Coalpail.com Forum

Hi guys,

Has anyone ever converted a coal stove to natural gas?

I find myself in a compromise with the wife. We finally agree on a particular style of coal stove for an upstairs master suite. She has shot me down with every fireplace and wood, coal, or natural gas appliance, that she has seen. She wants the look of a coal stove, but only agrees to a natural gas one. Now, in order for her to be happy, I have to try to build one. At least, that is the temporary game plan. If anyone has any gas fired coal stoves, that I may be unaware of, by all means send a link or post a picture.

So, I ask if anyone has ever done this? There are so many natural gas burner options, safety shut off valves, and thermostats to choose from, for making such an appliance. It is a difficult decision.

Thanks, DOUG

I'm sure it's not going to be cheap.

I have to try to build one.

From a safety stand point I would recommend a stove specifically designed to burn gas.

Doug,

I don't have any experience building one but I test them on a regular basis. My one piece of advice is to not purchase a so called "ventless" model. In reality, they are room vented and IMO should be outlawed. THey are legal here because they have an oxygen depletetion sensor and are supposed to shut down should the oxygen level in the room drop. Call me old fashioned but I prefer not to trust my life to a such a sensor. and besides that, they stink. That's my 2 cents worth.

I assume that "master suite" means large bedroom.
We sleep with the windows open in the "master suite" all year round.
If you use a vent less gas stove, I suggest that you do too.

My grandmother has a very old coal-fired cookstove in her kitchen that was converted to LP a long time ago. The gas burner was installed in the old firebox and the flue is still hooked up. It is a nice looking stove and she loves to turn it on in the mornings to warm up the kitchen.

Last year I noticed that some of the antique stove restorer sites would convert to natural gas. You might try asking them. I am referring to those that sell the very expensive restored stoves. Google antique stoves. Natural gas might be close to coal in price.

Richard

I have a Franco Belge coal stove that I could not get to burn right to save my ass, So I gutted it and put a propane log set in it. Works Good The stove is mostly cast and weighs a ton for such a little thing and really holds the heat.

coalkirk wrote:besides that, they stink.

They do stink, a guy around the corner form me has one of those ventless gas fireplace log ones and I can smell the burned natural gas smell inside his house that I sometimes smell in large boiler/furnace rooms.

ummmm

I thought combustion devices were a bad thing in sleeping areas