Looking for advice/help with coal/wood stove

Hello, I am a newbie in the market for a coal/wood combo, and I have a few questions. First, my background......I will be heating a 2000 sq. ft house in central PA. I just moved into the house this spring, and want to avoid having to use the oil boiler that is the current heat source in the house. I was looking for a wood stove at first, but then started considering coal instead. I have access to wood, but coal is attractive for many reason, all of which I probably don't have to list here as I'm sure you already know! So being torn between the two, I'm would really like a combination stove. I'm looking for a cast iron stove for the old looks (gotta please the wife). I've come across the Saey stoves, but the clearance requirements on this stove are too high for where the stove will be in my house.

My question are as follows:

Are there any other cast iron coal/wood stoves on the market other than Saey? What compromises are there to burning one fuel or the other (or both) in a combination stove?

Also, is anyone familiar with the Vermont Castings Vigilant II stove? Web site says coal only, but I'm being told by several people that I could burn wood in it as well. Any input on this would be GREATLY appreciated.


Thank you.

I don't have any suggestions but keep in mind one thing, you can wood in a coal stove but you can't burn coal in wood stove. If you're getting a combo unit get one that is primarily for coal if you want to burn coal.

As for the manufacturer's recommendations from my understanding they can't/won't list them as dual fuel because of EPA regulations.

I have heard the same thing about EPA regulations, however, Harmon advertises their TLC 2000 as both, so that has me a little confused.


http://www.harmanstoves.com/features.asp?id=7

PAcountryboy wrote:(gotta please the wife)

You need a boiler.

PAcountryboy wrote:I have heard the same thing about EPA regulations, however, Harmon advertises their TLC 2000 as both, so that has me a little confused.


http://www.harmanstoves.com/features.asp?id=7

I don't know what the story is exactly but I'd imagine Harman was able to get that unit under the EPA specs...

coaledsweat wrote:

PAcountryboy wrote:(gotta please the wife)

You need a boiler.

I considered that, but if I went that route, I would want a large hopper in the basement (rather than having to haul coal in and hand load it). There is no way in this house to be able to load the hopper easily from outside due to access problems. A stove would be upstairs, and would be more convenient to load by hand. Plus I don't want to be dependent on electricity. On top of that is the cost, although I haven't really priced boilers. Since I already have a chimney for the oil boiler that could save me some $$ since I could use it for the coil boiler??? If I install a stove upstair, I need a new chimney as well, so maybe that would offset the cost enough. Might have to look into it.

On that same subject, what would be involved in removing the oil tanks? They can't be moved through the door, but can they be safely cut up somehow and removed?

Simple recommendation: Unless your wood is free.....burn coal. It's so much easier, burns longer, is much more controllable (you don't have to be hot) & easier to store.

My wood is free, however, there would not be enough of it to keep my house heated winter after winter, which is why I want a dual fuel stove.

I think I made a decision. I'm buying a Vermont Castings Vigilant II. It's the only cast iron coal burning stove I've been able to find that has tight enough clearances with the heatshields to work where I want to put it. There may be other options out there, but I haven't been able to find them. Price isn't bad, either.

I guess I'm taking a bit of a risk considering Vermont Casting's current situation, but I'm sure they will end up being O.K. Wood and coal stoves are selling like mad right now, so they have a golden opportunity to get themselves back on track.

The stove is listed as "coal only", but I'm sure that's just an EPA thing, so burning wood occassionally should't be a problem.

I burn a VC Vigilant II and a VC resolute wood only stove. It is possible to burn wood in a coal stove but NEVER burn coal in a wood stove. Love the VC product even though the company has changed hands a few times. They are not from China. Even now CFM (who owns VC) just went chapter 11 they were brought by a Kentucky firm. The Vigilant is easy to use ands as long as you plan to spend $100.00 per year on maintenance burns coal and wood (don't tell the EPA) equally well. I usually replace the fromt grate every year as I burn 2 - 3 tons per year but the wood seems to warp it more or maybe it is an illusion since I put wood in it when the coal gets too hot at the end of the season. I burn pea anthracite since it is easier to control and the burn time is shorter but my wife works from home so the fires are always hot.
WB