The right coal stove

[Ryan Scanlan]

I purchased a house two years ago that came with a wood stove. I was told the gentleman we purchased the house from used only the wood stove to heat the house. Having grown up on coal I would like to purchase a coal stove to replace the existing wood stove to heat my entire house. The wood stove is located in the basement and is ducted directly into the existing duct work with the forced hot air. After reading the installation manual for the coal stoker I am looking at (Harman magnum stoker) it says not to connect to a forced hot air system. Can this be done? Also the blower on the harman has a flow rate of 135 cfm, is this enough flow to force the air through my duct work, it seems very little? If I we're not to duct stove into duct work, could I heat my house with just allowing the heat to radiate through my house by convection.

What I would like to do with a new coal stove: heat my entire house (two story cape cod, 1800 ft2, built in 1951, stucko exterior), vent into existing duct work. The duct work runs through my basement across the ceiling and distributes into each room from the main.

Can someone suggest if they think the magnum stoker will work for my what I want to do and if not suggest a coal stove that will work.

 

[begreen]

Venting into the duct work is not allowed by code unless the stove is designed to do that. Then it's called a furnace. Otherwise, the return grille for the hvac system must be at least 10ft away. You might check on www.nepacrossroads.com to see if there is a coal furnace designed for your need.

 

[Ryan Scanlan]

I found an Alaska 140 model (double augur, used two yrs) for sale on Craigslist for $1900. Does anyone have any experience with Alaska and if so good or bad? Is this a good deal?

 

[begreen]

Is this the same unit that is being sold on eBay?
(broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-Alaska-Coal-Stove-Stoker-Stove-II-Model-/110468683573?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19b8725735)

Not too many coal burners on these forums, especially in the summer. Try www.nepacrossroads.com. It's a dedicated coal forum.

 

[Ryan Scanlan]

Yes that is the same I researched the model on Alaskas website. Here is the link... http://www.alaskastove.com/model-140-auger.html

 

[begreen]

Seems to be a popular unit over at NEPA crossroads. Should work out ok in a state with a plentiful and affordable supply of rice coal.

However, the eBay listing is for a Stoker II. That is a different animal and not the 140 coal furnace. I found the 140 dual auger selling for over $4K new.

(broken link removed)

 

[tjnamtiw]

http://www.readingstove.com/
http://www.leisurelinestoves.com/
http://www.keystoker.com/

These are all great stoves. Some have the option to hook to your vent system. My brother-in-law has a Key stoker and loves it.

 

[defiant3]

Just a thought here, but why not a pellet furnace? OK, maybe coal is dear to your heart, but pellets are much easier on the enviornment, and there are a world of appliances out there. And of course they don't need tending twice a day. People I know who havethem,love them. Still solid fuel, but like 21st century style. The advantages are many!

 

[tjnamtiw]

Just a thought here, but why not a pellet furnace? OK, maybe coal is dear to your heart, but pellets are much easier on the enviornment, and there are a world of appliances out there. And of course they don't need tending twice a day. People I know who havethem,love them. Still solid fuel, but like 21st century style. The advantages are many!

A stoker doesn't need tending twice a day, coal (if you live in the coal regions) is 50% cheaper than pellets, has 50% more btu's per pound, and screw the environment since China doesn't give a flip and they start a new coal fired electric plant every week over a 10 year period. AND they are buying OUR COAL to burn over there! So the coal's getting burnt anyway, thanks to you-know-who.

 

[begreen]

That gets into a vicious cycle. They say the same thing about us.

 

[tjnamtiw]

That gets into a vicious cycle. They say the same thing about us.

Yep, I was wrong though about the number of plants in China. It is one new plant every MONTH for 10 years. They use more coal than the U.S., Europe, and Japan combined. They are developing more 'green' plants though while we have a strangle hold on ANY thought of building such plants, thanks to Mr. Sunstein, who thankfully resigned yesterday.