First off, this site is just wonderful.
I am from Lancaster, Pa.
I have been heating my house with an 20 year old Stratford coal stove (sc75) for about 3 years. I did install a new gas furnace when I bought the house but prefer to use it when it is not cool enough to burn coal. As I am wood/metal shop teacher (technology education) I find myself in an endless supply of scrap wood and someone a few times a year saying, "Do you have a chainsaw" or "We are having an oak cut down do you know anyone that would want it!" So over the last 2 years I have accumulated about 4 cords of cherry, oak, and maple. I have been burning a little bit of it in our fireplace for fun but I decided to get a woodstove and sell or donate the old coal stove. I know some people will think I am crazy for going from coal to wood but here is how I see it: (please add your 2 cents!)
1. A coal fire is something you build and then keep it going long term (season). A woodstove (quad 4300) can be burned all the time but it also lends itself much better to weekend/ holiday use.
2. Coal stinks when it hits the fire, smells like sulfur. Plus I hate the black dust all over my garage where the coal bin is located.
3. Cost- coal a few hundred bucks a year, wood is free but a lot of work, which is one thing I like about it! It will help me teach my kids what is required to heat a house.
4. ASH REMOVAL- When my coal stove is burning at 300-400 all day I have to remove the ashes 3 times a day! Each time I take the ashtray our a hand full of coal ash falls out of the stove and onto the hearth, this is very dirty and annoying. I bet I take at least a shoe box worth ashes out daily. Because that ash is heavy and the tray is so big it too heavy for my wife to carry without spilling which means it waits until I get home which leads to even more heavy hot ashes. Help me out here guys- how much ash will I get from my quad4300?
Now some more questions:
1. What about bugs? My wife is worried about bugs in the house if I bring the wood in before burning. The stove is in the center of our house in the living room. Does anyone spray for termites? If so what do you use and what do you spray, the wood pile of the area around your stove? If I keep the wood outside and open the door every time I need a log will I be losing a significant about of heat?
2. Is it important to bring wood in before burning?
3. Do you find yourself moving your wood a lot? I built a wood shed that holds 2 cords but it is 200 feet from the house. I have a big outdoor porch (screened in, terra cotta floor) and I thought about bringing all the seasoned wood into the porch in October but that would require moving and restacking everything. Is that normal? This would put the wood about 10 steps from the stove, under a roof, and on a dry floor.
4. I am going to install an ovalized 6" x25' chimney liner and so far Rockford Chimney Supply has given me the best deal ($399 plus shipping). Have you ever dealt with them? What should I be aware of? I did see in another post that someone ordered a liner and got 2 pieces and had to join them, so I will check on that.
5. Anyone want a coal stove?
Thanks a lot for any wisdom that you send my way.
I am from Lancaster, Pa.
I have been heating my house with an 20 year old Stratford coal stove (sc75) for about 3 years. I did install a new gas furnace when I bought the house but prefer to use it when it is not cool enough to burn coal. As I am wood/metal shop teacher (technology education) I find myself in an endless supply of scrap wood and someone a few times a year saying, "Do you have a chainsaw" or "We are having an oak cut down do you know anyone that would want it!" So over the last 2 years I have accumulated about 4 cords of cherry, oak, and maple. I have been burning a little bit of it in our fireplace for fun but I decided to get a woodstove and sell or donate the old coal stove. I know some people will think I am crazy for going from coal to wood but here is how I see it: (please add your 2 cents!)
1. A coal fire is something you build and then keep it going long term (season). A woodstove (quad 4300) can be burned all the time but it also lends itself much better to weekend/ holiday use.
2. Coal stinks when it hits the fire, smells like sulfur. Plus I hate the black dust all over my garage where the coal bin is located.
3. Cost- coal a few hundred bucks a year, wood is free but a lot of work, which is one thing I like about it! It will help me teach my kids what is required to heat a house.
4. ASH REMOVAL- When my coal stove is burning at 300-400 all day I have to remove the ashes 3 times a day! Each time I take the ashtray our a hand full of coal ash falls out of the stove and onto the hearth, this is very dirty and annoying. I bet I take at least a shoe box worth ashes out daily. Because that ash is heavy and the tray is so big it too heavy for my wife to carry without spilling which means it waits until I get home which leads to even more heavy hot ashes. Help me out here guys- how much ash will I get from my quad4300?
Now some more questions:
1. What about bugs? My wife is worried about bugs in the house if I bring the wood in before burning. The stove is in the center of our house in the living room. Does anyone spray for termites? If so what do you use and what do you spray, the wood pile of the area around your stove? If I keep the wood outside and open the door every time I need a log will I be losing a significant about of heat?
2. Is it important to bring wood in before burning?
3. Do you find yourself moving your wood a lot? I built a wood shed that holds 2 cords but it is 200 feet from the house. I have a big outdoor porch (screened in, terra cotta floor) and I thought about bringing all the seasoned wood into the porch in October but that would require moving and restacking everything. Is that normal? This would put the wood about 10 steps from the stove, under a roof, and on a dry floor.
4. I am going to install an ovalized 6" x25' chimney liner and so far Rockford Chimney Supply has given me the best deal ($399 plus shipping). Have you ever dealt with them? What should I be aware of? I did see in another post that someone ordered a liner and got 2 pieces and had to join them, so I will check on that.
5. Anyone want a coal stove?
Thanks a lot for any wisdom that you send my way.
