which do you recommend?

I have the opportunity to purchase either a USED Mark III or TLC 2000 for a very good price. Since I have posted questions the last 2 weeks regarding wood/coal burners, I am now realizing that coal is the best fuel for my intended application.

In heating a basement office, I hope to send the heat to the rest of the house by way of a staircase to an upstairs bathroom and on through a small hallway, two bedrooms, a dining room, and hopefully beyond.

Half or more of my house will be heated by a wood stove that is soon to be placed in my living room, which is over the basement that the coal burner will be placed. Wondering if opening registers with fans will help move the heat into another unheated basement. Or at the very least, provide a cold air return to get the heat moving out of the coal heated basement, which I can imagine could become quite hot if not controlled properly.

I would appreciate your thoughts on either stove...ASAP, in that these are auctions that are due to end in the next 2-4 days.

Thanks!

John

I have a Harmon Mark II in my finished basement and it works very well. I live in a 3,500 sq ft. log home that really isn't laid off well to just heat with one coal stove. ( I also have a coal boiler in my garage to heat the house) I usually only use the harmon when it is'nt really freezing outside. Once it gets really cold I fire up the boiler.

You will be able to heat your basement for sure with a Mark III but it all depends on the layout of your house and how tight it is. If it is insulated well you will be suprised at the heat outout !!
Either way, It will atleast cut down on your heat bill and pay itself back in no time.

Thanks for your advice..can you specify the longest time between adding coal or shaking you have gone? I imagine having to refire up the stove at least two times per month, as I visit my out of town girlfriend every other weekend...and she is too far away to get home to add coal or shake the unit....and though a stoker may be the better suited unit to have, we lose electricity enough that I would rather not be dependent on it to run a stove.

Thanks!

I do not burn anthracite coal in my Harmon. I can not find it here ofr one. But the main reason is that there is about 5 coal mines within 5 miles from my house. I burn Bituminous ( soft coal) usually get about 8-10 hours between fill ups. It all depends on how much you open the dampers. I usually shake it when I refill. I believe anthracite burns longer though.
When starting a fire be sure to get a REALLY good and hot wood fire burning before you add any coal at all. If you don't you will either put the fire out or get some serious smoke.

Hope this helps you out...