Earliest You've Started Your Stove?

Devil505 · Post by **Devil505** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2008 4:55 am

Except for you guys who keep you coal appliance going all year round for DHW, what's the earliest you normally start?

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2008 7:15 am

When the evening temps get cold enough...I think last year around Oct. 15 or so? I know it was earlier than normal, usually NOV 1 or so.
Just mostly on idle until it get really cold.

greentjdude · Post by **greentjdude** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2008 7:32 am

i never started mine yet! still have to wait for my chimney to get built

that was a disaster, had a "relative" thats a mason do it but he canceled the end of august so I had to go with plan b and they cant get here til mid october. do I have to let the chimney sit for a time or can I start using it as soon as the builder is finished? its gonna be an 8" teracotta lined about 32ft+ tall. should get a good draft that tall I hope!

id like to start mine up as soon as I start needing a little heat. anything to send a smaller check to ppl....

Ed.A · Post by **Ed.A** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2008 10:16 am

Last year was Oct.31. We'll see how this year pans out.

EasyRay · Post by **EasyRay** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2008 10:32 am

Its different each year depending on the weather but last year it was November 2nd. I live in central CT, and my house is very tight. Some years it was the middle of November before I had to start burning.

BIG BEAM · Post by **BIG BEAM** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2008 4:39 pm

Fired up my wood stove today,I know Booo....HISSSS .Coal in a month or so,depends.
DON

CoalHeat · Post by **CoalHeat** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2008 4:46 pm

Huh?????

Alaska Kast Console heating DHW.

You mean coal burning stops in the hot weather?

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2008 6:49 pm

You mean coal burning stops in the hot weather?

My house would be mighty hot if it didn't!

Usually late October -- the last week, give or take a few days. I like to light it once & let it burn until April.

Dutchman · Post by **Dutchman** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2008 8:21 pm

Fired up my wood stove today,I know Booo....HISSSS

I do the same, just not yet. The woodstove first gets fire in it when I see the missus contemplating the oil-burner t-stat

, and then on selected winter weekends when desired. The whole reason we switched to coal is, the woodstove was never more than supplement heat, and I was always heaving wood in to keep the oil burner from running, but since wood is free (minus time) to me, I still burn some wood when I want to. The coal stove does the "heavy lifting".

Last year I fired up the Magnum just before Halloween, then it got mild out and I dropped the fire for a week or so before lighing it for good. It all depends on the weather.

cbc6 · Post by **cbc6** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2008 8:25 pm

ran mine a couple of evenings last week,new to burning coal so just trying to get used to it,before I really need it..

JohnnyAsbury · Post by **JohnnyAsbury** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2008 8:39 pm

I ran mine today for the first time. I had a chance to see what the coal trol settings would do. Impressive. I think the dog is going to like it.

gambler · Post by **gambler** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2008 8:46 pm

Although I only have one season burning coal I have used pellet/corn stoves in the past and I usually fire the stove up from mid to late October. I fired up last year on Oct 22.

mikethebutcher · Post by **mikethebutcher** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2008 11:06 pm

fired mine up tonight ....trying to get the settings right on this stoker (got a bigger one this year)so it will be ready for winter
it really burns nice...it took me 3 times with the "stoker starters" before I could get it going

bustedwing · Post by **bustedwing** » Thu. Sep. 18, 2008 1:14 am

Fired mine up first time,new stove new user, about 3 hours ago,one bagged starter did the trick,will tweak it for a few days and then decide to idle it or shut it off till it gets colder. RichB

Devil505 · Post by **Devil505** » Thu. Sep. 18, 2008 6:19 am

This is the first year I actually am starting out with a winter's worth of coal (2 pallets of Blaschak nut) at my house. I have always bought a few bags, as needed, but all the bulk coal guys here made me jealous with their 24 tons loads!

Been heating with coal for 26 years but I cant wait to fire up the TLC this year, especially with my new procedure of starting with charcoal briquettes instead of wood.