1st house. Choosing heating sources

traderfjp wrote:There are a few reasons I don't want a boiler.

1. More work
2. More maintenance
3. Cost
4, Nightmarish install
5. Don't have the room
6. Re-sale value.

LsFarm wrote:

traderfjp wrote:There are a few reasons I don't want a boiler.

1. More work
2. More maintenance
3. Cost
4, Nightmarish install
5. Don't have the room
6. Re-sale value.

?? more work? you are currently dragging ashpans through your living space of your home, and dragging bags or buckets of coal through the same livingspace.
With a boiler in the basement, it's a basement.. you can store the coal for most of the winter right next to the boiler. and the ashpans aren't a disaster if you
sneeze while carrying one and drop it, in the middle of your carpeted living room.

I was just throwing out NG as a viable option. I'm glad you're happy with your boiler. Boilers are a great heating source if it fits your needs but in my situation it doesn't work for me. I already have a stoker and am very happy with it and have no desire to de-comission it. Also, I'm pretty lucky because after 4 years I never once dropped any ash on the floor. Just so you know - My basement is a living space so if I had a boiler I would be lugging coal up and down stairs and also doing the same for the ash bin. Neither of these scenarios work for my situation.

Cost?? what's a new stoker stove cost?? at least $3k,, the Leisure Line baby boiler is ~$4400, and it heats the whole house, come with an oil gun so you can sell the house as an oil heated house or coal heated.. And it's NEW..

Many banks and insurance companies will turn up their noses to a coal boiler and it will ultimately kill the sale of my house. I guarantee it. I installed my stoker myself but for a boiler I would need a CO and would have to hire a plumber. To install a boiler I would also have to tear out the existing cast iron monster boiler and somehow get an extremely heavy coal boiler into the basement. I would probably have to do some carpentry to make this happen. So now we're talking 4,400.00 for a boiler and another 3k for an install plus dumping costs. I would estimate 8-9k after all is said an done. I can buy a lot of oil for that an not have any extra headaches or possibly a pellet stove.

Nightmarish install?? how so?? you remove the old oil boiler, the supply and return pipes are right there, the chimney flue is right there..
I'd MUCH rather install a boiler in a basement than install as stoker stove in someones living room.. floor damage, cutting in a chimney thimble or flue,
Enlarge the hearth for dropped hot coals.. fire clearances from combustible walls and furniture.. THAT's nightmarish..

I don't understand this logic at all. A stoker is an easy install. Throw down some tile on the floor for a hearth, measure off the wall fr compliance, cut a hole for the ehaust, plug the sucker in and you're done. I installed my stoker in about 3 hours and about 3 hours to build the hearth. Removing a heavy cast iron boiler and installing a coal boiler is wayyyyyyyy more work. To me it's a nightmare.

Dont' have what room? you take out the old oil boiler and replace it with a new boiler,, probably with a SMALLER footprint. since most old oil boilers were quite large.

And having a NEW coal/oil boiler with heating bills to show how cheap it is to heat the house, and you are keeping american workers in your own state and county working... Now THAT'S RESALE..

NEVER! (: This will not happen on my watch. Most people have an extremly negative view of burning coal. It's dangerous, dirty, bad for the environment, too much work, etc. I'm not saying I agree with their opinions but from my own experiences and talking with the guys who sell the stoves/boilers there is a stigma with coal. I still love it but lets be realistic.

Out on Lonnngggisland I can see some of the costs and attitude being similar to what you say,, but in the heart of coal country?? Nope,,
A coal boiler with oil backup is the way to go.

I don't live in coal country so it's a moot point.


And WHO mentioned that NG was even AVAILABLE? It is just a guess..

NG is cheap right now, uut just a few years ago, it was almost as expensive as oil and propane.. and pellets?? forget it. enjoy the dust and allergies from them.

Greg L.

traderfjp wrote:With a potato masher I can compress the ash down and go twice as long between trips to empty it.

rberq wrote:

traderfjp wrote:With a potato masher I can compress the ash down and go twice as long between trips to empty it.

Gotta try that!