I recently bought an old farmhouse - about 2500sq/ft - that was built in the 1890s. It has been renovated with newer windows and insulation. It isn't drafty, but definitely not as air-tight as a modern structure. Back in the 1990s (when it was updated), the previous owner installed electric baseboard heating in all the rooms and a Vermont Castings 22,000 BTU propane stove for supplemental heat.
I would like to rip out the propane stove and install a high-btu hand fired coal stove (or wood stove or coal stoker) to use as the primary heat source and use the baseboard heat as supplemental heat and I need some advice.
The propane stove is of the direct-vent variety. I would like to avoid installing a chimney if possible, though I am not opposed to it. Total cost is the primary concern here. I have seen some Keystoker stoves that have a direct vent setup, but I would prefer a hand-fired unit as I would like to have some heat if the power goes out. I am also concerned about the direct-vent set up in the event of a power failure as it seems that the direct-vent flu has some sort of blower attached to it.
I have attached some pictures of the space in the home where the existing stove is. The brick area is 46" deep (front to back) and 10 feet wide. There are 12 inches between the top of the stove pipe and the bottom of the mantle-shelf.
I live in eastern PA - not too far from Schuylkill County and I have a truck and trailer capable of hauling coal. I have previous experience with burning coal - I owned an old home with a Van Wert coal-fired boiler that heated my 4600 square foot home with ease. I know a hand fired radiant heat stove is going to be different than an automated boiler, but I am comfortable with coal.
So here are my thoughts and I need some council:
I would rather have wood because I have access to some wood at no cost and I like the look of a wood fire. If I were to do wood, I would probably use a Blaze King Ultra that would allow me to load up to 90 pounds of wood into the firebox to get a burn time of 20-40 hours. The only thing keeping me from doing this option is that I would rather not install a chimney.
Considering the above, my next choice would be to use a hand-fired coal stove - something that produces 100,000 BTU or more of heat. I like the idea of having a heating source that will work without power and, if I can direct-vent one of these - I think it would be my most cost-effective solution.
Lastly, if my only option for direct vent is a stoker stove, I would consider it. My main concern is what happens with the direct-vent chimney if I lose power?
Oh - one other thing.....I have a slight concern about the smell of coal. My old Van Wert had a warped door that sealed terribly and there was a sort of coal oil smell in the furnace room. It was far enough away from the rest of the house that you couldn't smell it in the living area, but this stove would be right in the living area of my current house. I would assume that I modern stove with a tight-fitting door and seals would not produce an unpleasant smell, but correct me if I am mistaken.
Thanks for your patience with my long-winded post.
