Hitzer and Keystoker Inserts?

Do you heat your home with an insert? I am looking to install a Coal insert and would like to hear from people who use theirs on a daily basis. Advantages to one brand over another?

Thanks

Asea , I have a Hitzer 983 insert and it does a fantastic job heating a 2400 SqFt Bi-level( very good attic, 1970's R-19 wall insulation and crappy windows) I used somewhere around 4 1/2 tons last winter and keeping the house around 75*+ all winter long. There are some drawbacks to inserts like the convection blowers( without them you loose a lot of heat) and the heat loss up the chimney and into the brick, freestanding stoves are better for efficiency but I like my insert. I have mine setup like a freestanding stove as you will see After I post a link to a thread of mine( I'm camping right now but when I get home I will find it) and you will see what I'm talking about.
I like my Hitzer it's very simple and easy to run. I go 24 hrs between tendings if the temp is 35* and above but it has no problem running 600 / 650* for a month straight either( like I did last Febuary) with 12 hr tendings at that temp.
I don't know anything about Keystoker so I can't comment on them. Keepaeyeonit

I have a Hitzer 503 (with a hopper if you want to burn anthra v. bit).

Heat 2400sq ft 2 story house. Needs a pair of fans (one in the ceiling) but I do not use any other heating source.

It used 7 tons last year ... starting to heat in Mid-Oct through May if I recall (I posted somewhere the exact date I shut it down on the forum).

Only issues I have had in 8 yrs is : a) eating away of my hopper, requiring new hopper about every season and a half on avg. (cost $100). Had a fan go out, that cost $25 (for the right one several different fans fit...so I went with a cheaper non-OEM model)~if it was the left one, it would have been $250.

Run mine 8 seasons ... so total in maintenance : $425 (not including chimney cleanings)

Fuel savings estimated at 8,000 bucks .... the stove has paid for itself in 4 yrs ...

I couldn't find the thread so I just posted some pics, not a common insert set up but works very well for me. My coal usage last year was from Nov 7 to April 17.

I like the Hitzer 503 with the Hopper I am at 1800sqft so I wouldn't need the BTU s the 983 has. Nice install do they all come with the access dorrs above? That appears unique. I like the idea of a Barometric damper.

ASea wrote:I like the Hitzer 503 with the Hopper I am at 1800sqft so I wouldn't need the BTU s the 983 has. Nice install do they all come with the access dorrs above? That appears unique. I like the idea of a Barometric damper.

I only use the controls on my 503 ... have no problems with control. That pic was a nice install but I think Hitzer recommend flex piping .. looks nice though.

I can't imagine HITZER recommending flex on any of their stoves, but if so, I regress!

For a 983 as a insert they say nothing about pipe but as a freestanding stove( the 983 with the leg kit installed is a freestanding stove)to connect to class A chimney.
I could not keep a consistent temp with the stove(depending how hard the wind was blowing) so I added a barometric damper, now Its a set and forget, much mo better of me ,yes Asea its a custom surround for my setup I basically have a freestanding stove disguised as a insert . I am a Hitzer fan(for modern coal stoves anyways) so get the 503 if the 983 is too big. Keepaeyeonit

503...
3 tons or so...
2400 sq feet...
Cape Cod...
It never snows here...

Keepaeyeonit wrote:For a 983 as a insert they say nothing about pipe but as a freestanding stove( the 983 with the leg kit installed is a freestanding stove)to connect to class A chimney.
I could not keep a consistent temp with the stove(depending how hard the wind was blowing) so I added a barometric damper, now Its a set and forget, much mo better of me ,yes Asea its a custom surround for my setup I basically have a freestanding stove disguised as a insert . I am a Hitzer fan(for modern coal stoves anyways) so get the 503 if the 983 is too big. Keepaeyeonit

How tall is your chimney? Does it have a cap?

20' of 8" round clay insulated with perlite and 5' of 8" steel from the stove into the clay and yes It's capped. Ok Asea, are you getting closer to getting a insert? just ask if you need some more info.

CapeCoaler wrote:503...
3 tons or so...
2400 sq feet...
Cape Cod...
It never snows here...

We are in Central Ma and we got snow and then some last Winter.

I am very conflicted between antique stoves,modern stoves and inserts. Very confusing. I really like the antiques but the dealers want all the money for them very pricey. A BB that went for $2800 a few years ago is now over $4000 and that's if you can find one. I think the insert would make for a nice clean install.

Well If I had my choice I would have a Base Burner, I've been looking for over a year for a larger one and have not come up with one yet but I'm not losing sleep over it. I prefer the look of a insert install( antique stoves look the best imho) over a free standing but there not nearly as efficient as a freestanding stove(most of us know what the most efficient stoves are but I'm not going there, I'm trying to keep the mud slinging off this thread ) plus you need blowers to get your convection heat off a insert.
The bottom line is get what you can afford and works best for you, for most of us just burning coal is saving a whole lot of $$$ plus were staying warm no matter what kind of stove you have . Keepaeyeonit

ASea wrote:I am very conflicted between antique stoves,modern stoves and inserts. Very confusing. I really like the antiques but the dealers want all the money for them very pricey. A BB that went for $2800 a few years ago is now over $4000 and that's if you can find one. I think the insert would make for a nice clean install.

ASea,
A lot of members on here ask me about getting a base heater, so your post got my curiosity going. Might I ask where you saw base heaters that went from $2800.00 to now over $4000.00 ?

I paid $2500.00 for my Glenwood #6 a year and a half ago. I can't believe they've jumped that much.

Paul