new to coal! LL ak110

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vetrob1
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Post by vetrob1 »

Hello all. I am new to coal. I live in northeast PA luzerne county to be exact, close to schuykill county. I am looking at LL ak110 to heat my 2 story 2500 sq ft house and tie it into my existing duct system. its going into my basement as there is a hole already to install a direct or power vent in. i have no chimney. For those who have the LL ak series with similar layout how many tons are you using per season? Any advice would be appreciated as well. Thanks!

stokerstove
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Post by stokerstove »

Welcome, you're practically our neighbor! Wouldn't that be SE Luzerne Co., though?

Don't have that furnace but it looks like a nice unit. We use an old Alaska stoker stove in our basement to heat our 1500 sq ft house and our 800 sq ft garage. We use 3 to 4 tons of coal per season. Love the basement location, as it warms up the floor above - hope you don't have insulation in the basement ceiling if you want that benefit. Lots of variables to the mix, preferred temps, length of the season, etc. Someone with the same furnace can have varying results in a different setup. That's a big plus that you will be able to tie into an existing duct system - we don't have that luxury! Since you have a duct system, I assume you have a main heating source now.

Will the coal furnace be your main heat source or are you supplementing your main with coal? It's great to have 2 options.

A power vent will require some maint. to keep it working properly. A masonry chimney is the best, IMO.

We invested in a backup power supply in case of an outage.

Sadly, the price of coal has risen dramatically and has cut into the fantastic savings that coal once offered. I still think it is a good option, at least for us. I am going back to hauling some of our coal to save a little.

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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. »

Welcome. The amount of coal you burn depends on several factors, but generally a house the size of yours uses 5-6 tons of coal per season.


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davidmcbeth3
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Post by davidmcbeth3 »

My house is similar size - I use between 4-7 tons....

7 tons on super-cold winters.

Usually 4-5.

vetrob1
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Posts: 15
Joined: Fri. Aug. 25, 2023 8:43 pm
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker 105k
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite rice coal
Other Heating: dual stage forced air heat pump with electric coil
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Post by vetrob1 »

stokerstove wrote: Sat. Aug. 26, 2023 10:42 am Welcome, you're practically our neighbor! Wouldn't that be SE Luzerne Co., though?

Don't have that furnace but it looks like a nice unit. We use an old Alaska stoker stove in our basement to heat our 1500 sq ft house and our 800 sq ft garage. We use 3 to 4 tons of coal per season. Love the basement location, as it warms up the floor above - hope you don't have insulation in the basement ceiling if you want that benefit. Lots of variables to the mix, preferred temps, length of the season, etc. Someone with the same furnace can have varying results in a different setup. That's a big plus that you will be able to tie into an existing duct system - we don't have that luxury! Since you have a duct system, I assume you have a main heating source now.

Will the coal furnace be your main heat source or are you supplementing your main with coal? It's great to have 2 options.

A power vent will require some maint. to keep it working properly. A masonry chimney is the best, IMO.

We invested in a backup power supply in case of an outage.

Sadly, the price of coal has risen dramatically and has cut into the fantastic savings that coal once offered. I still think it is a good option, at least for us. I am going back to hauling some of our coal to save a little.
Would a stoker be better than a hot air furnace? Would either use more or less coal? Yea I guess I would be south east ish. For me it’s still worth it to switch. I currently run a older heat pump with electric coil which murders my electric bill and dosent even keep up anyway.

waytomany?s
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Post by waytomany?s »

vetrob1 wrote: Thu. Sep. 14, 2023 12:13 pm Would a stoker be better than a hot air furnace? Would either use more or less coal? Yea I guess I would be south east ish. For me it’s still worth it to switch. I currently run a older heat pump with electric coil which murders my electric bill and dosent even keep up anyway.
The LL 110 is a stoker. It's a hot air furnace. Stokerstove is using a stove. Do you have heat ducts currently installed?


vetrob1
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Posts: 15
Joined: Fri. Aug. 25, 2023 8:43 pm
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker 105k
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite rice coal
Other Heating: dual stage forced air heat pump with electric coil
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Post by vetrob1 »

waytomany?s wrote: Thu. Sep. 14, 2023 12:24 pm The LL 110 is a stoker. It's a hot air furnace. Stokerstove is using a stove. Do you have heat ducts currently installed?
Well I have central heat/air with an air handler. Technically a stove would still work since it can tie into an existing duct which is all it is its just more central. The air handler is in my basement which is where I would place the stove.

waytomany?s
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Post by waytomany?s »

vetrob1 wrote: Thu. Sep. 14, 2023 2:49 pm Well I have central heat/air with an air handler. Technically a stove would still work since it can tie into an existing duct which is all it is its just more central. The air handler is in my basement which is where I would place the stove.
Not all stoker stoves hook into ducts. Can you post pics of where you want the stove/furnace and the air handler?

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