Arctic Blast - Chubby Performance 2000 sq ft split foyer

Hello guys/gals,

This is my first winter burning coal. I have a chubby coal stove. I Just wanted to let everyone know how my chubby performed during the artic cold blast we experienced last week. I live in Annapolis, MD. Prior to the arctic air blast, we've had temps here in Annapolis that ranged from upper 30's to low 40's during the day and low 30's at night. At these temps, the chubby would keep the 1st floor ( where stove is located) in the low 80's and and between about 71 (night) and 74 (daytime) upstairs. I have a 2000 sq ft split foyer. Stove is downstairs and is connected to an existing fireplace.

This recent cold snap, we had temps in the low20's during the day and low-teens at night. This really pushed the limits of the chubby for my house style. We were able to maintain 70 during the day but at night, the house temp dropped low enough, to at least 68, to where i had our hvac thermostat set. And the heat pump ran alot during the night, despite the chubby cranking away at half throttle. I dont have a blower model, but i do use fans to move hot air towards my stairs in an effort to bring the heat to the 2 nd floor. Keep in mind though, that the 1st floor still was nice and toasty at 80 degrees. But no one slepps down there. I gotta tell you, when you are used to 74 degrees and it drops to 68 youre freezing!! How spoiled my family has beome, because last year the hvac thermostat was pegged to 68. And the funny thing is, no one complained about it being chilly. Now as soon as it drops below 70, people are cold.

Welcome to the forum.. the fans are good but the natural air flow always wins.....

ya have to give the cold air upstairs a way down

over in the far side from the stove punch a hole in the floor? install a pretty grate it will allow convection to become your best friend

I would say your Chubby did a pretty good job at keeping 2000sq ft pretty darn close to "room temperature" with this cold snap on the East Coast. Our little Jr showed she was up the job as well.

How much coal did you burn this past week? I just opened my 4th bag this afternoon since last Sunday. We burned about 75 more pounds than "typical". Not bad I think for a house in the 70's 24/7 with single degree temps at night and teens during the day. Though we did use the soapstone woodstove a little.

A cold air return like Pocono has mentioned will help as well. Getting the air to circulate in the house is almost as important as having the right size stove I think.

I think the Chubby did a hell of a job for you. They are a nice well built stove. Great to hear how good she performed. Stay warm.

Thanks guys!! One$, yes I have been burning more coal than usual, my guess would be around 40lbs a day vs. 30lbs. I'm a little leery of punching holes into my floors (home resale value) for convection purposes until I'm certain the coal stove will be a permanent fixture in our house. Aside from arctic cold snaps, the chubby does an excellent job heating the whole house w/out convection grates.

Here's some exciting news, my first electric bill came for the December period and it was $140 for the month, last year same period, it was $276 (and the avergaqe temp last winter was warmer). I probably burned $50 in coal (i bought a ton of loose anthracite 11/15/2012 for $200 and today I still have little more than a 3rd left), so I still saved about $90 last month, probably much more when you figure in the colder weather we had December 2012 vs December 2011!!! At this rate my stove will pay for itself in a few years!!

I bought a ton of loose anthracite 11/15/2012 for $200 and today I still have more than a 3rd left. So from 11/15/2012 to 1/29/2013 is 75 days, if I have 1/3 a ton left (660lbs) that means I've burnt 1,340 lbs over 75 days, or 17.866lbs a day on average. Keep in mind that I shut down the stove when temps are expected to rise into the 50's during the day and remain in upper 40's at night. So I have not had a continous fire. I also have access to free firewood that I'll burn on those marginally cool days.

It sounds like that Chubby is paying you back handsomely.

Coal-Chub-E wrote: I gotta tell you, when you are used to 74 degrees and it drops to 68 youre freezing!! How spoiled my family has beome, because last year the hvac thermostat was pegged to 68. And the funny thing is, no one complained about it being chilly. Now as soon as it drops below 70, people are cold.

I hear ya, loud and clear. this is my 1st full season with coal, and can attest to that. Same thing here. My girls, (including wife), still wrap themselves up in "throw blankets" while laying on the couches watching TV at nite. i tell them, "it's 72* in here!" You can't possibly be cold? "No" they say."We're comfortable".