is going to exceed 40degF and/or it's going to be a sunny day (we have a great southern exposure) she asks me to burn wood over coal. Our Yukon-Eagle Klondike furnace in the basement just cranks out sooooooooooo many BTUs on coal that even when I throttle back the temperature of the furnace to 400deg or so, vice the 500-600deg I like to run it at, the house will heat up to nearly 80! Windowstats open! Gotta love it. My set up is awesome when it's below zero out. That coal furnace just purrs along and the house is very warm & cozy. No complaints from DW then!!

Awesome story blusmoke!! I love that install.........looks great!!!

Great post blusmoke. I got a real kick out of it. Your and your wife's sence of humor will go a long way towards making the learning curve less frustrating. It sounds like you are getting a good handle on the process already. Your dogs are as cute as can be. The hearth and installation look terrific. Enjoy

Beautiful photo. Fun story. Thanks for sharing. You're smart to keep bedding under the dogs. It keeps them from taking root in the wooden floor.

Welcome Blusmoke,nice setup as the others have said don't be scared to filler up with coal it won't burn up like wood will just keep a flame in the stove or you will cleaning(coal dust travels long distances in a house ) the house from top to bottom but in all you will be real happy with stove,take care Keepaeyeonit

I see where you get your screen name keepaneyeonit. I missed the low coal level the first time thru.

Great story, nice install. I guess your daughter will have to check the outside temps from now on!!

You should hear my kids comments on coal shaking. They both grew up with the Buderus 3115 in the basment family room. They used to hate the shaker noise, never said much over the years growing up. Now with the new Keystoker 90, they tell stories of how it "used to be" They are 21 and 27 now.

you said your pokers to short . I aint touchin that one with a 10 foot pole ! lolol

good post thx - still chuckling