Hitzer 503

I have to say how much I am in love with my Hitzer 503 fireplace insert. After the first two weeks of learning curve and was that difficult, I let the stove run last night nice and low at 275 degrees and it went 24 hours between shakedowns and fillings. Wow! there is no way wood would ever due that. It took 15 minutes to get the fire going well again then more coal on it and see you in 24 hours. The weather is 45 and raining. I really believe that Hitzer is a great stove and I don't regret my decision. My daughter who is always cold told me she wanted to get the coal stove something for Christmas since is works so well at keeping her warm.

Another happy camper with a new family member. Priceless!

Outstanding my friend. Yep, the Hitzer guys make ya think they been doing this for a while.

If you think your happy now wait till you really get comfortable with it and do your first 48hr.

jbirish, glad you are liking the 503. I have had good success with it too. I have found 12 hour cycles of caring for it most effective. Will just keep churning along...

Someone on the Forum several years ago posted a neat funnel idea for filling the hopper on this stove. You can get a galvanized piece at Home Depot and adapt it for this purpose. Don't know its proper name (readers please advise), but it is the 12" X 6" piece that is part of a floor register in a hot air heating system. Adapts 6" round ducting to the actual floor register. See photo showing basic piece upside down with notches cut to fit around the manual pipe damper rod that runs front to back through the top of the 503 hopper compartment. I put duct tape around the piece to dampen sound,but not necessary. Allows you to pour coal with abandon and not worry about getting it all over the sealing areas between the top door of the hopper and the stove itself. Good luck!