Burning Wood in Your Coal Stove??

Just switched to coal last year (D&S Machine Model 4). Suppose coal becomes unavailable, would it be possible to burn wood in the coal stove? What would be any possible negative consequences? Can these problems be overcome? THANKS!

Depends on the type of stove you have, some are wood/coal combo and will burn wood (mostly hand fired type).

I doubt a stoker could burn wood efficiently. Some use a small kindling wood fire to get their stoves going and then add coal, but probably not a good idea for the a long burn with wood.

I can;t comment on your type of stove, not familiar with it.

So, would it be primarily an effeciency issue? I was wondering if there would be any saftey concerns. I have a "spare" woodstove that I could plumb in if I can't get coal, but if I can just burn wood in the coal stove, then I will sell the wood stove.

Wood does have lower BTU output then coal. I guess it depends on your stove design.
Other with combo stoves, may want to comment here.

Also, make sure your chimney is designed for wood, most coal stoves have baro dampers, you would have to cover it up for wood burning. Wood stove can run much hotter up the chimney then coal.

for real? should I tell a buddy of mine to take the baro off his chimney cause he burns wood in a wood stove. and he has a baro on his chimney

It can make a chimney fire go out of control if you were to have one. Since it would continue to open when it got hotter in the chimney. I though most wood stoves don't use them because of that reason.?? I know we never used one at the folks house for 20 years of burning wood. Maybe I am wrong, but I know read it somewhere.

Sp-150 Burning Wood Barometric Damper?

I burn wood in my Harman Mk 2 all the time, and use coal when temps get down at night.

For the 20 years previous to this, I've used the same class A stainless chimney, with a Pacific Energy Vista wood stove. I never had more than a light coating of soot in the chimney. It's 12 foot length is up through the middle of the house, with only 5 ft exposed to the outside.

I leave the baro in mine, I find it's a great tool for keeping the fire under control, and keeping the heat in the stove as opposed to letting it go up the chimney.

Others obviously have different setups, this has been my experience, and I don't recommend anyone else follow my advice without carefully monitoring.

BAROMETRIC DRAFT REGULATORS

Some codes and NFPA require draft regulators in the chimney connector of wood or coal furnaces and boilers, and manufactures recommend their use with some stoves. There is some doubt among wood heat experts as to whether use of barometric draft regulators is wise. Draft regulators limit the draft--the suction pulling air into the appliance. The objective is to limit the amount of air passing through the system in order to maintain high heat transfer efficiency. Another desirable consequence is a decrease in peak chimney temperatures due to the added air entering through the regulator. High draft does not blow out the flames but fans them in wood--coal-burning equipment. An especially hot fire can result. Control of the fire may be difficult, particularly if the wood burner is not airtight. Energy efficiencies may be affected, and chimney fires may be ignited. A barometric draft regulator can alleviate these problems by limiting the flow of combustion air into the appliance and by adding cooling air to the hot flue gases.
However the cooling air may result in more creosote accumulation, and if a chimney fire DOES start, it will be more intense because of the draft regulator. Large flows of air into the regulator will fan the fire in the chimney. Thus the net effect of the barometric draft regulator is unclear. They help in some aspects, and hurt in others. NOTE, though, that if a chimney is clean so that chimney fires are impossible, a draft regulator does no harm,and does help limit the intensity of the fire in the appliance, and helps prevent the flue gases in the chimney from getting too hot. BAROMETRIC DRAFT REGULATORS ARE RECOMMENDED BY NFPA FOR HAND FIRED THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED SOLID FUEL FURNACES. DOUG

ok I get both points my buddy does keep his chimney very clean and I don't think it has to be a issue of taking the baro out. so again thanks and I do so love this forum. its so helpfull.