What Stove to Buy?

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kmaxwell
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Post by kmaxwell » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 4:06 pm

We live Wisconsin in a 100 year old two-story farm house that is very drafty and does not heat well. We currently burn wood and propane. We spend about $3000/year in propane and cut our wood, which would average around $3000 also. We do have a chimney, however I don't know how good of shape it is in. My husband hates cutting wood so we are looking at other options. Also our 3 year old has asthma so we are looking for something that won't bother him. Any suggestions on what type of stove to purchase? Also, why coal versues corn or wood pellets? Thanks for any help.

 
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Devil505
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Post by Devil505 » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 4:13 pm

kmaxwell wrote:Also, why coal versues corn or wood pellets? Thanks for any help.
Depending on availability in your area, coal will cost 1/2 as much as pellets (for the same heat output), is easier to store & much less work to burn. I know nothing about corn but think it's price is unstable.

 
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coaledsweat
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Post by coaledsweat » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 4:48 pm

Anthracite may get pricey in WI, but I know it won't bother a child with asthma as my youngest was really improved with the switch to anthracite coal from wood. You may want to look at bituminous coals that are available to you. It is generally much cheaper than anthracite but the way it burns varies greatly. Some Bit coal burns clean and almost smoke free, while others belch smoke at times. How each would effect a child with asthma, I have no knowledge but would assume it will be related to the emissions from the type of coal you burn.


 
SYLVANB
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Post by SYLVANB » Mon. Oct. 20, 2008 9:00 am

Well I have had pellet stoves and this year I switched to coal and I must sya that coal burns hotter (which means you use less coal than pellets), is less expensive than wood pellets, and is cleaner than wood pellets (less dust and less ash waste). Oh and my Keystoker 90 Direct vent is thermostatically controlled and that is so nice !!!!

 
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LsFarm
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Post by LsFarm » Mon. Oct. 20, 2008 9:59 am

Hello Kmaxwell, welcome to the forum.

The big question for you is coal supply and price.. I think pellets are fairly inexpensive in your area, and due to supply and transportation costs for Anthracite coal, pellets may make more sense than coal.. BUT:

IF you seach around, and can find coal for $300/ton or so, that will be roughly equal to pellets at $150/ton, and I think pellets are at $250/ton or so,,

ONce you find a reliable coal source, ask if they supply rice size coal or only nut and pea size.. a lot of suppliers have 99% of their customers being the Amish who only use hand feed stoves.. and these need nut and pea, only stoker stoves use rice coal..

ONce you have confirmed a size and availability of coal,, then you can look into different stoves.. If you can only get nut and Pea, I'd recommend the HItzer brand stoves, http://www.hitzer.com I like their hopper feed stoves, they are like a gravity feed stoker,, good for roughly a 24 hour burn without tending.

Read through the topics in the various forums and you will find a wealth of info to help your decision-making process..

Hope this helps.. Greg L

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