1st coal fire of the season.....

As I have been burning wood for weeks now, did I ever mention how much I hate burning wood. Finally cold enough to go to coal. YES!!, only have to check the stove twice a day instead of the every 4 hours of adding more and more wood.

As I was getting the fire going, I thought to myself I haven't been on this website lately. Well, a big welcome to everyone!

Dan

Good to hear from ya Dan. Yep, another burning season begins

Same here, haven't been back to the forum since last season. We just got power back last night, the Alaska Kodiak kept us comfortable while barely even breaking a sweat! 25 lbs. of coal every 2 days, emptying the ashes every 3 days. I only shake it once every 24 hours. MPD closed all the way, baro above it and clunking away on a windy day. I've learned if I want it to run cooler, I don't disturb the corners in ash and only shake the grate. When I need more BTUs, I poke the corners and allow the bed to be all burning coal. That seems to double the output.

I'll burn 2-3 tons this year depending on the severity, and hopefully less than 200 gallons of oil. With a 30 gallon electric water heater, I think I have optimized my needs for heat. I've found that the water heater only costs me $20 per month for 2 or 3 persons hot water depending if a daughter visits for the weekend and does laundry.

Ok, enough off-topic. HAPPY HEATING TO ALL!

A Kodiak is one hell of a stove. I imagine it would keep you warm in any weather.

rb, how come you're speculating 200 gal. of oil with that stove?--She's quite the heat machine. I hear that daughter thing.

welcome back Dan. I take it your stove is "ambidextrous"? (Wood and coal?). Or do you have 2 different stoves? I envy the "quick start" heat the wood provides, (seeing I don't have that option), but the long burn and heat from the coal has its benefits. Just started my stove this weekend, cause the temps are dipping below freezing, (and I just wanted to play...it's still new to me). Happy "alternate "heating" you guys. PS. 25lbs in 2 days!? where am I going wrong?

Yeah, I fired mine up with coal yesterday for the first full burn of the year. Its nice and warm now thanks to it. No more wood burning for a while.

freetown fred wrote:rb, how come you're speculating 200 gal. of oil with that stove?--She's quite the heat machine. I hear that daughter thing.

House is a 62' x 48' ranch, stove is pretty much dead center. Oil heat is 3 zones, comes on for an hour on cold mornings. Hopefully I'll use less than 200 gallons.
Since I added those heatsinks on the stove last year, it is so much more efficient. The MPD stays fully closed whereas I had to have it open before for same output.

I LOVE THIS STOVE!

I bet the heatsinks will make a big difference oil consumption wise.

Joeq, no the good ole Gilbrater can burn both wood and coal. Wood is a nice quick way of getting a fire going, but the adding wood every 4 hours is a pain in the butt, but it is nice to warm up the house and let the fire burn out over night and only have a few wood ashes left.

I enjoy the coal burning a lot more, twice a day, shake, dump and add. Simple...

Dan