Advice for a Fence Sitter.

 
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beatle78
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Post by beatle78 » Fri. Feb. 08, 2008 12:05 pm

Richard S. wrote:
beatle78 wrote: It is a bit dirtier, but I would NEVER consider a pellet stove. Plus I've never heard of a coal shortage in our area.
It happens but its usually around this time of year and after/during a very long cold spell. May not affect outlying areas if the dealers are purchasing well in advance for the season because they already have it.
OK, that makes sense. Of course I've never burned through a significant "cold spell" yet either. Once I figure out what my final coal appliance will be (stoker boiler I hope). I will try to buy enough to get me though almost any kind of winter God throws our way :D

 
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gambler
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Post by gambler » Sat. Feb. 09, 2008 12:11 pm

NorthernNewYork wrote:New member looking for some advice. Looking to go the way of a coal stoker stove in my living room, venting through the wall. Single story ranch about 1500sf. I started off looking for a pellet stove, did some research and found what probably everyone else on this forum has found. Coal = more BTU's for the buck. Called a local stove retailer who talked my ear off for 35 min trying to convince me that coal isn't worth it. For some reason doesn't carry them anymore. His argument is that even though coal has higher BTU and is generally cheaper than other fuels, the efficiency is a lot less (hence what you think your saving, goes out the vent even with a good stoker) than a good pellet stove. I probably don't need all the BTU that coal would give me over a pellet stove, but I still like idea of paying less per BTU. So....couple questions...

1. How efficient are some of these coal stokers? Can't seem to find any numbers anywhere. My two fav's are the Harman dvc-500 (a lil on the expensive side) and Keystokers base 70k BTU model.
2. I am led to believe that a used coal stoker, in order to decent, has to be very well taken care of (rust, acid, etc) or else not worth crap after 3 years. Any hope of finding one at a poor mans price?
3. Even if the avg efficiency of a coal stoker is 50%, say would spend equal amounts on pellets as coal, would this be true? Would a 70- 80k BTU coal stoker be the same as a 45k BTU pellet stove?

So at this point, I do like the fact that storage is much easier with coal. Could potentially get more heat out of it, and maybe save ca$h. On the neg side, I do like that pellet is renewable and is generally more efficient, but prices are rising all the time. Feedback much appreciated. Thanks!
I am an ex-pellet/corn burner. I had heated with pellets/corn for 4 years until this year when I purchased a used coal stoker stove and I couldn't be happier. While I still have to fill the hopper and empty the ash pan the coal stove is a lot less cleaning maintenance. The coal stove is not any dirtier in my dining room than the pellet stove was and it may even be slightly cleaner. The coal storage is also much easier. You don't have to worry about keeping it dry and you don't have to store as much to make it through the heating season. If you can purchase coal I would take a long hard look at a coal stove instead of a pellet stove. I figured that it will cost me around $250 less to heat with coal over pellets/corn this year. Just my 2 cents worth.

 
NorthernNewYork
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Post by NorthernNewYork » Sat. Feb. 09, 2008 8:55 pm

Thanks all for your advice. After much consideration, and help from this site...I am going to go the way of coal. There are too many advantages to pass up. The cost of fuel and storage issues are the major deciding factors. While a pellet stove might be better than propane @ $2.45 a gallon (and rising), coal would give me more heat for less money and hassle hands down. Now in the process of finding a good stove.

 
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gambler
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Post by gambler » Sat. Feb. 09, 2008 9:28 pm

NorthernNewYork wrote: Now in the process of finding a good stove.
Have you decided if you want to be a manly man and buy a hand fired stove or join the girlie man ranks like me and buy a stoker fed stove?
The main advantage that I see for the hand fed is if you live in an area that loses power often. But you can put the stoker stove on a UPS back up to cover short power outages. If you are looking for a stoker stove get one with a t-stat. I have the coal-trol t-stat on mine and it works great, no guessing at what the temps will be and trying to set the stove before you go to work so the house will be at the right temp when you get home.
Good luck in your quest for a stove!
You will not be disappointed with coal.


 
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SMITTY
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Post by SMITTY » Sun. Feb. 10, 2008 5:53 pm

NorthernNewYork wrote:Thanks all for your advice. After much consideration, and help from this site...I am going to go the way of coal. There are too many advantages to pass up...........While a pellet stove might be better than propane @ $2.45 a gallon (and rising), coal would give me more heat for less money and hassle hands down.
A buddy of mine bought a pellet stove last year. He just sold it last month! He said it used alot of pellets & produced little heat for their needs.

He should be going to coal by next year.

 
stanggt24
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Post by stanggt24 » Wed. Feb. 13, 2008 10:36 pm

I purchased a keystoker 105 k coal stove in early nov. and up till now I have burned 2 1/2 tons of rice coal so far.I have a split entry ranch that is 2400 sqft and have comfortably heated my house at 68 to 70 at all times since I lite it.I also installed the hot water coil in my stove and connected it to my indirect water heater with a bronze pump pumping it into the bottom of the heater and returning out the top back to stove I have burnt a 1/8 of a tank of oil since I turned it on I also upgraded the blower on mine to the 500 cfm fan instead of standard fan I would recommend them to anyone out there looking for a stoker stove if any one has any questions just email me and I will email u my number to talk by the way I am lic. plumber from ma.


thanks hope this helps someone decide which way to go
rich buccelli

 
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WillCulp
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Post by WillCulp » Thu. Feb. 14, 2008 9:11 am

I have a Hitzer hand fired in my basement for about 8 years now and a Surdiac before the Hitzer.

I put a Quadrafire Pellet Stove (got it used for $700.00) upstairs for supplemental heat and convience.
It is clean and easy to start and stop, in cold wx I burn about one bag of pellets a day @ 4.20 per bag
and occaisionally 1 1/2 bags a day. My house is a ranch with an addition on it that makes it in the form of an L.
I have about 2,300 sqft. so the pellet stove heats the L part when it is 25 degress or less outside but the Hitzer
will do the job but it gets chilly in parts of the upstairs . I never fire the Hitzer above 350 degress (outside temp)
but I easily could, it burns about 40 lbs of coal a day and I tend it two time a day. Chestnut coal is 185.00 a ton here.

While the pellet stove works exteremely well, is very easy to tend and had very little ash it would not be cost effective
being my only souce of heat beacuse I would be up to 2 bags of pellets a day which is $8.40 a day so 8.40X30 is $252.00 a month.
I have been getting my coal in 40 lb buckets this year and it is $3.80 a bucket if I do the shoveling and hauling, so 3.80 X 30 = 114.00 a month
and the Hitzer (coal) is putting out alot more BTU's.

FWIW
will

 
NorthernNewYork
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Post by NorthernNewYork » Sat. Mar. 01, 2008 10:57 pm

gambler wrote:
NorthernNewYork wrote: Now in the process of finding a good stove.
Have you decided if you want to be a manly man and buy a hand fired stove or join the girlie man ranks like me and buy a stoker fed stove?
I think I'm going to join the girlie man ranks. All the wife has to do is feed it and change the diaper!! :lol:


 
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gambler
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Post by gambler » Sat. Mar. 01, 2008 11:50 pm

NorthernNewYork wrote:
gambler wrote: Have you decided if you want to be a manly man and buy a hand fired stove or join the girlie man ranks like me and buy a stoker fed stove?
I think I'm going to join the girlie man ranks. All the wife has to do is feed it and change the diaper!! :lol:
Welcome to the girlie man side! You will really like burning coal in a stoker.

 
bigchunk
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Post by bigchunk » Sun. Mar. 02, 2008 8:21 am

i had a pellet stove tried to heat my house with it. a few folks told me id only burn 3 ton of pellets ok. how about 6 ton and I realy needed 7 and the stove wasnt even heating the house I needed to use the natural gas as well as electric heaters. it was a bummer to say the least. found this site while investigating coal stoves. bought a coal stove now never been warmer. in my opinion a pellet stove is a supplemental heat source and a coal stove whether it be a furnace or a free standing unit is a primary heat source. no doubt about it. you will love it. and your friends will be blown away by it. make sure you get a big enough stove where you don't need to work it to its max (over fire) when its not that cold out. id over shoot a little bit with the size of stove so when its not that cold out maybe 30's you don't need it open as much then when it gets brutal outside you can give it a little more air and not have to worry about working it as hard. and stay toasted. let us know what kind your thinking about buying. do your research and have fun.

 
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Dallas
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Post by Dallas » Sun. Mar. 02, 2008 8:31 am

bigchunk wrote: and stay toasted.
I think, there may be more than one on this forum, who adhere to that. :lol: :lol: :lol: :!:

 
driz
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Post by driz » Tue. Mar. 04, 2008 7:48 pm

Hey Northern NY where are you at anyways? I am near Plattsbugh.

 
NorthernNewYork
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Post by NorthernNewYork » Wed. Mar. 05, 2008 6:35 pm

I'm on the other side of the park. South of Watertown. Tug Hill region, where we made national news last year for 14 feet of snow in a week. :shock:

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