Coalpail.com Forum

I am looking to replace my old Surdiac with a stoker currently looking at a Keystoker 90k. I can either go with the direct vent or the natural draft model. I have a masonry chimney but was wondering if there is any difference in efficiency between the natural draft and the direct vent. The extra cost of the direct vent is not really an issue.

Use your chimney, why pay for electric when you can get the same thing for free.
Jerry

Welcome to the Forum nj, I agree with Jerry, the stove will be about the same efficiency, however it will cost you for the electricity to run the PV.

You need a barometric damper and a way to set it up right (you can check out our manometer loan program), then your stove will work great with your chimney as long as the chimney is in decent shape and is designed correctly.

If you do a search on the keywords of Barometric Damper, Manometer, and chimney there will be some good reading and learning.

Chimney's don't quit when the power goes out either.

Chimney, I have had mine run both ways, DV to start in the old house, then hooked it to a chimney with natural draft in our new house. It works good either way, I don't think there is any difference in efficiency that I could tell.

The Direct Vent will draw 1/2-3/4 Amp running the blower motor, it will also make it a bit noisier with that extra blower.
The Combustion blower runs 24/7 and is pretty quiet.

Use your chimney. No doubt. I have a DV Keystoker and have no option for a chimney. No issues with the DV, it's *fairly* quiet, but doubles the noise of the stove compared to just the combustion blower. It's still quiet enough to watch TV in the same room, etc.

My stove uses 75 watts with just the combustion and DV motors running (using a Kill-a-Watt) so the power consumption is minimal. The DV unit will require maintenance to tear it down at least yearly (more if you run hard) to clean it out and lubricate it, and figure on replacing the motor every 5 to 8 years for $110 each time. I replaced mine (stove is about 10 years old) because it was quite noisy (bearing rattle) but it still operated fine. The previous owner never lubricated it as far as I could tell, so that should give you an idea of how long they will last. I kept the old one as a backup.

That said, the DV Keystoker is a well designed setup and really works excellently. But, I'd much rather have a "real" chimney for less noise and reliability.

Thanks for all the replies it looks like I will be going with the chimney.

coaledsweat wrote:Chimney's don't quit when the power goes out either.

True, but what about the cleaning issue. I have an old two story home, with an 8" SS liner inside the chimney and a cap on top. I am told that each year, ash in it will have to be brushed out. Most chimney sweeps charge about $100. (No, I am not going to climb up there) I figure I can brush out a PV or DV by myself, like I do with the pellet pipe. I was thinking of getting the Alaska 140 Auger, unless someone can talk me out of it.

If you electric bill goes up $8.00-$12.00 a month for 7 months, how much did you save on the chimney sweep.
Jerry

Leisure Line wrote:If you electric bill goes up $8.00-$12.00 a month for 7 months, how much did you save on the chimney sweep.
Jerry

Are you telling me that the fan on a PV or DV consumes more power and is more costly, than the exhaust blower on a wood pellet stove? Isn't it basically the same principle? Can someone tell me how many amps their PV or DV uses?
Is a PV the same as a DV?