Who Is up and Running, Who Is Holding Out?

I was excited and started up last evening. I just installed my new Keystoker Koker as a replacement to my Magnum stoker and want to give it a test drive. I still have a little more ducting to tie in, but so far so good!!

Today was the day...held out long enough. Had everything set up, had the water connected and running through the coil before firing up and lo and behold I saw water on the grate - oh no! Yep the 15 year old coil finally sprung a leak. At least I found it before firing it up. Removed the coil, plugged the holes and lit her up. Running fine and just in time as the temps right now are in the low 30's.

Now I have to go coil shopping. From the looks of it I'll have to fork over about $240 to Hilkoil for the new one (21T). Did a quick search and couldn't find anything else comparable.

Up and running, same day as last year! Funny cannot remember kids birthdays but know when I lit up Nicoal last year

I was so tempted to, cause the temps are going low tonite. Unfortunately, its "only" tonite. Tomorrow and the rest of the week, temps will be above 50, days "and" nites. Still looking for the best bargains in town, for pea coal. Haven't found them yet.

Fired up this afternoon. I installed new glass so watching the flame couldn't be any better.

I fired up the DS1400 hand-fired tonight. I've started about his date every year. The forecast called for a low of 32F tonight, so that was my excuse. The long range forecast for my area shows daytime highs in the 50's and 60's for the next 4 weeks. I can idle my stove fairly low and there's always the windowstats. I do try to heat 2 floors on all but the coldest Winter nights.

Two years ago I had just lit up a couple of days before Sandy came through. That stove was a blessing with no power for over a week. No comparison to what many folks in NJ and NY had to go through for a very long time. About 2 years before that, we had a freak heavy snow storm in late October and no power for several days. The Warm Morning 500 I had then also kept us warm. I've got a little over 3 tons of Direnzo nut on hand and plan to pick up about a half ton of Tractor Supply bagged nut. Their website showed stock at the 2 closest TS stores to me, but that can change quickly.

Good luck all and Happy rock burning.
hank2

Still holding out in Mystic CT the days still too warm and a small wood fire is enough to take the chill out at night. Pretty soon though as it is slowly getting colder and enough draft but hate to burn coal with the windows open makes no sense to me. In the last 3 years have burned less oil every year and shooting for less this year with luck under 50 for hot water last year was 59. I have an hour meter on the burner and a toggle switch to turn off the thermostat for the how water as it is separate zone on the boiler and a cold start boiler that does not maintain any heat in it.

Hit 65 downstairs this morning and Momma complained, so when I get home tonite we'll be fired up for the winter!

I'm trying to use up the rest of my # 2 fuel oil in the tank. Once the tank runs dry I'm switching the entire system over to burn kerosene. I'll need to have the nozzle changed on the burner and the air/fuel mixture adjusted. Kerosene is so much better than fuel oil especially for survival situations.

I plan on starting the new and improved Lil' Heater in about two weeks.

EarthWindandFire wrote:I'm trying to use up the rest of my # 2 fuel oil in the tank. Once the tank runs dry I'm switching the entire system over to burn kerosene. I'll need to have the nozzle changed on the burner and the air/fuel mixture adjusted. Kerosene is so much better than fuel oil especially for survival situations.

I plan on starting the new and improved Lil' Heater in about two weeks.

In what way? It will not gel as easy in an outdoor tank if that is your situation though a simple surround made out of the cheapest of plywood to keep the wind and snow off it will fix that.

I fired up Saturday morning. It was cool and windy here and the kiddos were cold. Seems to me that running 10 pounds per day through the stove is better than switching on the backup electric baseboards.

Best part was, when I pulled the plug out of the thimble to reattach the stovepipe, I found about 50, live stink-bugs. Fired up and gassed them, chuckling maniacally the whole time.

The other day I got the boiler ready to run, even have the charcoal resting on the grates. I wanted to hold off until Halloween but there is building domestic pressure to strike the match. It will be very soon, if not today. Mike

I am holding out since we are still hitting mid 60's during the day and not dropping out of the 40's at night yet.

Looks like that temp pattern will hold through next week too. Although I did get a couple dirty looks this morning with the LR temp at 65*. I don't think it feels bad in here and I even have the window open in the office now. I am still thinking it will be fired up halloween weekend which is normal for us.

titleist1 wrote:I am holding out since we are still hitting mid 60's during the day and not dropping out of the 40's at night yet.

Looks like that temp pattern will hold through next week too. Although I did get a couple dirty looks this morning with the LR temp at 65*. I don't think it feels bad in here and I even have the window open in the office now. I am still thinking it will be fired up halloween weekend which is normal for us.

Exactly the same here. Waiting for the Northern/Arctic air to slap us silly. Still holding off.

The first artillery shell was fired......I heard from down the hallway.....This toilet seat is real cold.

Its gonna be a rough road until the 31st but I can hold out!