Coalpail.com Forum

Hello everyone!!!

Thanks for letting me join your forum. Just got a Harman marl II and if there are any people who would give me info on how they like there stove and just any general info or stories about there stove that would be nice. One person told me there stove burned for 36 hours without any attention and I just think thats unreal! Now keep in mind I have been running a vermont castings wood stove that I loved and still do love but I never got a 36 hour burn out of it.

ratdog wrote:Hello everyone!!!

One person told me there stove burned for 36 hours without any attention and I just think thats unreal!

Believe it; as soon as the weather settles down and winter really kicks in you will start hearing about burns even longer then 36 hours. I seem to remember a thread about "the longest burn" or something similar. Check it out. I also have the Mark II and it is incredible. We brought it as a supplemental heating device to offset the cost of natural gas but the Harman has been able to keep our house at an average temperature of 75* with little or no effort. Our stove room is around 80* and the outer rooms are around 70*. Our average winter temperature is only 27* but last winter we spent a week in the single digit numbers. The Harman just kept putting out the heat to maintain my 75*. I did think I would have to turn on the whole house furnace at 4* but the temperatures started moving up again. One month last winter my gas usage bill was actually less then the amount of taxes and fees I was charged. Not bad for a supplemental heating appliance, huh.

The only drawback I can find is the dust that's a part of firing a hand fired coal stove. You just can't escape it completely but you can mitigate it with good fire attending habits. The bottom line is don’t be opening the stove’s door any more then you have too for attending the fire – that means twice a day max. If you have the coal piled to the top of the bricks and a good bed of coals you shouldn’t need to be in there anyway. That was hard for me to learn. Just a few weeks ago someone on the forum said to always start your stove service with a shake down of the ashes but don’t open the ash pan door or empty the ash pan until the next time you service the stove. That lets all the ashes settle down. That has made a huge reduction in my dust problem. They also suggested having a shop vac with drywall filter bags in it nearby and ready for when you remove the ash pan. I haven’t quite figured out how to hold the hose and work with the ash pan with only 2 hands but I’m thinking about. That will help somewhat too. Of course, moving slowly so as to not rile up the ashes helps, too.

Thanks to the forum I've learned a little more each year and have maintained the level of heat while reducing the amount of coal I'm burning. I live in Northern VA and this house and neighborhood is not designed for burning coal so that I can take advantage of a coal boiler or furnace but believe me, the next one I buy will be. I think you and your family will be kicking yourself that you didn’t find coal heating sooner. Take care, Lisa

Wow thanks! I left this up on my computer so my wife could read it. I cant wait for the cold to get here so I can get this stove working without letting it go out with these warm days. I will stay in touch with you and keep you informed on how its going. I have only run this Harman three or four nights.

thanks
we will talk soon!!

lowfog01 wrote:

ratdog wrote:Hello everyone!!!

Just a few weeks ago someone on the forum said to always start your stove service with a shake down of the ashes but don’t open the ash pan door or empty the ash pan until the next time you service the stove. That lets all the ashes settle down. That has made a huge reduction in my dust problem.

I just wanted to clarify this - my first step in attending my stove is opening the ash tray to refresh the fire. You never want to mess with the stove unless it is burning well and has a lot of dancing blue ladies. This influx of air will bring the blue ladies dancing in a couple of mins. Safety tip - Never, ever leave the stove room with the ash door open because you will forget it's open and then the stove will overfire and then you have real trouble. Personally, I have a timer which I wear around my neck every I open the ash door. That way I won't get distracted and forget the door is open. The timers are cheap and well worth the couple of bucks.

My second step is to empty the ash pan from the previous shake down. The ash is all settled and unless I do a complete spaz and spill it not much will escape. I pull the pan out and very slowly, gently use my fire shovel to remove the ash that missed the pan and is sitting on along the edges on the fire box. This is where the dry vac comes in; just point it in the general direction - it allows no dust to escape. After empting the pan, I return it to the stove and close that door. Do not open it again until your next scheduled service. The third step is to shake the grates. Safety Tip - only have one door at a time open on the stove. My fourth step is to reload the coal to the top of the fire bricks and close that door. I am done. The doors should not be opened until my next scheduced service in 10 or 12 hours. If you have any questions, just ask. Someone on the forum will know the answer or at least where to find it.

I fired a Harman Mark 3 for 22 years before buying a Keystoker 90 this year. You will love the heat. I to am greatful to the guys on the forum for help and info I got here. Special thanks the the Mayor Richard