Stove or boiler?

I put a wood burning stove in my home. Works great. Except we choke to death from the smell and smoke. Cannot use it. It seems a boiler would be the best for me to install. I have three zones set up with hot water coils. Yet a stove would be nice in the liv. rm.

Has any one had this delema? Did you install a boiler or a stove. Those of you that have stoves. Do they smell? admit any sort of fumes? Dust from loading ? I would hate to spend 3K then have the same problem with breathing.

What's worse is spending 3K and only heating a room or two. Go with the boiler! Unless you like paying the oilman/gasman/electric man, you can't beat a coal boiler. PLUS free hot water in the process. It's a no brainer.

BOILER!

funstuff wrote:I put a wood burning stove in my home. Works great. Except we choke to death from the smell and smoke. Cannot use it. It seems a boiler would be the best for me to install. I have three zones set up with hot water coils. Yet a stove would be nice in the liv. rm.

Has any one had this delema? Did you install a boiler or a stove. Those of you that have stoves. Do they smell? admit any sort of fumes? Dust from loading ? I would hate to spend 3K then have the same problem with breathing.

If you were having a smoke/smell issue in the house with the wood stove, there had to be a problem with the set up. Properly installed, the stove should be free of smoke or oder in the dwelling.

If I had the $$$ and was going to start from scratch, I'd go with the boiler.

Two Boilers and Two Stoker Stoves! One boiler for winter one for summer and as a backup, a stove in the kitchen to make that nice warm spot for coming in from the cold. A stoker in the garage to also provide a warm spot for coming in from the cold and restore the temp quickly when the 12' door is opened!

Then of course you need a stoker for the hobby shed where you can play with the stoves and find new ways to make an ash collection system and invent other fun things. I have less money in all of those units then one new Harman Boiler (the cheapest on the market at around $4,500 new). Plus the science projects are so much fun.

Matthaus wrote: I have less money in all of those units then one new Harman Boiler (the cheapest on the market at around $4,500 new). Plus the science projects are so much fun.

Man after my own heart. Once I started pricing things out I realized I have champaigne taste and a beer budget. I started looking at the local classifieds and already saw several old refurbed boilers for sale at a reasonable price. I was able to figure out how to put my existing oil fired hot water system in I should be able to learn how to install a coal boiler without launching the house (hopefully).

You cant just get one .You must get obsessed and start buying every good deal that comes along ,till you have no room to actually use one . Kidding aside go with the boiler . Lots of nice units to choose from . Dave

Thanks a lot everyone. I think you are right. For the bucks a boiler is the way to go. You all want to see some mad science project out check out the only Masonry gasification boiler in the US. that I know of. Can you guess what I used for a heat exchanger? http://mysite.verizon.net/vzew10av/

I get tempts of 2000 degrees and over. Thinking of useing anthracite coal. I need big chucks. What do you all think? Can I burn coal in this thing.

Wood'nCoal wrote:

funstuff wrote:I put a wood burning stove in my home. Works great. Except we choke to death from the smell and smoke. Cannot use it. It seems a boiler would be the best for me to install. I have three zones set up with hot water coils. Yet a stove would be nice in the liv. rm.

Has any one had this delema? Did you install a boiler or a stove. Those of you that have stoves. Do they smell? admit any sort of fumes? Dust from loading ? I would hate to spend 3K then have the same problem with breathing.

If you were having a smoke/smell issue in the house with the wood stove, there had to be a problem with the set up. Properly installed, the stove should be free of smoke or oder in the dwelling.

The smoke and smell came just from loading up the wood. Just opening up the door. With a great draft and a good stove.

Go with a boiler. It's the most adaptable to multiple installation requirements. To justify the cost plan on using it to heat your domestic hot water. Hopefully year round. Don't oversize it. Large units have problems operating in mild conditions and/or summer. Consider tying an existing boiler in as a backup or additional heat for the coldest day of the year. Above all have multiple sources for anthracite coal.

I'm still unsure about the smoke/smell issue. We heated with 2 wood stoves up until 1 year ago when I switch to primary stove to coal. We really didn't have that issue, unless we didn't realize there was a downdraft occuring when we were lighting the stove and didn't start the draft first.

What kind of stove do you have?

Thanks.

England stove works. We both have allergies. Wood really puts off some nasty stuff. The research I did really showed this. Have you heard of any coal stoves causing any breathing or allergic problems?

I built an outdoor wood boiler. If, I can burn coal in it. I can get the indoor coal stove.

My homemade boiler can be viewed at http://mysite.verizon.net/vzew10av/

what kind of wood are you burning? I know some people are allergic to red oak, really bad. Like they break out in hives and can't breath just being around a woodpile. I have a coal boiler, works great. No smell. There is really no need to open the fire door either besides to stare at the coal burning so that is an advantage over wood. I think the biggest thing is a coal boiler is more complicate to install, a stove is simple - you just set it where you want heat.

No problem with installing. I have my own HVAC co. 20 years.

Is this anthracite coal getting hard to get? I have read people have had problems even in PA getting it?

Well funstuff That all depends where in the state one live's You Have to Remember that there is only 4 counties in PA that still Deep mine and 5 That Stripped mine So one would have to know where the source is Then all you have to do is go buy it or Pay for Delivery Here is some info that will help you If you PM. me I Will give you more info And can show you where the good Coal breakers are At Also stove/stoker Company in and around My area

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate ... rators.htm