Hitzer 30-95 or 254?

Hello everyone - looking to put a stove in my mother-in-law's apartment. It is 550 square feet and decently insulated. We are currently using a Pacific Energy wood stove (Vista LE) rated at 56,000 BTU max. I would like to replace it with a small stove that can be multi fuel (wood on the shoulder seasons). Seems like the Hitzer 30-95 or 254 could fit the bill - curious to hear what folks on the forum think. Thanks.

Not real familiar with the 254 but am with the 30-95 should do nicely in 550 sq. she'll idle down good & if needed she can crank out some heat without singin your eyebrows!! b:)

Thanks Fred - I appreciate that insight. I would also love to hear from more 254 and 30-95 owners who are on the forum - I know there are a few as I've seen their posts. Anyone able to provide some insight here? Thanks - Pete

Forum member Oliver Power has owned and used both the 30-95 and the 254 so maybe he will chime in.

Never used either of the above, and I’ve also never used Godin coal stoves or Chubby and Chubby Jr. stoves. Perhaps those would work for you as well, but the larger Chubby would likely offer longest burn times of those two stoves, the Godin or Chubby. Neither would likely burn as long as the 30-95. May not matter though if you tend on 12 hour intervals like Freetown Fred and others so often suggest.

New Chubby video coming

There is a thread comparing the two from within the last year. If you can find it it, you will have your answers.

550 square feet of insulated apartment; I agree with Fred. 30-95 is the way to go. shake the grates, and top off the hopper. Great little stove. The 254 is a little big, and a better understanding of tending a coal stove is needed. The Hitzer hopper fed stoves are easy to run.

oliver power wrote: ↑

Mon. Oct. 04, 2021 10:42 pm

550 square feet of insulated apartment; I agree with Fred. 30-95 is the way to go. shake the grates, and top off the hopper. Great little stove. The 254 is a little big, and a better understanding of tending a coal stove is needed. The Hitzer hopper fed stoves are easy to run.

Plus 1 installed 30-95 for a buddy last year 550 sq ft absolutely no problem heating that. He never burned coal and figured it out quickly. Fill the hopper, keep the coal to the top of the fire bricks, shake the grates, empty the ash every 12hrs can even stretch that stove to 24 hr tendings if your running it on low.

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I think the 30-95 is going to fit the bill. The main challenge will be putting a 45 degree elbow in to help keep the stove from protruding too far out in to the room owing to rear exhaust. If anyone has any pointers about that aspect of things I'd love to hear it. Pete

oliver power wrote: ↑

Mon. Oct. 04, 2021 10:42 pm

550 square feet of insulated apartment; I agree with Fred. 30-95 is the way to go. shake the grates, and top off the hopper. Great little stove. The 254 is a little big, and a better understanding of tending a coal stove is needed. The Hitzer hopper fed stoves are easy to run.

There you have it.

Just looked at both my brochures I have handy for both the 254 and the 30-95 and both are listed as 19 1/2” deep, or front to back. That’s the outside measurement. Hope that helps you.

Don't know where you're located but a 254 on craigslist in cny, Utica area.

Thanks but that is bit far away. Appreciate the info. though.

pantosketcham wrote: ↑

Wed. Oct. 06, 2021 12:21 pm

Thanks but that is bit far away. Appreciate the info. though.

Finish filling out your profile, someone in you area may see something and give you a heads up.

Toddburn wrote: ↑

Tue. Oct. 05, 2021 6:17 am

Plus 1 installed 30-95 for a buddy last year 550 sq ft absolutely no problem heating that. He never burned coal and figured it out quickly. Fill the hopper, keep the coal to the top of the fire bricks, shake the grates, empty the ash every 12hrs can even stretch that stove to 24 hr tendings if your running it on low.

That's where the 254 made an impression on me. All winter long, with 24 hour tendings. The thing is a fuel miser. I don't remember specifics, but I do remember burning less than a 40 pound bag of nut coal every 24 hours. Very Impressive!!!

Before I fire it up this year, I will go all through the stove (new gaskets, and fire brick). Hopefully I will get better low burns in milder temps.

I checked my notes and my average for the year was .8 lbs an hour in the larger 354 stove.

Would not surprise me if the 254 or 30-95 burned that or less. Should work great in a smaller space.

I may be a little late to the party lol. But I’ve run a few stoves at my house and with your choices I would suggest the 30-95 the 30-95 is a hopper stove. It is super easy to tend. I heat 1100 sq ft house with one. My main living area is about 600 square ft. I keep the main area 80 degrees and I use 20/25 lbs a day during the shoulder months. And 40/50 a day during the hard winter. I tend twice a day. @7am and again @7 pm. (Before work and when I get home ). If I was to only heat the main area I would assume 20/30 lbs during hard winter. Tending is super easy. Shake, fill, empty ash pan. 5 minutes. I like the 30/95 so much I bought a spare. Well actually I planned on putting it on my garage. Decided against it. I have an Alaska Channing rice burner in there. So when I decide to not be lazy lol I’ll clean the and swap the new stove into my house and sell off the extra one.