Any Montgomery Ward wood heater RKIs? Newby with a M. Wards in original crate.

[bucky69]

I bought a Montgomery Wards wood heater, Model YMT-7336 in 1983. I never used it. I am interested in using it as an emergency heater for my house when the power goes out (happens a lot). The brief owners guide says to burn wood only.

Anybody familiar with this unit and what it can - can't do?

I was in Czech Republic recently in the country and was VERY impressed with the wood and coal heaters / stoves they rely on for heat and cooking. No fumes, lots of heat. They told me a wood stove can't burn coal (too hot?).

I would probably run the flue pipe up my existing fireplace chimney. I read on the internet I need to use a stainless steel liner the entire length of the chimney, is this accurate?

Alternatively, I have a boiler - hot water heating system in the house now. Is there a coal or pellet heat system I could change out at will (its currently natural gas) and run the boiler on batteries?

 

[webbie]

Not sure of the exact unit - they private labeled a lot of stuff - some of it was from Taiwan and very cheap. If it is a cast iron stove, it is probably one of those cheap imports - if a steel stove then possibly made by an American company. A pic would help ID it.

Yes, you do probably need to reline the chimney if you use the wood stove - a stainless steel pipe is the way to go.

Anything involving your central heating system will cost many thousands of dollars...probably 10K+ and not be worth your while for a backup system.

 

[bucky69]

Thanks Webmaster. Yes, it is from Taiwan and is black, cost about 80 bucks in 1983.

Is cast iron bad? What are the drawbacks of my stove? Is it a serious tool for heating for a month of use, or a dangerous toy?

Are there any good chinney liner installers in the Chicago area?

Not sure of the exact unit - they private labeled a lot of stuff - some of it was from Taiwan and very cheap. If it is a cast iron stove, it is probably one of those cheap imports - if a steel stove then possibly made by an American company. A pic would help ID it.

Yes, you do probably need to reline the chimney if you use the wood stove - a stainless steel pipe is the way to go.

Anything involving your central heating system will cost many thousands of dollars...probably 10K+ and not be worth your while for a backup system.

 

[webbie]

Personally, I would not use it except in a dire emergency. That would mean, in general, that spending a couple grand to reline the chimney for it might not be a good idea. I'd suggest looking around for a newer stove which would be much more efficient and safer.

In terms of chimneys, there are many national orgs which certify chimney pros...like:
http://www.csia.org/

they have lists of local pros.

 

[bucky69]

Thanks. I saw flexible steel flues on one of Hearth.com advertisers. This seems like a quick fix for an emergency setup. What about coal? I don't see a discussion of wood vs. coal. I live in an urban area with no firewood, so I am thinking coal would be easier to store, could store longer (just a guess) and give more heat than wood.

Personally, I would not use it except in a dire emergency. That would mean, in general, that spending a couple grand to reline the chimney for it might not be a good idea. I'd suggest looking around for a newer stove which would be much more efficient and safer.

In terms of chimneys, there are many national orgs which certify chimney pros...like:
http://www.csia.org/

they have lists of local pros.

 

[webbie]

Coal is hard to start and only viable to use full time - not good as a backup really......

Wood gives quick heat, and you can buy biomass logs which will subsitute for firewood.

 

[DBoon]

Does it look like a Jotul 118? My father-in-law had a Taiwan knock-off stove like that that he bought at Montgomery Wards in the late 1970s - finally convinced him to get something better.