Hello Everybody, New Here and Hoping to Be Burning Soon!

jjs777_fzr · Post by **jjs777_fzr** » Sat. Jan. 04, 2014 9:32 am

Trying to be objective here - but coal simply isn't for everyone.
You do need to spend time tending coal and there's the learning curve.
Someone mentioned bit coal. Okay do you have neighbors ? I don't see bit coal as a good option for anyone unless they're in the sticks with neighbors you can't see from your windows.
Then there's the accessibility to anthracite coal supply.
These are all factors that must be considered against wood stoves and wood pellet stoves.
I don't know too many people that burn all three like I am right now - and I don't tell my neighbors that I burn coal.
Enough that my mailman that I've known for years and very friendly with has asked me whats that stink ?
I just say I don't know I'm only burning wood and pellets.
Even anthracite coal - when you first light it - and its burning off volatile's is not something everyone wants to smell (not inside the house...just outside).
I have not burned bit coal but have viewed videos on youtube. Correct me if I'm crazy.

jjs777_fzr · Post by **jjs777_fzr** » Sat. Jan. 04, 2014 9:41 am

And for the OP
Be sure to checkout youtube videos - you may learn quite a bit if you haven't already.

This guy runs a 503 insert and does a good video.
I love the 503...if I had the fireplace I would have considered it.

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Sat. Jan. 04, 2014 11:35 am

Good Points,fzr ! Just for starters,I dropped in at the Blaschak Dealer Locator page of their website. I reqested a possible list of Dealers working out of a radius from Portsmouth,Ohio & South Shore,Kentucky. Let's see if this bears any fruit for Mrs.Southy and any other Southern Ohio-Northern Kentucky Coal Brothers and Sisters ! Gotta Try,as me Dear Old Dad used to say:"Hey Kid,it's already NO if you don't ask" ! Thanx For My Life,Ma&Pa !

http://www.blaschakcoal.com/residential-uses/dealer-locator

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sat. Jan. 04, 2014 11:57 am

Cost and availability of anthracite was why I asked about natural gas in the house. She has natural gas soooo,........anthracite may end up costing her more at this time. I appreciate having a truly warm room and a heat source to warm your buns against. I'm wondering if a vented natural gas fireplace insert might serve her needs better and more economically. Not nearly as much fun,....or work,.....as a hand fed coal stove, I admit.

if I had natural gas available to me, I probably would have gone that route. Gas would cost me less and be a set and forget fuel. Again, not nearly as much fun.

Edit: looks like gas fireplace inserts are limited to about 40,000 BTU. Might not be enough for her purposes.

MrsSouthy · Post by **MrsSouthy** » Sat. Jan. 04, 2014 12:41 pm

We have a set of vent free gas logs right now and it just can't do the job even running constantly the house is cold downstairs. I am wanting something with a much better capability of heating this house, both floors. The logs we have were the biggest ones sold by our local store and they can't even come close. Was natural gas higher last year than it is this year because my understanding is that we would probably spend about $900 for enough coal to heat for the season (plus getting it to us, however that has to happen) and if we heated with just the natural gas I guarantee our bill (going by what we paid last spring when we moved in here) would be $400/month easy. And with the vent free we aren't losing anything up the chimney like we would with vented. I am not opposed to the idea at all. My goal is to have a comfortable house as economically as possible, and to have at least one spot in the house that is warmer than the rest so I can occasionally get warm. Just based on my research and experience with gas logs it seems the coal stove would do the best job, but idk??

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sat. Jan. 04, 2014 12:49 pm

Yikes! $400.00/month with gas?!!!?

No wonder you're looking for a better solution! If you don't already have some carbon monoxide detectors with the vent free gas fireplace logs, it would be a good idea to get a couple. You'll need them for the coal stove, as well. I'm not trying to change your mind about coal but don't want you to be disappointed, either. With natural gas prices, in the East at least, some people with coal stoves are saving money using only gas rather than burning coal. Your distance from anthracite country and increased transport prices may swing that equation even further. How old is the current gas furnace,....I assume it's a furnace and not a hot water boiler???

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Sat. Jan. 04, 2014 1:49 pm

It's going to be a tough argument for a better gas furnace when even VENT FREE is costing her $400.00/mo. Condensing can't beat the vent free on economics.

The furnace is located in a dungeon basement she will not visit and the fireplace/vent free is already on the first floor.
And she wants at least one room on first floor to be able to warm her backside at times.

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sat. Jan. 04, 2014 1:59 pm

I think the $400.00/month is what she projects the cost to be if they used the gas furnace to heat the house to a bearable temperature. She's keeping it set at 50 degrees she stated. That one room will be nice and toasty for sure with a coal stove. I think sealing air leaks,replacement windows and more attic insulation would go a long way in taming the energy bill beast, as well.

MrsSouthy · Post by **MrsSouthy** » Sat. Jan. 04, 2014 2:14 pm

In all fairness the 400/month is a guesstimate based on what we paid in march and april last spring. We didn't even have it that warm in here and the gas (which during the summer runs 28-30/month) was around 225-250. So I'm figuring with these super cold temps it would at least go up another 150. Maybe more, idk. just seems like its running constantly. We are too scared to find out because honestly that's just too much for a one income family to handle monthly. And that's not to mention the unpredictability. I don't know how old the furnace is. It was here when we moved in and the previous owner was an elderly lady who was in very poor health, then died while we were in the process of buying the house so we had very little info going in. Its supposed to be high efficiency but we have found multiple other things in the house that either weren't done right or were left completely undone, most likely because she was elderly and lived alone, so it would not surprise me if it wasn't installed correctly or something. But regardless, even if we did find out the problem (if there is one) and fix it its like the last post says, that still wouldn't give a significant heat source on the main floor. Theres just something about backing up to a stove to get warm.... I am thinking that for the same or maybe even a little less money we could be warm and actually use our house. I would bet if we had new windows and our house was less drafty we would be better off going with the gas right now, but if we are talking the furnace running almost constantly vs the coal stove running constantly I think the coal would end up being a little more affordable and warmer. Is that way off you think? And yes, the basement is not someplace I want to go...ever!

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sat. Jan. 04, 2014 2:34 pm

Before my coal boiler, I had a Hitzer 983 fireplace insert. It worked GREAT! Didn't use any fuel oil and the house was much warmer and the savings was about 66%. The 983 does not have a hopper. I tended it only twice a day. Shake it down and fill it with coal once AM and once PM. Never went out all winter. It puts out over 100,000 BTU's and will also burn wood. I had the double door version. The stove you're looking at is, without doubt, a great stove! If you decide to go with coal, look at the 983. It may produce better results than the lower BTU stove you're looking at. You have to empty ashes with both stoves. The only difference is you don't have a hopper in the bigger stove. A little less convenient but not a deal breaker. To burn wood in the 503, I believe you have to remove the hopper.

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Sat. Jan. 04, 2014 2:38 pm

Found this info while pecking around the net"

SOUTHERN OHIO STOVE SYSTEMS

Phone: (937) 446-4443
11256 Hamer Rd
Georgetown, OH 45121

This Business is listed in:
Georgetown Fireplace Equipment Retail
Georgetown Fireplaces
Georgetown Stoves Wood Coal Etc Retail

jjs777_fzr · Post by **jjs777_fzr** » Sat. Jan. 04, 2014 4:01 pm

Mrs Southy - are you familiar with wood pellet stoves and/or seen one in action ?

It would behoove you to check out all options.

As for natural gas appliances nonvented vs vented - I agree it sounds like that can be quite costly and variable.

MrsSouthy · Post by **MrsSouthy** » Sat. Jan. 04, 2014 4:16 pm

We have thought about pellets because they are easily available. The thing that turned me off from them is that you have to have electric for them to work. We were looking for something that will work even in the case of a power outage. I know it doesn't happen often but it does happen. But thank you all so much for helping me make sure I look at all the options!!!

I did find a coal supplier about 40 miles from here but they were already closed when I called today so I'll try Monday. I tried the one in Georgetown and they don't sell coal :/ but thank you so much for the suggestions!! I appreciate them all!!!

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Sat. Jan. 04, 2014 6:53 pm

MrsSouthy wrote:We have thought about pellets because they are easily available. The thing that turned me off from them is that you have to have electric for them to work. We were looking for something that will work even in the case of a power outage. I know it doesn't happen often but it does happen. But thank you all so much for helping me make sure I look at all the options!!!

I did find a coal supplier about 40 miles from here but they were already closed when I called today so I'll try Monday. I tried the one in Georgetown and they don't sell coal :/ but thank you so much for the suggestions!! I appreciate them all!!!

See here about back up power to a pellet stove:
pellet stove back up power

hman · Post by **hman** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 5:53 pm

Call over at Wheat Ridge Energy 1-937-969-4554.They are located over in Peebles,Ohio right off of 32.
They handle coal and wood stoves both.They are Amish and they may have bagged coal or can tell you were you can get it fairly close.