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Tim81
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Post by Tim81 » Fri. Apr. 01, 2022 10:16 am

Hi Guys,

I am a new member from north east Pennsylvania. This winter has been expensive with propane heating. Please can someone guide me to were to get a coal heater. I have the propane with water baseboard radiators. Also where is it possible to get coal around the poconos mountains as it looks like the prices might shot up next year more then the current.

Tim

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Fri. Apr. 01, 2022 10:21 am

Welcome. Are you looking for a stove, or a boiler to hook into your baseboard system?

 
Tim81
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Post by Tim81 » Fri. Apr. 01, 2022 10:28 am

Boiler is better. Just I don’t know what is better/cheaper.

 
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coaledsweat
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Post by coaledsweat » Fri. Apr. 01, 2022 11:40 am

The boiler is better but not cheaper. Don't cheat yourself.

 
Tim81
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Post by Tim81 » Fri. Apr. 01, 2022 11:46 am

Well I did not know. :lol:


 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Fri. Apr. 01, 2022 1:39 pm

What is best for you will depend on what you want to do, and what your budget is.

I think the first decision point is to decide if you want to heat the house using the baseboards, or if you want to try and move warm air around the house. If you want to use the baseboards, you need a boiler. Most boilers require a dedicated chimney, and you will need to plumb & wire it to work with the existing system.

If you want to move warm air around the house, you have the choice of picking a hot air furnace (uses ductwork and a blower to move the air though the house), or a freestanding stove. Typically a furnace is located in the basement, while a freestanding stove works best in the area you wanted heated, like the living room.

Here is a thread from a while back with some good discussion on the different options: Stoves or Central Heat? Boilers Vs. Furnaces

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Fri. Apr. 01, 2022 1:53 pm

Rob has you going in a great direction :) if it were me, I'd opt for the boiler since you already have heat distribution all ready to go. You can find nice second hand coal boilers on Craigslist and Facebook market place. We can help you thru the coal forum with advice on installation.

 
Tim81
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Post by Tim81 » Fri. Apr. 01, 2022 6:18 pm

Thanks guys, I was actually looking at Craigslist. But not much going around will search further away.

 
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StokerDon
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Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood

Post by StokerDon » Fri. Apr. 01, 2022 6:44 pm

If you can do mechanical work, basic plumbing and wiring, an automatic feed stoker boiler is a good option to consider. There isn't much in the way of coal stoker boilers on CL anymore. All that stuff seems to have moved to FB Marketplace.

If you don't mind traveling a little to get something that you know will work, there are at least two forum members that work on/refurbish coal stokers.

scrapper_23jr is well known for his work on EFM's but he also works on anything that burns coal. He always has very good units for sale. His company is, Wilhelm's Northeast Anthracite Heating (570) 345-6302.

ziggy87 would be another one to contact. I know he currently has a few Axeman Andersons he would sell at a reasonable price.

-Don

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Fri. Apr. 01, 2022 7:01 pm

I might be a little biased :lol: but I think the Axeman is the cream of the crop as far as boilers are concerned. But full disclosure, I don't have experience with others. If I had to choose one word to describe them "fierced" would be it lol and I'm not the only one that would say that..


 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Fri. Apr. 01, 2022 7:06 pm


 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Fri. Apr. 01, 2022 7:09 pm

I might buy it if you don't lol

 
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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Sat. Apr. 02, 2022 12:18 pm

Lightning wrote:
Fri. Apr. 01, 2022 7:09 pm
I might buy it if you don't lol
Careful Lee, might be in steam system by looks of that riser size.
Tread cautiously.

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Sat. Apr. 02, 2022 12:48 pm

McGiever wrote:
Sat. Apr. 02, 2022 12:18 pm
Careful Lee, might be in steam system by looks of that riser size.
Tread cautiously.
Oh! Thanks for the heads up on that.

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