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To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Fri. Nov. 15, 2013 6:34 pm
by Flyerfan64
hi everyone I am new to the forum.I am contemplating buying a leisure line Pocono /coal stove. I plan on buying the vent hood To hook directly into my current duct work.not sure if it will be worth my investment of time and money. I know there is work involved in loading coal and empting the ashes . I currently have propane forced air heat and pay 1.89 per gal.I own a two story home and it is approximately 1800 sq ft it is 10 years old and well insulated.I will put stove in basement. I live in NEPA so getting coal will not be a problem. A pellet stove was also a consideration but I do not think it will be enough to heat my whole house. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for any help.also will the savings be worth the extra work a and cost of stove?

Re: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Fri. Nov. 15, 2013 7:07 pm
by DePippo79
I'll give my two cents. After you get things hooked up and dialed in, time shouldn't be a problem. Money maybe depending how much work you can do yourself. I had a retired mason cut a thimble and cleanout in my chimney. I had a unused flue I could use. Cost to me $125.00 plus lunch, plus tip. He taught me all about chimneys and brick while he was doing the work. I'm gone twelve hours a day so I tend the stove twice a day. Once before work and once when I get home. Could go longer, but I don't see the point. Also not a big deal to have the wife throw a few shovels of coal in if need arises. My stove is in basemnet (130+ year old victorian) and no problems yet keeping the house comfortable. No fancy ductwork just radiant heat off stove. I just keep the cellar door open(poor mans cold air return). Lowest temp so far this year 23 deg. Not the ideal location but it works for now. I'm hoping to cut my heating bill in half so the return on investment for me would be a year and a half. Plus my money stays local and in America. Coal is 100 times better than pellets. Coal has alot more BTU's. Good luck and welcome to the forum. Matt

Re: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Fri. Nov. 15, 2013 7:13 pm
by tsb
Welcome to the forum.
A lot to consider.
If your 75 years old, forget it. If your 25, do the math and
decide if you want to save money or not.
Ashes are a problem if you don't have a place to get rid of them.
The work per day is about five minutes.
I heat a four thousand square foot barn for less than $1600 per year.
Hot water included.
Most important........ is the misses on board with coal ?

Re: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Fri. Nov. 15, 2013 9:35 pm
by dcrane
Flyerfan64 wrote:hi everyone I am new to the forum.I am contemplating buying a leisure line Pocono /coal stove. I plan on buying the vent hood To hook directly into my current duct work.not sure if it will be worth my investment of time and money. I know there is work involved in loading coal and empting the ashes . I currently have propane forced air heat and pay 1.89 per gal.I own a two story home and it is approximately 1800 sq ft it is 10 years old and well insulated.I will put stove in basement. I live in NEPA so getting coal will not be a problem. A pellet stove was also a consideration but I do not think it will be enough to heat my whole house. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for any help.also will the savings be worth the extra work a and cost of stove?
I think you already have a great plan and you certainly picked a good stove & company (the hyfire & Pocono are 2 of my favorites when you want a simple FHA solution that's bullet proof, easy and almost instantly start heating your house. )

Re: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Sat. Nov. 16, 2013 8:28 am
by blrman07
At your propane prices your going to pay $25.+ for one million BTU's. Bulk coal delivered at $200 a ton you will pay $15+ per million BTU's.

Do the math for your normal usage and see how much you will save by going to coal. If you want set it and forget it, stick with the propane and make sure you make your bank deposits on a regular basis. If you want to save some money, put in the WL and save some money.

Rev. Larry

Re: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Sat. Nov. 16, 2013 8:31 am
by blrman07
Correction.....too early for me and not enough coffee..... Price out the Pocono installed and compare that against your savings to get your breakeven point. Then you will know when you actually start saving money. My guess it will be no more than two seasons.

Rev. Larry

Re: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Sat. Nov. 16, 2013 9:01 am
by Flyerfan64
Thanks for all your help will be making my up my ind soon.will let you know when I decide. Would the leisure line Pocono be a good choice or would I be better off spending a few extra $ on the Hyfire ll

Re: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Sat. Nov. 16, 2013 9:02 am
by SMITTY
Provided it's matched to the heat load of your house, ANYTHING from Leisure Line is a GREAT choice. 8-)

Re: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Sat. Nov. 16, 2013 9:23 am
by tsb
By your handle is can assume your in the SE Pa region.
If you want to be in your underwear all winter get the Pocono.
If you want to go around naked all winter get the Hyfire II.

Re: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Sat. Nov. 16, 2013 9:24 am
by coalnewbie
Of course more details on size of house, heat load etc would be helpful but to me the Hyfire is now a niche product. For me it's Pocono or AnthraKing depending on where it is going to be located. I own, use and love both but for me the uses are not interchangeable. So I guess more details please. In short for your living area the Pocono. AnthraKing, basement with or without ducting. Personally I find stoves with fans in the living area a no no as I don't like fan noise. So in your living area, a no noise stove. In the basement, an AnthraKing blasting that heat away from the stove with or without ducting and cold air returns. Be aware I have a minority opinion here.

Re: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Mon. Nov. 18, 2013 11:50 am
by heatwithcoal
I agree with CN. I heated my raised ranch for years with a stoker in the basement and one in the kitchen. Last spring I purchased the AK110, put it in the basement, installed ducting and I could not be happier. No fan noise, no feeding two small hoppers, no emptying two small ash pans, no coal dust in kitchen, no cold spots in the house..etc... I was thinking about the Hyfire before selecting the AK110. Dave at LL talked me out of it, Dave is smart. :D

Mark

Re: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Mon. Nov. 18, 2013 12:00 pm
by Flyer5
heatwithcoal wrote:I agree with CN. I heated my raised ranch for years with a stoker in the basement and one in the kitchen. Last spring I purchased the AK110, put it in the basement, installed ducting and I could not be happier. No fan noise, no feeding two small hoppers, no emptying two small ash pans, no coal dust in kitchen, no cold spots in the house..etc... I was thinking about the Hyfire before selecting the AK110. Dave at LL talked me out of it, Dave is smart. :D


Mark
Ah, I have another one fooled. :D

Re: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Tue. Nov. 19, 2013 11:00 am
by gerry_g
Flyerfan64 wrote:hi everyone I am new to the forum.I am contemplating buying a leisure line Pocono /coal stove. I plan on buying the vent hood To hook directly into my current duct work.not sure if it will be worth my investment of time and money. I know there is work involved in loading coal and empting the ashes . I currently have propane forced air heat and pay 1.89 per gal.I own a two story home and it is approximately 1800 sq ft it is 10 years old and well insulated.I will put stove in basement. I live in NEPA so getting coal will not be a problem. A pellet stove was also a consideration but I do not think it will be enough to heat my whole house. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for any help.also will the savings be worth the extra work a and cost of stove?
Just an important note that may or may not apply to you.

Not all states and localities require this but the National Fire Code requires an automatic fire damper when the heating device does not have an automatic ~160F cutoff, OR any opening not sealed to a UL heating device (such as a furnace) WHENEVER a floor is penetrated. That would require one fire damper before the hood connects to existing duct work. They are simple devices, just a spring loaded damper with a ~165F melting point link holding the damper open.

You may not have this code requirement since the "National Code" is just a model document that many states adopt as their standard.

However, if such a code exists in your area, your fire insurance is worthless without the damper.

On a different note, send me some propane ;-) I'm paying $3.70+/gal!!! Of course my Pioneer does 70% of my heating. I have a long ranch and can't get heat down the far end of the house (from the stove). Heck, in my town electric heat is now cheaper than propane. Electric zones easily as well saving $$$.

Re: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Wed. Dec. 18, 2013 6:56 am
by Flyerfan64
wanted to thank everyone for their advice. I ended up buying the Keystone Koker with direct vent.will be installed right after holidays. Just wondering where is a good place in NEPA to buy bagged coal.I live in the Hazleton area. Thanks again and have a great holiday

Re: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Posted: Wed. Dec. 18, 2013 7:32 am
by blrman07
You have at least 5 distributors of coal in the Hazleton area. Google Hazleton pa coal.

Happy burning of the black rocks.... :dancing:

Rev. Larry