Did I Make a Mistake on a Hitzer 30-95

After hearing a stoker stove's fans run on Friday, I learned just they aren't for me. However, I was offered a used Hitzer 30-95. Price was fair and I was thinking seriously about buying it, then thought the 50-93 would be a better choice for the house (yesterday). Now today, I have gotten to thinking........and more thinking.....and now more thinking and writing, would the 50-93 be too big?

My house is 115 year old, 1300 sq ft two story house. Being in the NE hills of Connecticut, I can and will see negative temps, as well as double digit minus temps on an occasion. I have been, for the past 9 yeas heating the house solely with an England wood stove gotten from Home Desperate, rated at 65k BTU. Even with the stove having a nice bed of ashes and loaded with Red Oak, it can struggle maintaining a 74 degree temp in the same living room the stove is in when it get's bitter cold outside. Not to mention the 58°F when we get home from work and the stove is out. With my ability to get free firewood shrinking, I was going to go to coal after this upcoming winter, but want all my ducks in a row in case I find the right stove at the right price ahead of time.

With the 30-95, it is rated at 60k BTU, so I could be potentially running it at WO for extended days, whereas with the 50-93 it would be more in the middle of the road for the stove.....granted this is all based on company-based paper BTU's. My thought is I could throttle back the 50-93 on the not-so super bitter cold days, but bump it up without worrying about over-firing it on the super cold days. Does my logic sound correct?

I went to Squier Lumber in Monson, MA and they recommended the smaller 30-95 (they sell both Hitzer hopper stoves). I went to Phelps & Son in Vernon yesterday and he and a customer both recommended the larger 50-93 stove.

Any preferences between the two stoves? Is bigger better? Either one will have a blower....no guarantee I will use it, but I like having the option.

KingCoal, would the Hitzer still be best over the DS for a living room application? I thought I read somewhere that you mentioned the DS would be better suited in a basement due to the heat flow design. Would the warming plate help any in heat
deflation.

I think you'll be fine....and will want those extra BTUs come jan & feb....

You might want to hold off a tad, as it's my understanding that King Coal might have just what the doctor ordered before too long. As far as the Hitzers go wait for Freetown Fred or Oliver Power to chime in.
Jim

Not sure about stove location, but what I am sure of is that with coal you can throttle it way back low and slow during the warm fall/spring days. Then in the heart of winter and bitter cold you can heat yourself right outta the house if ya want.. Don't be skeert, get the bigger one. You'll be glad ya did when it's -10 outside and the wind is blowing..

Just my opinion.

I ran a Buderus 3115 hopper fed more many years. The new Keystoker 90 is nite and day difference, Buy the bigger stove if you can afford it. These hopper fed stoves rely on proper shaking frequencies as fuel consumption dictates, unlike a stoker that does not care, due to the automation of the animal.

Go with the 50-93. Better to idle something down then to beat up a smaller stove. As far as a stoker in my living area--I THINK NOT. Shake & top off every 12 hrs, bi-metallic thermo deals with the rest. I get to many power outages to play w/ one of them thar noisy stokers.

Get the 50-93. It will idle if needed, but you will probably run it in the sweet spot most of the time.

freetown fred wrote:Go with the 50-93. Better to idle something down then to beat up a smaller stove. As far as a stoker in my living area--I THINK NOT. Shake & top off every 12 hrs, bi-metallic thermo deals with the rest. I get to many power outages to play w/ one of them thar noisy stokers.

What he said

freetown fred wrote:Go with the 50-93. Better to idle something down then to beat up a smaller stove. As far as a stoker in my living area--I THINK NOT. Shake & top off every 12 hrs, bi-metallic thermo deals with the rest. I get to many power outages to play w/ one of them thar noisy stokers.

Who are you trying to fool? You wouldn't run a stoker even if you lived next door to the power plant.

All jokes aside, we have a 50-93 in the workshop and it gets used well into the spring. As long as your chimney drafts decent, you can turn the stove down until you can almost hold your hand on it.

Both are great stoves. The 30-95 may do what you want. Of the two, my choice would also be the 50-93. The fan on the 50-93 is quieter than the 30-95. Should you need to run the 30-95 hard, it can form clinkers easily. As others have said, the 50-93 will idle down nicely. Should you need to go lower, turn the fan off. Should you need to go lower yet, let the ashes build up. Lots of little tricks. The 50-93 is a solid performer. Down the road, the 50-93 may also attract a bigger crowd, should you want to sell it.

sorry, I've been out for awhile this evening and just getting back.

as you have been advised the only way to go wrong with the smaller Hitzer is if it's boarder line too small.

the best choice between the 2 is the larger. having a stove with enough capacity to fill the need at 50% demand is much better every time.

in my area the big Hitzer can be had at a real savings over a DSM of like capacity.

steve

I can idle my 50-93 way down. Ran it in the spring when it was in the 60's for a few days. Was able to keep it barely going.

coalder wrote:You might want to hold off a tad, as it's my understanding that King Coal might have just what the doctor ordered before too long. As far as the Hitzers go wait for Freetown Fred or Oliver Power to chime in.
Jim

ah.............while I will have a new construction stove to use myself this year, I wouldn't put off securing a heat source waiting on me to have others ready.

my present outlook is NEXT heat season for availability of new built stoves not this season, with the exception I guess of someone taking a shine to "Frank".

if there was an educated offer for the converted box stove and successful arrangements for Fastenal shipping, i'd set some one up.

thanks for the props coalder,
steve

Ive seen it mentioned a few times that the older 50-93 Hitzers without a removable hopper are more efficient too. Dont ask me why as I don't know, but keep that in mind.

Something that hasnt been mentioned is cost. If the 30-95 is cheap and a really good deal, buy it. if it doesnt work good enough, sell it and get the bigger one. It does boil down to $$$ sometimes.

With coal, there is no coming home to a 50 degree house. With the auto intake damper Hitzer and many coal stoves have, or a slide air intake with baro damper like many other stoves, it will put out the same heat (btu) 24/7. Its similar to the old fuel oil space heaters is the best way I can describe it. Its just that you have to tend it twice a day instead of paying the oil man.

Get the 50-93