Help deciding on purchasing new stove!!!

I'm going to purchase a new electric auto coal stoker stove. I'm taking out my Kuma oil stove!!! I do not need to hook up a heat exchanger of any type.

I am looking at the following stoves:

Leisure Line Pocono
Harmon Magnum
Alaska 140 auger
Keystoker

What other models should I consider? 90k btu, auto feed is what I'm looking for.
What brand is the best of these type stoves and why?
I want to duct the stove to the outside for conbustion air.
Is there any preference toward rear exhaust or top exhaust? Is one better than the other? Leaning toward rear exhaust, seems to me heat would stay in box longer???

Thanks in advance to everyone in helping me with my decision!!!

Harmon also has 90K type stoves.

Do you have a chimney that you can hook it into? If not, you need a Power Vent and/or Direct Vent (costs more). How big of a house, where are you locating the stove, First floor? Basement? etc...

You are correct on the Rear Exhaust, most exit the bottom of the stove and probably keep more heat in the stove. or look to see if internally they exit the bottom , but go up the back and exit the top...

See what type of control/Thermostat the system has. Thermostat only or control system (Black Box type) or CoalTrol. Each has it's own variables. I believe the LL come standard with the the CoalTrol control system.

Yes, I have a flu in the basement where the stove will go. So no powervent needed. Basement is about 1200 sq ft. Looking to heat basement which is all open and keep floor of first floor warm, no overhead insulation from basement to first floor.

What type of heat does your home have? I'm a big proponent of installing a central coal buring furnace or boiler instead of a stove. Read all the threads about "how to get the heat distributed from your stove". It's a big problem. Some rooms real warm, some cool. Plus after all of the expense, if you still have to use your primany equipment and fuel, it hardly seems worth it to me. No offense to all the stove guys intended.

From a perspective of ease of use (coal trol standard) and value the leisure line pocono is the way to go out of those choices. The alaska 140 auger however is 170,000 btus and is about $3500-4000 if I remember correctly. The Alaska Channing III and the alaska 140 single paddle feed are there 85,000 btu units. The 140 has a hot air jacket on it and is designed more to be used as a hot air furnace where as the
channing III is a stove unit like the rest in your comparison. But in reality they are all quality made units it really comes down to what fits your needs the best. However if I had one to stay away from it would be the Harman as they have horrible customer service and they are in the process of being sold out.

coalkirk does have a point about the heat distribution; seems like there are multiple threads from guys who make plenty of heat, but can't get it to move around well. Do you have a way for good air movement to get the heat upstairs, and equally important a separate cold air return?

For example, I run a Harman stoker in the kitchen of my 1799 farmhouse and use a box fan on low speed to move the air through one doorway- since I have an ideal floor plan, the air makes a "loop" through the house and returns to the kitchen via another doorway- point being I'm not trying to force warm air one way and cold air the other way through the same opening, and my first floor gets pretty even heat.

I've never tried to contact Harman directly, probably never will, but the local dealer is accessible and helpful, and I think the Mag stoker is a good solid design. Most of the stoker guys here like theirs no matter the make, and they're all good in their own ways.

I'm just looking to heat the basement and warm the floors on the first level. I've got oil hotwater baseboard, electric air/heat and a high efficiency wood burner for upstairs. When wood burner is going, oil doesn't kick in, so I'm happy with what I have, just interested in heating basement.

Next house will have an outdoor coal burner tied to hot water baseboard!


Thanks everyone!!!

I would think you would be thinking primarily about the maintenance cycle.

The 200 lb hopper on the Pocono would probably give you a Sunday/Wednesday fill-up-empty cycle in a controlled environ like a 1200 sqft basement.

xackley,

For a Sunday to Wednesday burn, would level burn setting is that at? Low, med? Just trying to get an idea of how much coal it uses at what settings?

Have you been happy with the Pocono? Is it possible to duct that unit to the outside for fresh air to be used for conbustion? I want a stove I can connect outside air to for burning. My woodburner uses outside air and it works awesome!

Before you buy, check out a Keystoker Koker for the following reasons:

1) Probably your biggest bang for your BTU buck. The Keystoker Koker (not so pretty) and Keystoker 105 (pretty) are close to the same price... Since you plan to locate the stove/furnace in your basement---looking pretty isn't your first concern...

2) All electrical controls/motors are "industrial strength" and run quiet.

3) Minimalist approach to the electronics controlling the unit---enhancing long term reliability.

4) You have an exhaust flue---although direct vent is available for the Koker.

5) Cranks out 160K BTUs---the stoker mechanism can be easily throttled back as necessary to generate less heat.

6) Stoker operates off a thermostat---programmable thermostats really make this a slick setup.

7) Convection fan (1529 CFM) operates off a thermostat too---the convection fan only runs when necessary, conserving electricity, and doesn't blow cool air.

8) The convection fan output can be piped into existing ductwork; or, you can simply blast heat into your basement. NOTE: There are several options here. I'd be happy to elaborate; but, I don't know your plan...

9) Full 240 pound (6 bag) hopper.

10) Combusion fan runs continuously, keeping a nice low maintenance fire, and burns coal to a fine ash.

11) Stainless steel hot water coil is available too.

12) And most importantly---burning coal gives you the opportunity to "stick it to the man."

I did get a chance to check out the keystoker at a local retailer just the other day. Your right, it doesn't have the looks, but it is a nice unit. There price is a few hundred bucks more than the LL Pocono. I'm going to Leisure Line this coming weekend to get a look at their units, unfortunately no shops in my area have the LL, but we're only an hour away from LL.

I've heard all good about LL and Keystoker and ruled out the Harmon due to several comments I've heard. Haven't gotten much back on Alaska so I think it's between LL and Keystoker.