Advice needed going from wood to coal stove

[Ottsrx7]

I bought my home 2 years ago (York, PA) and it came with an older wood chief stove. This stove does well heating the entire house which is about 2,000 square feet. Growing up, we had a coal stove and it was great! I've come to realize that this wood stove requires a lot of attention (every 2-3 hours) to keep it hot vs what I remember with our coal stove as a kid. The house is a split level built in 1982 so it has some insulation. But I want to get a coal stove and was hoping for a little direction. I don't use the stove for primary heat until Temps drop into the low 30's, above that I use an air source heat pump. I just need advice on what type and size of coal stove to get to replace my wood stove. I plan to use bulk nut coal as I have a dump trailer and live within about an hour or so of anthracite country (I've actually been a member of RAC for a few years where I ride my ATV)

[ShawnLiNy]

I bought my home 2 years ago (York, PA) and it came with an older wood chief stove. This stove does well heating the entire house which is about 2,000 square feet. Growing up, we had a coal stove and it was great! I've come to realize that this wood stove requires a lot of attention (every 2-3 hours) to keep it hot vs what I remember with our coal stove as a kid. The house is a split level built in 1982 so it has some insulation. But I want to get a coal stove and was hoping for a little direction. I don't use the stove for primary heat until Temps drop into the low 30's, above that I use an air source heat pump. I just need advice on what type and size of coal stove to get to replace my wood stove. I plan to use bulk nut coal as I have a dump trailer and live within about an hour or so of anthracite country (I've actually been a member of RAC for a few years where I ride my ATV)

If you going new Ds , used check marketplace or Craigslist for what’s available than consult us , they also have fully automatic stoves /furnaces most brands of coal stoves will do what’s needed , stay away from any hybrid aftermarket kits ( Vermont castings etc ) multi fuel stoves are awesome you just need a separate ash pit , and fire box for better coal burning

[waytomany?s]

Advice? Don't do it. You'll drive the price up. Already decided? Damn. What exactly is current setup?

[ColdHouse]

Buy used. Keep an eye out for somebody selling stove with coal and stove pipe. Offer way less than asking. Purchase in spring, summer or fall.

[davidmcbeth3]

There are many possibilities for coal heating appliances.

How does your wood stove heat the whole house ? Is it centrally located where convection is all that is needed ?

Then a manual stove like a Hitzer might be desirable..
https://hitzer.com/our-products/stoves-furnaces/model-50-93

Or perhaps a stoker is more desirable ?
https://leisurelinestove.com/product/ak-110-hot-air-furnace/

Many many options. Good to seek out people's experience.

Which one is best ? For you? Can't narrow it down without seeking to see what you expect from the system besides "something to make house warm" as you can understand.

[zachary193]

If you going new Ds , used check marketplace or Craigslist for what’s available than consult us , they also have fully automatic stoves /furnaces most brands of coal stoves will do what’s needed , stay away from any hybrid aftermarket kits ( Vermont castings etc ) multi fuel stoves are awesome you just need a separate ash pit , and fire box for better coal burning

I second the DS machine stoves . I like my 160. Advertised as coal only . But still old fashioned multi fuel . Has louvers in the fire box . Re-burn tubes . Heavy built . Bi-metallic damper works great . Priced decent . They have a very nice hand fired selection of various sizes . I would look more into hand fired because of electricity availability in the future or cost .

[ShawnLiNy]

I second the DS machine stoves . I like my 160. Advertised as coal only . But still old fashioned multi fuel . Has louvers in the fire box . Re-burn tubes . Heavy built . Bi-metallic damper works great . Priced decent . They have a very nice hand fired selection of various sizes . I would look more into hand fired because of electricity availability in the future or cost .

I thought the coal only labeling was a recent epa requirement ( but my stove built 89-90 in Ireland and shipped here has a coal only solid fuel placard )but the Waterford comes with the brochure showing air controls for burning peat, Bit , wood and anthracite., definitely worth buying mult fuel capable or buy/fab a spare door and install spinners especially now with so many shortages , not to mention It would’ve been a major struggle trying to keep a coal fire about 20-30 days so far this season and we haven’t started to get warm spells yet

[zachary193]

Yeah it was recently , I do remember a bunch a hub hub about all stoves even the outside ones .

[ColdHouse]

I thought those Tarm units were pretty nice.

[fig]

Do yourself a favor and just start out with a stoker. You'll end up there or wishing you did.

[Transnationalman]

Have you tried adding some stove size anthracite to you wood and cracking your ashpan by 1/8 of an inch or less ? I halved my wood consumption and even today when temps are close to 40 I have a nice blue flame on top of half a pail of stove coal burning on top of some wood coal from this AM small wood fire. It usually last me 6hrs before I have to poke it then add more stove coal on top. I don't have a shaker grate.

[freetown fred]

Hmmmm, maybe ya scared the original poster off????????????? Ya think????