First time home buyer with Coal Furnace! Info Please?

 
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freetown fred
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Posts: 30293
Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
Location: Freetown,NY 13803
Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut

Post by freetown fred » Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 10:56 am

I'm sure there are somewhere--BUT--if ya finish your profile with location, there might well be a FORUM member that could do a visit & help ya with any question--I promise--nobodies gonna steal ya!!!!!!!!!!! LOL Good luck with your purchase.


 
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freetown fred
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Posts: 30293
Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
Location: Freetown,NY 13803
Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut

Post by freetown fred » Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 11:00 am

Even if it's just for a visual!!!!!
lincolnmania wrote:
Sun. Jan. 12, 2020 3:05 pm
you could always add some electric baseboard for a backup system.

 
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nepacoal
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Posts: 1696
Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
Location: Coal Country
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
Coal Size/Type: Buck

Post by nepacoal » Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 11:04 am

I keep a spare stoker motor (bought directly from Keystoker) and combustion fan ( purchased from Amazon) on hand in case of failures. And because I have a boiler, I also have spare circulators, air vents, and a PRV among other spares... Your list of spares would be different, obviously. The current owner may already have a stash.

 
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amarsh818
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Posts: 20
Joined: Sat. Jan. 11, 2020 8:50 pm
Location: Lake Peekskill, NY
Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker Koker Lite
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 503
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Rice Coal, Nut

Post by amarsh818 » Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 11:28 am

Ok profile updated, good point freetown! I will check with the homeowner and see what back up parts he has. However, the question still stands because I assure my wife isn't replacing any parts on that thing if I'm away haha!

The truth is, this probably won't ever be the case. But I am trying to figure out if people do in fact service these units or is it 100% on me to figure it out if an issue arises.

Thanks!

 
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freetown fred
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Posts: 30293
Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
Location: Freetown,NY 13803
Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut

Post by freetown fred » Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 4:56 pm

Nice on the profile!! You & a couple hundred others on this FORUM A. :) I was in the hospital for a couple months last year & Momma had a problem with the HITZER--a fellow FORUM member came up here from Pa. & straightened it out for her--Welcome to the family my friend. :)
Last edited by freetown fred on Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 8:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

 
lincolnmania
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Posts: 2684
Joined: Fri. Jan. 26, 2007 9:55 pm
Location: Birdsboro PA.
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 350
Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: reading allegheny stoker
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: alaska kodiak stoker 1986. 1987 triburner, 1987 crane diamond
Coal Size/Type: rice

Post by lincolnmania » Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 8:12 pm

freetown fred wrote:
Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 11:00 am
Even if it's just for a visual!!!!!
my thoughts exactly.

my cousin bought a house with electric heat pump and heat strip forced air and a coal stove in the living room.....he was able to get a mortgage. the coal stove was broken so i helped him find a reading allegheny with a coal trol. that is his primary source of heat. when the hand fed coal stove was down the first winter he bought the home, his electric bill was over 400 dollars.

 
cabinover
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Posts: 2344
Joined: Wed. Feb. 04, 2009 7:13 am
Location: Fair Haven, VT
Stoker Coal Boiler: Hybrid Axeman Anderson 130
Baseburners & Antiques: Sparkle #12
Coal Size/Type: Pea, Buckwheat, Nut
Other Heating: LP Hot air. WA TX for coal use.

Post by cabinover » Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 9:18 pm

The stoves aren't rocket science really. Ask around at the local coal dealers, bet you'd find some like minded people that would take care of any problems if you aren't around. Probably cost you a six pack upon your return or something though. :lol:


 
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amarsh818
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Posts: 20
Joined: Sat. Jan. 11, 2020 8:50 pm
Location: Lake Peekskill, NY
Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker Koker Lite
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 503
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Rice Coal, Nut

Post by amarsh818 » Tue. Jan. 14, 2020 8:33 am

Awesome awesome! Love the support and camaraderie. Soon enough I'll know what I'm doing and ill be able to help the next guy. Going over for an inspection this morning. Hoping for no surprises! I'll post some pics.

Thanks again all. Talk soon!

 
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amarsh818
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Posts: 20
Joined: Sat. Jan. 11, 2020 8:50 pm
Location: Lake Peekskill, NY
Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker Koker Lite
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 503
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Rice Coal, Nut

Post by amarsh818 » Tue. Jan. 14, 2020 8:37 am

Wow I totally forgot to mention the part about us making an offer on the house and the homeowners accepting! The homeowners are super cool and the guy is going to show me all about the stove should we move forward. Will keep ya'll posted.

 
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freetown fred
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Posts: 30293
Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
Location: Freetown,NY 13803
Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut

Post by freetown fred » Tue. Jan. 14, 2020 10:06 am

Outstanding A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

 
Benny
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Posts: 375
Joined: Sat. Nov. 11, 2017 6:32 am
Location: Ligonier Pa.
Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Koker lite- house. Reading- garage
Coal Size/Type: Rice
Other Heating: Oil

Post by Benny » Tue. Jan. 14, 2020 1:19 pm

Congrats A, hope the lending process goes well. Coal in ashes out , adding a little ductwork would probably be pretty easy!

 
Eab91276
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Posts: 57
Joined: Mon. Jan. 28, 2019 9:23 pm
Location: EasternPA
Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker Koker
Coal Size/Type: Rice/Anthracite
Other Heating: Propane Insert; Heat Pump

Post by Eab91276 » Wed. Jan. 15, 2020 10:43 pm

Hi Andrew, I know exactly what it is like to walk into a house with a stoker and wondering how the heck you use and maintain it. I have a Keystoker Koker that the previous owner installed in 2014 and tied into one of the heat pump’s ductwork. This is my third season using it and I am much more comfortable now than at the start. Keystoker has helpful videos on their website as well as the user manuals. They explain how the furnaces work and tips on how to clean and maintain them. I’ve also called them a few times and they are very helpful. Of course this forum is extremely helpful as you have seen already. On an average day I spend approx. 15 minutes maintaining the stove. That’s emptying the ash, filling the hopper, and checking draft. I burn about 50 lbs. a day depending on the weather. About once a month I do a total clean. That’s a little more involved, but not bad. Make sure you have a CO detector and some way to check draft, like a manometer. If you end up getting the house, keep posting updates and questions. People will help. Good luck!

 
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amarsh818
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Posts: 20
Joined: Sat. Jan. 11, 2020 8:50 pm
Location: Lake Peekskill, NY
Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker Koker Lite
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 503
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Rice Coal, Nut

Post by amarsh818 » Wed. Jan. 15, 2020 11:55 pm

Hi all. Thanks so much for the support ~! Inspection went great. The inspector was incredibly impressed with the house as a whole but his favorite thing was, guess what, the Keystoker. He thought it was a great design, safe, and efficient. He was also extremely impressed with the new blown in insulation job the homeowner had done last year. He said "trust me, you will NEVER be cold in this house."
Sounds like you ran into a similar situation as me Eab. I surprisingly haven't stumbled upon those videos yet but am definitely going to search for them in a minute! Good to know Keystoker is responsive and helpful over the phone. I love that they're in PA and that all of the coal we will burning is as well. There's something extremely gratifying about not burning oil to heat our home. The current homeowner has one smoke/CO detector and two other CO detectors in the basement where the stove is. Also a few on the main level of course.
I am going to have to do some research on checking draft. I am not sure how to do that or what a manometer is if I am being completely honest, haha. The inspector did say that the basement is extremely tight and that the unit could benefit by bringing a flow of fresh air into the space. The homeowner currently has a draft inducer hooked up to the outlet to force exhaust up through the chimney. I am not sure if he always has that running but I would assume so, right? If I were to do what the inspector recomended and just bring some air into the space, say for example with a gutter flex pipe or something ran from the window, would that alleviate the need for a draft inducer? Of course I would find a more long term fix if I were to go this route. I took a few pics, nothing great but I do have one of the draft inducer. Anyone else using one of these? Let me know what ya'll think! I also snapped a few pics of the wood burning Hitzer on the main level. These two stoves are the only sources of heat in the house.
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Toddburn
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Posts: 804
Joined: Wed. Aug. 28, 2019 7:38 pm
Location: Southwest P.A.
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 983/ Hitzer 55
Coal Size/Type: Nut anthracite/pea
Other Heating: Heat pump/forced air

Post by Toddburn » Thu. Jan. 16, 2020 5:45 am

Good news! Your “wood stove” is a Hitzer 503 coal stove. The previous owner removed the hopper to burn wood. What you have is a great, safe, user friendly stove you will be amazed by the performance of the Hitzer. I have it’s big brother the 983 and I’m totally impressed with Hitzer. Tons of members have the 503 search the forum here and you will find everything you need to know about operation of that stove...enjoy!

 
DENNIS BAUER
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Posts: 283
Joined: Tue. Jan. 13, 2015 8:49 am
Location: Springwater NY, (Western NY)
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker 105 - SOLD
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 30-95 - Garage
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: HITZER 50-93 - HOUSE
Coal Size/Type: NUT
Other Heating: PROPANE FURNACE, ELECTIC BASE BOARD, AND WOOD FIRE PLACE

Post by DENNIS BAUER » Thu. Jan. 16, 2020 12:40 pm

I'm afraid you are going to have an issue with the bank on buying the place. I could be wrong, but when I looked at a house with Wood heat only they said it was a no go for a mortgage. The said the best way to think about it is this way. You need to be able to leave the house with no one there and keep the house from freezing.
I was lucky that that house fell through and I bought the house I'm in with a coal Stove. I'm now on my 3rd stove that I love but I do have a propane furnace. Even though I honestly don't think the propane furnace can keep up with the house how it is set up.


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