EPA Air Regulations

We are planning a move to the Shenandoah Valley, and would like to install a coal stove (free standing or fireplace insert) for auxiliary heat and in case of emergency.

I cannot find any EPA regulations on coal stoves -- only for wood. Are there any EPA regs? And do EPA rules control what a state will allow?

Thanks for any help.

No regs., just for wood as you have discovered.

If the power is out for an extended period, will you really care what the regs. are?

On your last point -- I would care not at all (if fact, I care little now, given my low opinion of EPA).

But I am thinking about possible difficulties in getting a unit installed. I am not sure what permits I will need, and local authorities might not be aware that no standards cover coal. So they might balk. Or I might not need a permit at all, which would make life easier.

Thanks for the help. And for any help that someone familiar with VA can give.

Cheers!

JVD

WELCOME to NEPA!

I doubt you will have any issues getting a coal stove installed. If it can be done with ease here in the People's Republic of Taxachusetts you should have no problems at your location. Your biggest problem will be deciding what stove to purchase.

Where are you moving to?

Rev. Larry
New Beginning Church
Ashland Pa.

Larry

He mentioned "Shenandoah Valley" and I think that is in Virginia.......

We are looking around the area south of Woodstock, in Shenandoah Cy, VA.

Re selection -- yes, it is hard. We are at the ignorant start of the process. Prices are hard to find on the dealer sites, but so far I have seen $3000 stoves from Harman, a $500 potbelly from Ace Hardware (maker unspecified), and some things in between. Of course, without an actual house and layout, it is hard to make any choices. But I am reading the comments here with interest.

We will also need to learn whether we can use the local VA coal.

Lots to think about to start in your selection of stove. Is it going to be your primary heat source or a back up - lower overall heating costs type installation? Do you prefer new or used? Budget constraints? Do you mind the installation in your living space or do you prefer to put it in the basement for cleaner living space? Do you want it to keep you warm in a power failure? Want hot water also? Lots more things to think about... Think about the answers and any others you may come up with and let the folk here know. You'll get plenty of opinions...

dj

Just for the record--if done properly, there is no problem as far as cleanliness in the living area. All dj's other points are right on:) Just an old farmer sharing his experience.

Welcome to the forum and congrats on heading in the direction of economical heat!!

Introduction to Coal Burning

Since you are starting out, here is a thread that goes over some of the basics.

I use a shop vac when im dumping the ash from my pan into my ready can. A slow pour with the vac prevents fly ash from getting away, mostly.... nothing is perfect....

As for coal dust...what is that? never seen it, my blashak comes with black mud in the bag for your burning annoyance...

freetown fred wrote:Just for the record--if done properly, there is no problem as far as cleanliness in the living area. All dj's other points are right on:) Just an old farmer sharing his experience.

Fred, you and I are on the same page here. But there are some folk that live with like white shag carpets and everything super shiny and spotless.... For those types, any kind of combustion equipment would add more to the cleaning needs if located in the living space. Also, just for the record, coal is among the cleaner options. Wood is far dirtier from my experience...

dj

First check out the coal supply. Be sure you can get anthracite.

confedsailor wrote:I use a shop vac when im dumping the ash from my pan into my ready can. A slow pour with the vac prevents fly ash from getting away, mostly.... nothing is perfect....

As for coal dust...what is that? never seen it, my blashak comes with black mud in the bag for your burning annoyance...

Very true.....with very little effort any dust can be virtually eliminated. I get coal in bulk to no black slurry to keep the dust down but I use a shop vac to load the coal into the hopper so no dust on that end either.

Thanks for all the help.

We intend this stove as an emergency backup. The disaster scenario with which we are most concerned is the grid going down or becoming increasingly unreliable, either as a result of government incompetence or the malevolence of our foes.

So the unit would be on the main floor, not connected to the basic home heating system, and rarely used. (Perhaps even "never.") Nor would it have to be big enough to keep a whole house comfortable.

One point of concern raised by the comments: The chimney. I am assuming that we would install a separate flue to the outside of the house, and not connect to a chimney. Would this work in the absence of an electrically powered blower?

In theory, one could use a coal burning fireplace insert, but I have not seen any such for sale, The only fireplace inserts I have seen are wood or pellet burning.

I also discovered that the $500 Ace Hardware stove I saw is also sold by Home Depot, where it is called the Vogelzang Railroad stove. But I cannot find it on the Vogelzang webite (http://www.vogelzang.com), and the HD website comments say it is from China.

Finding coal might be a problem. I called Home Depot to ask if they sold coal as well as stoves, and the server came up blank. I have pinged Blaschak to ask for a list of dealers.