Question for Cap

Hi Cap, I would like to know why you went from a MarkIII to a SF 250. I'm trying to learn as much as I can. I want to install a burner, but want to make sure I make the right choice. I live in Schulkyll Co. In an old farm house, about 2200 sq ft. I want to put the unit in the basement. I've been reading on here guys are keeping these type of houses very warm with the MarkIII. Wich one would you recomend MarkIII or SF250. If you need more information I will respond. Thanks, Craig.

Craig--

I missed your post yesterday.

I switched for a number of reasons some I knew at the time I purchased the SF250 and some I did not.

-I am using the unit in the basement. While my basement is suitable as a living area, it really isn't a finished basement so stove appearance comes distance 2nd. The Mark Series stoves are a nice looking unit suitable for a living room or main floor. The SF is as ugly as a train wreck in my opinion.
-My Mark III wasn't quite cutting it in regards to heating the entire house on a cold day such as today. Current temps 26F.
-The SF unit has the optional heat accumulator which allows you to run 6" stove pipe directly to a floor register.
-Probably 25% larger firebox for BTU output.

Stuff I didn't realize

-I can design and install a ss tubing water coil and circulation pump for domestic hot water.
-I can go crazy with thermometers I bought off of Ebay for a few dollars.
-I can easily build firebox reducers out of scrap stainless steel plate and a few firebrick.
-The additional size and steel of the unit adds radiant heat even though my firebox is reduced to 12" x 13" or ruffly the size of a Mark I.

I still have my 50% firebox reducer installed at the moment but I am having problems keeping the entire house warm. I may need to shutdown and install my 20% reducer soon. Right now I burn 50lbs a day sending 200F heat directly to the first floor. With more firebox, I can bump the temps up to 250F or 300F if necessary.

See images.

Craig--

2200 sf is quite large especially for an old PA farm house. My house is 2500 sq ft, no including basement, And since it'll go in the old cellar, I'd suggest a SF250 with the optional accumulator and some black stove pipe. Also, be sure your flue diameter is sized properly for best results.

Thanks for the advice Cap.I'm going to the Harman dealer on Saturday. Could you recomend the flu diameter I should use? Thanks again, Craig.

6"

Thanks again Cap. By the way I'm from Hegins, probably not too far from you.
I'll keep you posted on my progress.

I live in the "other" Lehigh Twp. North of Northampton, 8 miles east of Lehighton.

pa coal cracker wrote:Thanks again Cap. By the way I'm from Hegins, probably not too far from you.
I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Hegins lots of good coal out there

Yep, Coal Berner, you got to know wich breaker to go to, some get more deep mine, mine run than others they all mix with strippin coal though, I guess you already know that being from Pottsville. It's not like it used to be when I was a kid. There's still a lot of good coal left in the mountains around here, but fed and state regs make it too hard to get, plus there aren't many good miners left. I have 3 breakers within 20 minutes of my house. I know the breaker bosses at 2 of them, they can hook me up when they are running a lot of deep mine coal.

pa coal cracker wrote:Yep, Coal Berner, you got to know wich breaker to go to, some get more deep mine, mine run than others they all mix with strippin coal though, I guess you already know that being from Pottsville. It's not like it used to be when I was a kid. There's still a lot of good coal left in the mountains around here, but fed and state regs make it too hard to get, plus there aren't many good miners left. I have 3 breakers within 20 minutes of my house. I know the breaker bosses at 2 of them, they can hook me up when they are running a lot of deep mine coal.

Yep Pine Summit Superior More Mix with Pine Then Summit still has 4 deep mines and soon will have another when Randy gets the one up and running out my way in brockton as far as stripp I know that Randy is pulling some out in the same area where the deep mine is The one that I Just mentioned until the permits come threw to go deep into the Mammoth vein the last I heard the old mine was only 260ft deep he would like to go 1800 to 2000ft and as far as Superior they are pulling out of 3 deep yet and one open suface vein to make up for the one deep they lost last year I know Roger & Rick pretty good and a few others out there They are a good bunch of guys I do buy from them plus one up north I know Randy was having problems with the state about the one he has outside of pottsville open one week down the next the state & the feds are trying to close all of them down last year we had 14 deep in the state now we have 12 running And I heard another one might be going out
Check the list out you know what I mean Pm me next time you are going to pick some up I will come out and get some myself It's Good to talk to a fellow coal cracker Do you know member gaw he is out your way Anyway take care hope to talk to you later

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Hi, Coal Berner you must either be in the coal business, or you are connected to the business in some way. Yep, I know all the guys you mentioned . Do you mean Randy at RS&W? If so he's my cousin so is Roger over at Superior and the Benders hauled for us back when I was still mining. Back in the good old days. Today I was at the Harman dealer looking at the SF 250, I still have a couple questions.I have an oil burner that heats everything now. Does anyone ever run the domestic hot water coil through the coal stove and then to the oil burner, and just put a couple of ball valves in so it can be closed in the summer. I'm thinking, even if it's not the most efficient set up it will still help. Next question, I read a post on here the guy said his basement has mountain stone walls and it sucked up all the heat . That is what I have too, the only thing is a couple of years ago I cleaned them all up and repointed them, also added another heating zone down there with a cast iron radiator it made a big difference. Any advice from you guys is certainly appreciated. Thanks, Craig.

I couldn't find anything on member gaw he list's his address as parts unknown.

pa coal cracker wrote:Hi, Coal Berner you must either be in the coal business, or you are connected to the business in some way...........

Actually coal berner is the "official coal country mine and breaker tour guide". He aughta get a cut from the breakers he is out there with us members so much.

Ok I just found a bunch of posts on the domestic hot water coil, I'm starting to understand the need for a temperate tank I liked the one idea about using the pipe with the cooling fins I'm thinking to myself why wouldn't it work using a cast iron radiator instead of the temp tank. oh and I didn't even know there was a tour guide for the coal region.

Hi craig How long ago where you mining and what vein where you pulling from And yes that is the right Randy & Mike I go out to see Roger every few weeks No I am not in the coal business Just a local coal cracker helping members get the good stuff But most of my family members worked the mines back in the good old days gaw lives out pass the pine creek breaker where the road splits you take the right out there somewhere Let me know the next time you are out there to see Roger Ill take a ride out take care keep warm talk to you later