Coalpail.com Forum

longislandsteve wrote:The vigilant is rated at 2000Sq.Feet .And the Harman TLC is rated at 1700-3000.

Ignore the square foot ratings, they are next to meaningless because every house is different. Different layout, different insulation, different location, different different different. You will do better to estimate your actual heat needs, either through standard heat-loss calculations or based on past (peak) fuel usage, and take into account whether you can successfully circulate the heated air from where the stove is to where heat is needed.

After you have done that, look at the stoves' BTU ratings and ignore those, too. Just kidding, the BTU ratings are usually a good guide, as long as you realize that most stove manufacturers over-rate them significantly. My rule of thumb, for what it's worth, is that a stove can comfortably produce 50 to 60 percent of the rated heat. On really cold days you can push it for more heat, but you don't want to have to do that all the time.

longislandsteve wrote:Looking for some advice. I am looking to heat my 2000 square foot house and I presently have a 114,000 BTU boiler. How many BTU coal burner stove should I be looking at. I am looking at a Harman TLC 2000 or the DC1600 circulator. Does any have any advice.

rberg is 100 % correct, and as you have already been advised neither the Harman nor Vermont is enough. you need a stove rated for 4000 s.f.

Great point. You just reminded me that I need to put antifreeze in my heating loops. The AC fan. So far I cannot hear it and I hope it stays that quiet. How much it will cost to run thru the winter I guess I will find out.

Can you point me on the direction of a stove that can handle 4000 sq feet

longislandsteve wrote:Can you point me on the direction of a stove that can handle 4000 sq feet

For 4000' I would recommend a boiler/furnace install. Trying to move heat from one source of hot air in that size home will be an unrewarding disaster.

longislandsteve wrote:Can you point me on the direction of a stove that can handle 4000 sq feet

How much fuel do you currently use to heat with between fuel oil and wood pellets?? This would be much help in sizing a stove..

I had a 100,000 BTU propane furnace and replaced it with a 120,000 BTU coal furnace for my 2500 square feet home.. Its plenty. During 15 below zero I lit the pellet stove just to share the heat load but the coal furnace could have done it on its own.

My appliance is rated for 1500-2500 sq ft.

I thought he said his house is 2000 sq ft? I don't quite understand why we are pointing him towards a 4000 sq ft capable appliance?

We need to know how many BTUs he used last heating season..

To elaborate more on that... If we can determine his average BTU usage per hour for a heating season just double it or even triple it to find a comfortable sized stove. For example, I used 6 tons of coal for 180 days. Raw BTU input is about 39,000 BTU per hour.. My appliance is rated 120,000.. So my appliance is actually triple rated for the output I need.. Might be a hair over sized but its nice to have the head room..

My oil fired hot water heater is 114 K. And I used 1400 gallons of fuel last winter(and it was a cold one) .I am unaware of how to figure out how many BTU I used. I am looking to put in a free standing unit on the first floor.

Hey Steve
I would look into the ds 1600 . With your set up. I think it will be more than enough too keep you and wife toasty . The looks of the stove will grow on the wife.
Cj

Lightning wrote:To elaborate more on that... If we can determine his average BTU usage per hour for a heating season just double it or even triple it to find a comfortable sized stove. For example, I used 6 tons of coal for 180 days. Raw BTU input is about 39,000 BTU per hour.. My appliance is rated 120,000.. So my appliance is actually triple rated for the output I need.. Might be a hair over sized but its nice to have the head room..

and so you have answered your previous question.

if he is going to look at stoves according to ratings by sq. footage he needs a stove that will do his 2000 s.f. at 50-60% of it's claimed rating because we all know those ratings are pure fiction.

if on the other hand he looks at stoves by BTU out put ratings he still needs a stove that will supply the BTU's he NEEDS at 50-60% of the stated rating because those claims are just as bogus in real world operation.

i believe he was fairly close in his original post and estimate. he needs a stove with about 120,000 BTU if it's going to have forced air distribution or more if radiant stand alone, so he can run it at a safe and sane firing rate and have some reserve to call on.

longislandsteve wrote:My oil fired hot water heater is 114 K. And I used 1400 gallons of fuel last winter(and it was a cold one) .I am unaware of how to figure out how many BTU I used. I am looking to put in a free standing unit on the first floor.

We'll keep it simple and not worry about efficiency (since it probably would be close anyways), just input BTUs
Ok so 138,690 BTU/gallon x 1400 = 194166000 total BTUs
works out to about 45,000 BTU per hour..

Double is 90,000 BTU
Triple is 135,000 BTU

I would look for a stove rated for around 135,000 BTU
Or one rated no less than 120,000 BTU

yeah what Lightning said !!

KingCoal wrote:and so you have answered your previous question.

if he is going to look at stoves according to ratings by sq. footage he needs a stove that will do his 2000 s.f. at 50-60% of it's claimed rating because we all know those ratings are pure fiction.

if on the other hand he looks at stoves by BTU out put ratings he still needs a stove that will supply the BTU's he NEEDS at 50-60% of the stated rating because those claims are just as bogus in real world operation.

Right... Just sayin, I think the stoves are more accurately rated for sq ft than they are for rated BTU.. I don't think there is a stove rated for 120,000 BTU but also rated to heat 4000 sq ft. Just an opinion..

The Harman Super Magnum coal stoker will heat 2000 to 5300 sq. ft. Question ?I know the stoker stoves have a blower motor. If the blower motor goes down will the stove stay lit.(loosing power). Are there any other moving parts on these stoker machines. I have no problem spending the extra money when the stove will not be working hard to heat my house.