Hitzer 503 vs 983
Posted: Sat. Aug. 18, 2018 7:26 am
Good morning,
We've just purchased a 1400 sqft ranch in NE. Looking to install a coal stove for primary heating. Couple of questions, but I'll start with the title of the thread first. Looking between the two, they seem nearly identical save for the 983 having a higher BTU output and being a slightly larger stove. From what I gather the 983 has the larger firebox due to needing to be manually loaded? Due to that larger size, that means it'll put out more heat... does that logic follow? Also, I'm not sure how the 503 hopper system works. I've done some reading but can't find a definitive answer. And the million dollar question from the experienced folks here, which would you recommend?
The other question I have is regarding the stove's ability to heat. I've never owned a stove (wood or coal) so I'm not sure how well it travels around the house. The fireplace is in what could be described as a small sitting room when you first walk into the house. There is then a standard doorway that leads into an open kitchen/living room, and then a hallway that has a bathroom and bedrooms. The fireplace is not in an ideal situation, and my worry is I'll have a 95 degree sitting room and 50 degree bedrooms.
Lastly, and maybe this should go in a different post on a separate section of the forum, I have a DVC-500 I never installed at our other home. Bought it used, so the investment was significantly less than new. I'm sure it'll need service after sitting in a garage unused for 6 years, but it is a monster and the house is only 1400 sqft. Not sure I want to dedicate what'll probably be 25sqft to a corner installation. Am I being ridiculous and should just install the DVC? Being in the living room it's more centrally located so I'm sure it'll heat more evenly, but also not crazy about the idea of the stove being dependent on electricity either.
Thanks for any insight!
We've just purchased a 1400 sqft ranch in NE. Looking to install a coal stove for primary heating. Couple of questions, but I'll start with the title of the thread first. Looking between the two, they seem nearly identical save for the 983 having a higher BTU output and being a slightly larger stove. From what I gather the 983 has the larger firebox due to needing to be manually loaded? Due to that larger size, that means it'll put out more heat... does that logic follow? Also, I'm not sure how the 503 hopper system works. I've done some reading but can't find a definitive answer. And the million dollar question from the experienced folks here, which would you recommend?
The other question I have is regarding the stove's ability to heat. I've never owned a stove (wood or coal) so I'm not sure how well it travels around the house. The fireplace is in what could be described as a small sitting room when you first walk into the house. There is then a standard doorway that leads into an open kitchen/living room, and then a hallway that has a bathroom and bedrooms. The fireplace is not in an ideal situation, and my worry is I'll have a 95 degree sitting room and 50 degree bedrooms.
Lastly, and maybe this should go in a different post on a separate section of the forum, I have a DVC-500 I never installed at our other home. Bought it used, so the investment was significantly less than new. I'm sure it'll need service after sitting in a garage unused for 6 years, but it is a monster and the house is only 1400 sqft. Not sure I want to dedicate what'll probably be 25sqft to a corner installation. Am I being ridiculous and should just install the DVC? Being in the living room it's more centrally located so I'm sure it'll heat more evenly, but also not crazy about the idea of the stove being dependent on electricity either.
Thanks for any insight!