===============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
If I can add more information;
When I burned softwood and soft wood and coal only- I burned more than a face cord
of a split and unsplit Hemlock slab wood a day and The house being one floor with
partial crawl space was still cold and Yellow Pine or fir was no different.
I will tell you that unless your wood pile is absolutely dry it will burn like crap even with
a forced draft(wide open ash pit door).
Unless you buy a Garn Boiler with a large unpressurised water storage design
to be installed in the interior space if you have room for one you will lose out with
efficiency problems.
The thing is you only need to heat a very small amount of water using a coal stoker and a
coal stoker furnace can employ a heat exchanger in furnace plenum to get you hot water
in the heating season months.
I chose a wood and coal boiler rather than a Vanwert coal stoker which was a HUGE mistake as the
installed price for the wood and coal boiler was $4000.00 USD and the coal stoker installed
price was $5000.00-That was my second mistake after making the first mistake of buying
this house.
I have burning wood since 1982 and I will not be burning anymore wood.
My old house is like yours poorly insulated, leaks heat like a colander.
I cannot afford to do upgrades due to my low income/pension.
I owned and used a Timberwolf TW5-FC wood splitter with a log lift and table grate
for many years after getting rid of a 20 ton Montgomery Ward splitter/junk.
I sold it this summer and received every penny I asked for it.
I blocked up the hardwood chunks to 12 inch lengths as it was much easier to
handle and fill the boiler.
I burned coal when it was really cold her in the finger lakes and every year it has been
difficult to maintain a good fire with wood due to the altitude where I live.
I moved wood with a sled and or wheel barrow to the house for the boiler
for years.
I burned softwood being hemlock slab wood for years, I also burned hardwood for
years and this year is the last year I will be burning firewood as I am 60 years old
and I am tired of it and the firewood cost around here is obscene and decent
straight log length firewood is next to impossible due to my location.
Even buying the smallest Keystoker coal furnace (the A 80) you will save money and can run
an insulated hot air duct and cold air ducts underground. many people insulate piping
and duct runs underground.
You will be able to power it with generator as long as you have it wired up to plug into
an outlet rather than hard wired which is legal in the electrical codes.
As I mentioned previously coal heat is much more efficient and cost effective and you
can purchase anthracite coal in Canada and the furnaces and boilers are UL approved.
These keystoker furnaces and boilers are easy to install and maintain and service.
The Portage and Main Coal Stokers are extremely expensive but they are Canadian Made.
I made two mistakes thirty six years ago (when I was 23 years old)buying this freakenkstein
school house turned into a home was the first one; and the second one four years later was
not buying the Van Wert Anthratherm coal stoker as could have eliminated my oil bill completely
and not been a slave to my night rate electric water heater that I had changed to a propane water heater.
You will see an immediate payback the first month as your monthly oil bill will become zero and you can plan
to use the oil only when you are away on vacation if you take them.
I can and will tell you that cutting wood gets old very very quickly and unless you hire some one to come
in and clear cut 4 acres at a time using a log skidder and a firewood processor for the logs and tops you will
spend a huge amount of time making firewood AND you will need twice as much softwood firewqod as you think
you will burn especially in your latitude.
Uless you can take advantage of water storage using a Garn High efficiency boiler which will require you to
make more than one fire per day with the softwood you will lose out.
I did not listen to my father in law or spouse as I was still able to do many physical things involving heavy
labor at 23 years old, and I should have spent the extra money and put in a coal stoker.
Softwood firewood is a no sum gain business even if you have the land and access to the wood.
You can buy coal locally and save money doing it even with a Keystoker coal stove too.
I want to help you and I hope my experience is proof enough to you.
