Burn Time for A Full Stove

When "Coal Season" began I was able to get relatively long burn times, When the stove was fully loaded before I went to bed (around 10 PM) there would still be a decent ember bed in the morning (around 6 AM). There was enough fire to shake and refill.

Since that time my total burn time has dropped off. Most mornings I find a small fire that I can coax back, some mornings I find the stove completely out, then I empty it completely and start over.

2 conditions have changed: 1) The outside temperature at night has been lower, sometimes below freezing, and 2) I had Blaschak coal on the top of the pile when I started out this year, now I am through that into coal of "unknown origin". I am suspicious that this coal is not as pure as Blaschak, which is good for strip coal. I noticed that I get a lot of ash now as well.

I had a resonable fire going when I left the house today around 10 AM, although the stove was not full. At 6 PM it was completely out.

I checked the draft which read -.06" WC, just as a test I reset it to -.05" WC. Harman recommends -.06 to -1.0"

Any suggestions or comments??

Hey wood ncoal 1 I would try to get up here and get the good stuff I think the new coal as a lot to do with it
If you have to get a U Haul trailer for 19.99 they have twin Axl 6x12 you can put 2 tons easy on them but you need a few pieces of plywood to bulid up the Front back & sides I just took MT 2 weeks ago that is what he did And you need a tarp 2 when the temp drops use less air when the outside temp is high use more air I have more air in the day Then less air at night when outside temp is down always keep the fire box full of coal try it out I think you will be
http://www.uhaul.com/Reservations/EquipmentDetail ... ailer-6x12

Hey JC,

I had a feeling you would be the first response to my post. I believe you are right as well, after the experience I had with the really bad coal last year. I fired the stove tonight and it's been slow coming up.

At some point I'll be out there to get some real coal, $$$ is tight right now, I'll limp along, I'll have to pick up some more Blaschak to see me through, I e-mailed them for a list of dealers but I haven't heard back yet. I want to see if the price is lower then where I got it in Sciota.

Talk to you soon,

JC

Agreed, check the coal. When I started burning the first year, I used coal bagged in PA by some outfit. At the end of the season I found a couple of bags at the local hardware store, burned great. I've used the stuff for the last couple years, and it's great. The new stuff is bagged locally, much better quality, and almost no fines. It comes from an ice company, strangely enough. And I thought coal was coal.

Hello, I just had to jump in on this. I have a Harman magnum elite insert same size bed as a magnum III I'm told, anyway I fill mine every 12 hours, shake grate every 12 hours, and empty ash every 24 hours. Coal Berner helped me get my ton and a half of nut coal and it's awesome stuff. I only have the air inlet at the front of the insert turned 3/4 of a turn. I have a magnetic temp gage on top and it never moves from 300 and has so far kept the whole house so warm that the bedroom window has stayed open everyday that it has been lit.
P.S. oil here today was 3.29 a gallon my neighbor said after he got up off the ground.

Ok wood ncoal I do not know How much Bagged coal you are Planning to buy But If it is around a ton 50 bags at 6.00 a bag
that's 300.00 a ton If you come up here You could buy two tons for 240.00 Plus add 20.00 for trailer plus gas you are 98 miles from me the breakers are 12 to 20 miles away from me depending on which one we goto so you would be still Double
your $$$ Just trying to save you money and headaches from getting bad coal

coal berner wrote:Ok wood ncoal I do not know How much Bagged coal you are Planning to buy But If it is around a ton 50 bags at 6.00 a bag
that's 300.00 a ton If you come up here You could buy two tons for 240.00 Plus add 20.00 for trailer plus gas you are 98 miles from me the breakers are 12 to 20 miles away from me depending on which one we goto so you would be still Double
your $$$ Just trying to save you money and headaches from getting bad coal

Yea, you are right. I just have to get my act together and make the trip out there, just have to find the time. When I wrote the last post I knew what the reply would be! You see-I have that little voice in my head that is usually right, but I always ignore it, so I usually take one step forward then two steps back.

I'm heading up to Windsor, Conn. for an overnight for work today, don't think I will find any deals on coal up there.