Switching from coal
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- Member
- Posts: 1541
- Joined: Wed. Aug. 28, 2019 1:54 pm
- Location: NEPA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Glacier Bay
- Coal Size/Type: nut
- Other Heating: electric
A friend recently died and his wife wants to switch from coal to either propane or wood pellet for secondary heat. I am not familiar with either one. Which one would you recommend? The first floor has electric baseboard and the coal stove is in the basement. No existing ductwork but could be added easily.
Last edited by nut on Sun. Aug. 07, 2022 4:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Richard S.
- Mayor
- Posts: 15262
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 01, 2004 8:35 pm
- Location: NEPA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Van Wert VA1200
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat/Anthracite
If she is switching to ease her burden a small coal stoker instead of pellet. Roughly speaking a ton of wood pellets is 2/3 the energy of one ton of coal. It also requires significantly more storage space that must be reasonably dry. The pellet stoves typically have smaller BTU output. About the only advantage a pellet stove has over coal is less ash and the ash is easier to deal with. Whatever the case either a pellet or coal is still going to be work.
Obviously the propane is the easiest and if she is up in age and/or not physically up to the task it might be the better option.