Coalpail.com Forum

Don, you are spot on with your assessment of the 160. Mine is a 4 grate unit & the firebox only measures 13 x 19 inch. To reduce this would definitely be counterproductive. However the 260 is definitely another story.
Jim

i run a sf260...recover in below10* temps is slow... better to have more BTU,s available and not use them, then to need them and not have them. firebox fill, aqua stat settings all play a part. I have had over heats.... in past 7 years...but outside temps change quickly. which really affect aqua stat settings, and fill practices. Good side..lower aqua stat settings mean longer continual draw on boiler..... but extreme low outside temps,inside temp maintainability will suffer. go bigger, learn the stove, and you should be fine.

I think it is better to go smaller and make up the difference, if any, with the oil or gas system. Extreme cold is not the norm here in New England. The smaller boiler will perform better in milder weather which is much more common.

David

My thought process is the unit is rated to 2200sqft I'm heating 1700. I'd rather have it running hot than idling. The 260 will be too big

ASea wrote: ↑

Sun. Feb. 04, 2018 9:48 pm

My thought process is the unit is rated to 2200sqft I'm heating 1700. I'd rather have it running hot than idling. The 260 will be too big

good for 2200SFT? that a meaningless statement. unless you know the actual BTU loss of your house overall.... sq ft don't mean chit! its the BTU input needed to maintain a temp(btu input vs btu loss). lower outside temps...more btu loss. my house 2400 SQ FT, 2 story. glad i have the 260 for brutal and avg temps for winter... sf 260 idles fine..when in fringe temps run it on pea coal less air migration thru coal, will burn slower, aka idle along.

I think the OP has a handle on the heat loss of his home.

David