When Is It Cold Enough to Start Coal Stove?

shredder_54 · Post by **shredder_54** » Sat. Nov. 09, 2013 12:52 pm

How cold out does it need to be before I can start my coal stove for the season? Currently temperatures at night (Chester county PA) are around 30-40 F at night and 45-55 F during the day. I'm worried that it is too warm during the day right now and the stove will not draft properly. I am using an Alaska Stove Channing III model with anthracite rice coal. It has a standard flue with no direct/power venting.

Thanks!

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Sat. Nov. 09, 2013 12:57 pm

s 54, when my house starts to cool down--I light up. That was about a month ago. hand fired, straight up pipe, no frills. Are you getting the hang of your air settings, vent settings??? You should be able to dial that baby down to damn near nothing & remain lit. Just remember, the only dumb questions are the one's we don't ask:)

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Sat. Nov. 09, 2013 4:55 pm

i would recommend getting a manometer connected then you can see what your draft and safely dial back your stove so it doesn't heat you out of the house. although windowstats ARE sometimes necessary!

edit to add....i am just south of you and I waited until last Sunday to light up. a couple sunny days this week it got up to 73 with the stoker running in idle mode, but the temp dropped back down at night.

blrman07 · Post by **blrman07** » Sun. Nov. 10, 2013 6:09 am

It's cold enough to lite the stove when Momma says..."I'm cold, lite the stove." That is when it's cold enough to lite the stove.

A happy wife is a happy life.

Rev. Larry

Post by **Lightning** » Sun. Nov. 10, 2013 6:20 am

I fire up when the highs during the day don't get over 60 degrees. If we happen to get a couple warm days I'll take steps to idle it thru the day so I'm not making new fires. Yours is a stoker right?

lsayre · Post by **lsayre** » Sun. Nov. 10, 2013 6:28 am

Lightning wrote:I fire up when the highs during the day don't get over 60 degrees.

Where I live that point generally seems to come right in the middle of October. That means that mid October would be the earliest fire up point around here for a hand fired stove.

And on the opposite end, daytime high temps begin to exceed 60 on a consistent basis right around the end of April.

Post by **Lightning** » Sun. Nov. 10, 2013 6:35 am

lsayre wrote:Where I live that point generally seems to come right in the middle of October. That means that mid October would be the earliest fire up point around here for a hand fired stove.

Yeah that's about right, I lit mine Oct 22.. In past years its been mainly the 3rd week in October

anthony7812 · Post by **anthony7812** » Sun. Nov. 10, 2013 7:58 am

I see a week with temps lower than 65 I light. Some say Im nuts but stove is in the basement so its a perfect setup for my needs.

lowfog01 · Post by **lowfog01** » Sun. Nov. 10, 2013 8:31 am

I light up when the next week's forecast is for a 55* daytime high. There maybe a few warm days after that but the open windowstats will take care of that. Lisa

michaelanthony · Post by **michaelanthony** » Sun. Nov. 10, 2013 9:42 am

Rev. Larry said it all, no need to add to that!

kcarr · Post by **kcarr** » Sun. Nov. 10, 2013 1:34 pm

Hello Shredder_54 Heck, I fire up First week of September and shut down late June. I can keep a draft (small one) easily up to 80F outside temp...Works well every year. I am in Bucks County PA not far from you. Light it now..will work fine.
With the forecasted temps this week you should have enough draft to suck your hat off !
Ken

shredder_54 · Post by **shredder_54** » Sun. Nov. 10, 2013 6:53 pm

Thanks for everyone's input! I just fired her up and everything seems to be working well.

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Sun. Nov. 10, 2013 7:10 pm

Good !

EasyRay · Post by **EasyRay** » Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:02 am

My joints started feeling a lot better on October 20th this year.

My stove is in a finished basement.

oros35 · Post by **oros35** » Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 1:41 pm

When the lows go in the 30's-40's, highs in the 50's-60's it's time to fire up the stove for me, until then it's cheaper to run the heat pump.

I have good draft but get concerned with this old stove if the outside temps get in the 70's. It's so efficient that the exhaust temps will get down under 90 when it's idleing, and a gust of wind will reverse the draft momentarily.