Best Stoker for House
I am looking at getting a coal stoker for my new 1760 sqr ft ranch house. I want to put the stoker in my basement and was wondering which brand and model to get. Also what the price would be, I live in NEPA region. It will be attached to a chimney.
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Welcome to the forum Layland. Leisure Line, Keystoker, Alaska, and Harman.
These are some of the manufacturers that make nice stokers that would heat your space nicely. I would suggest doing some reading here on the forum in this section of the forum and then maybe make a list of requirements like price, hopper size , ash pan size whether you will heat domestic hot water with coal as well, whether you can put a thermostat upstairs to make sure the space you are heating is warm enough, whether you want to put air into ductwork to help distribute it, etc. Also you might do a search on threads about boilers as already suggested to see if maybe that would be better than a stove. In other words if you already have baseboard Hydronic heat then why not use it to get the most even heat, in the long run that will be the most comfortable and even heat and can provide for your domestic HW as well. Such a system could be connected in parallel with your existing system to make sure you have a back up.
I would also check in with the local stove stores and see what they have to say and how friendly/helpful they are (or not). As I said some readin on the forum will help there are already similar threads that can provide some insight and will help you ask the right questions.
Keep us posted on your search and as you gain knowledge ask some more questions.
These are some of the manufacturers that make nice stokers that would heat your space nicely. I would suggest doing some reading here on the forum in this section of the forum and then maybe make a list of requirements like price, hopper size , ash pan size whether you will heat domestic hot water with coal as well, whether you can put a thermostat upstairs to make sure the space you are heating is warm enough, whether you want to put air into ductwork to help distribute it, etc. Also you might do a search on threads about boilers as already suggested to see if maybe that would be better than a stove. In other words if you already have baseboard Hydronic heat then why not use it to get the most even heat, in the long run that will be the most comfortable and even heat and can provide for your domestic HW as well. Such a system could be connected in parallel with your existing system to make sure you have a back up.
I would also check in with the local stove stores and see what they have to say and how friendly/helpful they are (or not). As I said some readin on the forum will help there are already similar threads that can provide some insight and will help you ask the right questions.
Keep us posted on your search and as you gain knowledge ask some more questions.
- coaledsweat
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
We can't have you doing that, buy a stoker boiler.Layland23 wrote:I will also be using propane hot water baseboard.
- europachris
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I'll second that. It won't take much to heat a new home of that size, and the little KAA-2 would be PERFECT for you. You will love it. I have a Keystoker direct vent stove in the basement as a freestanding unit (we have natural gas hot air), and I burned about 1-1/2 tons this year taking up about 50% of the heat load on almost 3000 sq.ft. of a pretty new (6 yrs. old) home over 3 stories including the basement. This would be about a 4 ton house if I centrally heated it and had it also heating domestic hot water over the winter.1975gt750 wrote:get a boiler and plumb into you exsisting system
keystoker kaa-2
chris
- coaledsweat
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
A stoker boiler is the "best stoker for a house". It can run for days unattended, run all summer and heat your water. It can run on the warmer days and cooler nights when a stove would drive you from your home. A boiler will even change the character of the homes feel even though you are currently using baseboard hot water. My wife can tell if the coal boiler is running just stepping in the back door. The cellar is much warmer so your floor is warmer, your heat is much more even. It will cost a little more, but the experience and savings in both money and labor in the long run will be very satisfying.
- jpen1
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- Location: Bloomsburg, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: LL110
- Coal Size/Type: Rice/ Buck
I think if you look in the thread on pictures of your stove located in the best of forum section you will find a picture of one. I think they are running in the neighborhood of $4500 + installation .
Boilers are great and stoves will do a good job also. I feel stoves are at their best when they are installed in the main living space. Unless a stove is designed to be hooked into the hot air ducts in a house you will have trouble getting the heat where it is needed if you put the stove in the basement. If you want the heating appliance to be in the basement you should get a boiler. If you like the looks of a stove in your decor get a stove and put it on the main floor of the house. No matter which route you choose take some time and search for a used appliance. It will save you some cash if you buy used.
- coalkirk
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- Joined: Wed. May. 17, 2006 8:12 pm
- Location: Forest Hill MD
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1981 EFM DF520 retired
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Jotul 507 on standby
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite/rice coal
Layland,Layland23 wrote:I will also be using propane hot water baseboard.
I have hot water baseboard heat also (oil fired) and burned exactly 0 gallons of oil this season. A coal fired stoker boiler is the way to go. Did anyone mention it can also provide all your domestic hot water also?
That's a big plus you don't get with a stove.
While I generaly agree with a stove on the main floor, you can get great results from one in your basement too, depending on your home's layout. I have had my stove located in the basement family room of my 44' raised ranch for over 25 years & it heats the whole house all winter, fairly evenly too. The stove is in the far left hand corner of my basement in a finished family room with a suspended ceiling above. I have a few "Egg-Crate" panels in the ceiling that allow for warm air to rise into the bedrooms & bath above the family room & warm the upstairs floor very nicely. In addition , the stairway (from the basment to the main floor) is always open & acts like a chimney (for the warm air to rise to the main floor) & cold air return.gambler wrote:Boilers are great and stoves will do a good job also. I feel stoves are at their best when they are installed in the main living space. Unless a stove is designed to be hooked into the hot air ducts in a house you will have trouble getting the heat where it is needed if you put the stove in the basement. If you want the heating appliance to be in the basement you should get a boiler. If you like the looks of a stove in your decor get a stove and put it on the main floor of the house. No matter which route you choose take some time and search for a used appliance. It will save you some cash if you buy used.
Yes you can obtain good results with the stove in the basement especially if it is a finished basement. If you have an unfinished basement that concrete floor and block will suck up quite a few BTU's that could be put to better use on the main floor of the house. Like you said a lot depends on the layout of the house.Devil5052 wrote: While I generaly agree with a stove on the main floor, you can get great results from one in your basement too, depending on your home's layout. I have had my stove located in the basement family room of my 44' raised ranch for over 25 years & it heats the whole house all winter, fairly evenly too. The stove is in the far left hand corner of my basement in a finished family room with a suspended ceiling above. I have a few "Egg-Crate" panels in the ceiling that allow for warm air to rise into the bedrooms & bath above the family room & warm the upstairs floor very nicely. In addition , the stairway (from the basment to the main floor) is always open & acts like a chimney (for the warm air to rise to the main floor) & cold air return.
- europachris
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Ours is finished and insulated. The only issue is getting the heat upstairs fast enough. I kept the basement aound 78F or more, and still could only burn 1-1/2 tons. I could double that if I cut some ducts in and blew the air upstairs directly off the stove.gambler wrote:Yes you can obtain good results with the stove in the basement especially if it is a finished basement. If you have an unfinished basement that concrete floor and block will suck up quite a few BTU's that could be put to better use on the main floor of the house. Like you said a lot depends on the layout of the house.
But, our natural gas is still as cheap (or a little cheaper) than coal out here, so there's not much incentive to hack holes yet.
- 1975gt750
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- Joined: Fri. Oct. 26, 2007 9:41 am
- Location: new hampshire
- Stoker Coal Boiler: keystoker kaa-2
- Coal Size/Type: rice coal / blaschak
- Other Heating: pensotti oil boiler with riello 40 burner
here are some pics of my keystoker plumbed in series with my oil burner. I have it wired so if the coal runs out the oil will fire. so far this year I have burned 0 gallons of oil and burn a bag ever 24 hours. the only problem I had was to much hot water I had 168 degree water outof my kitchen sink. the wife could make coffe right out of the tap. had to install a whole house temperin valve