Venting options

I'm real eager to get a hand fired stove to burn wood/coal for the first floor, but it's going to be very tricky venting the thing. Right now my only chimney is being used by the oil fired boiler in the basement. And there are so many doors, windows radiators to avoid on the first floor that the only thing I can think to do is to somehow power vent the old boiler in the basement, and cut through the living room wall to tap into the chimney. Does this sound feasible? I know that newer boilers can be direct/power vented, but this cast iron boiler is very old. I'm thinking that the cost of direct venting the boiler would be less than putting up a new chimney.

Scottsman wrote:I'm thinking that the cost of direct venting the boiler would be less than putting up a new chimney.

If you lose power frequently or for long periods I would put the Oil on the PV. That way you will have heat despite power outages. The power vent will need to be stainless for coal, not so with oil so that is a savings that may make the oil on a PV more attractive anyway.

I'm new to this but i love the site. I'm thinking of installing a coal furnace in my basement along side my forced air propane furnace to use that ductwork to move the air but that location would require the coal furn. to be direct vented out a side wall, Is this possible with all coal furn. or are some made special and would a power vent work and/or could be added to a regular coal furn.
Thanks for helping a new guy.

You should be able to run either way. I had a direct/power vent on my keystoker, but removed it to hook to the brick chimney and it works fine either way. As long you have them adjusted correctly. They only have to have a safety Flue switch if the power vent fails, it shuts the stove down, its like a thermal switch.

Thanks Dave, All I need now is, does anyone have a good used koker for sale?