I was posed with a question I could not begin to answer,
so I am appealing to the gods of Olympus. Think Ye,
before popping off. A coffee discussion got started over
cheap heating, On one side was my coal burning friend,
been in the industry for too many years, (like me and
wood). On the other was me the pellet/wood burner. In
the middle was a good listener and knowledgable heating
expert, (well not expert, but above average thinker).
It started innocently, what are you paying for pellets
these days. I said, about 150-180 per ton. The response
was, why don't you switch to coal. Bagged delivered Al
said he could get it for $150/ ton in three ton lots, or
switch to wood. We can get pinon/cedar for $125 per cord
if we pick up. The trailer can handle about six cords.My
rusty mind said that was a pretty good deal, but I
really wanted to run the cost comparison calculator.
Oil (2392.1)
Hardwood (814.15)
Softwood (1093.45)
Electric (2505.15)
Pellets (1430.7)
Natural Gas (1306.25)
LP Gas (2568.8)
Coal (732.45)
The above chart should give you some idea of the cost comparisons involved in using wood stoves, pellet stoves, coal stoves and the other popular home heating options. Note that there are often other advantages to using hearth products and renewable fuels - such as the fact that wood and pellets can be local resources. Hearth.com strives to educate our readers so that you can make an informed decision as to your home heating plans.
Turns out it's cheaper for coal. So, I said, I can get
good deals on pellets and you can get good deals on
coal, but they stoves are not compatible and can not be
made to work with different fuels.
Our natural third came in with a very good question, is
there a stove that will work with coal and pellets.
"No". Is there one that would work with wood and coal
and may be modified to burn pellets.
After my lecture about the way pellets are burned and
the techniques used to extract the heat through the
baffles and heat exchangers, Larry said... "Sounds like
a Riteway". Six or seven cups of coffee later and a lot
of doodling on napkins we came to a point we couldn't
answer all the questions.
Now the challenge for the Gods.... The Riteway burns
wood or coal and uses a "down draft" burn process,
(Larry described it as the roaring locomotive). Why
couldn't a burn feeder be used to do the same thing for
pellets and use the natural convection of the stove to
charge the fire,,,,,
I went duhhhh??? We talked about the Irish pellet
feeders and the ramp chip feeders used on commercial
furnaces and the outdoor wood burners (the riteway
already has thermostatic controls). And now I have spent
hours learning about a stove, lost to history that may
equal what we have now, but could be adapted.
I have taken off the Kevlar and the Nomex and am ready
for the old guard to wage war..... BRING IT ON
so I am appealing to the gods of Olympus. Think Ye,
before popping off. A coffee discussion got started over
cheap heating, On one side was my coal burning friend,
been in the industry for too many years, (like me and
wood). On the other was me the pellet/wood burner. In
the middle was a good listener and knowledgable heating
expert, (well not expert, but above average thinker).
It started innocently, what are you paying for pellets
these days. I said, about 150-180 per ton. The response
was, why don't you switch to coal. Bagged delivered Al
said he could get it for $150/ ton in three ton lots, or
switch to wood. We can get pinon/cedar for $125 per cord
if we pick up. The trailer can handle about six cords.My
rusty mind said that was a pretty good deal, but I
really wanted to run the cost comparison calculator.
Oil (2392.1)
Hardwood (814.15)
Softwood (1093.45)
Electric (2505.15)
Pellets (1430.7)
Natural Gas (1306.25)
LP Gas (2568.8)
Coal (732.45)
The above chart should give you some idea of the cost comparisons involved in using wood stoves, pellet stoves, coal stoves and the other popular home heating options. Note that there are often other advantages to using hearth products and renewable fuels - such as the fact that wood and pellets can be local resources. Hearth.com strives to educate our readers so that you can make an informed decision as to your home heating plans.
Turns out it's cheaper for coal. So, I said, I can get
good deals on pellets and you can get good deals on
coal, but they stoves are not compatible and can not be
made to work with different fuels.
Our natural third came in with a very good question, is
there a stove that will work with coal and pellets.
"No". Is there one that would work with wood and coal
and may be modified to burn pellets.
After my lecture about the way pellets are burned and
the techniques used to extract the heat through the
baffles and heat exchangers, Larry said... "Sounds like
a Riteway". Six or seven cups of coffee later and a lot
of doodling on napkins we came to a point we couldn't
answer all the questions.
Now the challenge for the Gods.... The Riteway burns
wood or coal and uses a "down draft" burn process,
(Larry described it as the roaring locomotive). Why
couldn't a burn feeder be used to do the same thing for
pellets and use the natural convection of the stove to
charge the fire,,,,,
I went duhhhh??? We talked about the Irish pellet
feeders and the ramp chip feeders used on commercial
furnaces and the outdoor wood burners (the riteway
already has thermostatic controls). And now I have spent
hours learning about a stove, lost to history that may
equal what we have now, but could be adapted.
I have taken off the Kevlar and the Nomex and am ready
for the old guard to wage war..... BRING IT ON
