Question About Stove to Heat Barn Office
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Hi all,
I live in the Poconos of PA and this summer I'm going to be converting a section of my barn into a home office. I don't have a lot of plans in place yet, but I would like to have a big old coal stove as part of the plan to keep me warm in the winter.
I see a lot of recommendations on boilers and stuff, but can anyone recommend a setup for using a coal stove to heat such a space?
I envision creating a brick surround and pad for the stove.
Any ideas at all. Gotchas? Dos? Don'ts?
Thanks.
I live in the Poconos of PA and this summer I'm going to be converting a section of my barn into a home office. I don't have a lot of plans in place yet, but I would like to have a big old coal stove as part of the plan to keep me warm in the winter.
I see a lot of recommendations on boilers and stuff, but can anyone recommend a setup for using a coal stove to heat such a space?
I envision creating a brick surround and pad for the stove.
Any ideas at all. Gotchas? Dos? Don'ts?
Thanks.
- ONEDOLLAR
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How many Sq ft? And do you think you would like a hand fed or a stoker? Do you plan to be in the office everyday? Budget? How well is said office to be insulated? Do you like the look of Antique Stoves? Are you going to have clients coming by? ie you might want a "showpiece" of a stove... I know.. Lots of questions but these questions do help!
- WNY
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Every heating situation is different, what he said above, a few more details would be helpful of what you are planning.
There a lot of information on here, do a search (upper right hand corner), there are a lot of discussions on topics very similar to yours. Knowing how much your gonna heat and the area, is helpful in determining how big of a stove, etc....
There a lot of information on here, do a search (upper right hand corner), there are a lot of discussions on topics very similar to yours. Knowing how much your gonna heat and the area, is helpful in determining how big of a stove, etc....
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All good questions. Probably about 1000 square feet, but the ceilings will be high. I think I would prefer a stoker, but it is not a necessity. Probably a silly question, but I assume it is best to keep the thing burning 24X7 in winter time. It's not like a wood stove where I'm going to be lighting it every morning. I will probably be in the office nearly every day. I don't think I'm going to have running water, so it won't matter if the cold sets in for a day or two.
I haven't done a lot of design thinking yet, so I'm not sure about how it will be finished or insulated. I don't want to eliminate the "barn-ness", but it needs to be functional. No solutions have hit me on the head yet.
I love old things. I would love to have an ancient coal stove in there if it would do the job. I guess that would eliminate the stoker idea?
Sorry this is so open ended. The coal stove is pretty much the only thing I have really decided on.
Thanks.
I haven't done a lot of design thinking yet, so I'm not sure about how it will be finished or insulated. I don't want to eliminate the "barn-ness", but it needs to be functional. No solutions have hit me on the head yet.
I love old things. I would love to have an ancient coal stove in there if it would do the job. I guess that would eliminate the stoker idea?
Sorry this is so open ended. The coal stove is pretty much the only thing I have really decided on.
Thanks.
IMHO a small stoker with Coaltrol would be perfect. You can get the rustic look and convenience of being able to turn up the heat in the morning before you go to work with the timer rather than having to light a fire every morning and tend a hand fed while working.
- windyhill4.2
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If you are going to go for the rustic barn look then you should go with an antique stove too. Yes it will be more than capable & no you do not have to relite it every morning.You will probably need to tend a handfed every day ,even on the weekends but need not be a drastic time consuming ordeal.
- 2001Sierra
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If the space will be unattended for say 14 to 16 hours a day, the learning curve might be a little greater because it will be more of a space you visit. A handfed would look cool as hell, but you have got to know the animal in the barn. A stoker isn't as country, but the warmth and the orange glow through the glass that will quickly fog up is a nice thing to walk into as well. The Coal trol on a stoker would give you the option to set it back and set it up to match your routine. 1000 sq ft you pretty much need about a 90K BTU stoker, and a couple of ceiling fans for those tall ceilings. Sounds like a neat project, I am jealous, I like fun projects.
- McGiever
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Chimney will be required, not many barns ever had one.
Chimneys can dictate a lot of the final placement due to how best to construct it into the existing structure.
Chimneys can dictate a lot of the final placement due to how best to construct it into the existing structure.
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Be sure and build yourself a nice clay lined block chimney for low maintenance, once and done chimney. I just built one for my shop , which is a pole barn type construction. I have an old Alaska stoker II in my basement. I think they are beautiful looking, can be had for low dollar amount as their not in production and with a little elbow grease look great. There isn't much to them, simple to work on, parts are affordable and they are in bloomsburg, pa. Very simple to run. And they are a stoker. Very similar to the current model of the Kast Konsole.
http://www.alaskastove.com/kastIII.html
http://www.alaskastove.com/kastIII.html
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All good info. Thanks. I will do some research and get back with more questions.