I live in an old house that has natural gas heat. The second floor has really no heat at all with the exception of a small gas stove. I wanted to replace the gas stove with a coal stove (Harman Magnum). If the gas stove is vented into a masonary chimney, can I just hook up the coal stove in its place? Is there a problem if the gas furnace heating the first floor is also hooked up to the same chimney as the coal stove? Thanks for any help!
Switching from gas to coal? Maybe?
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I was also wondering if I made an adequate stove pad. (4ftx4ft) I built a 2x4 frame, screwed a sheet of underlayment to it, screwed a sheet of durock to that and then covered it with some 8x8 tiles. Is that suffucient to protect the floor under the stove (carpet)?
Hi. I also switched from gas to coal 1.5yrs ago. But I have a dual fuel system in my basement. A gas boiler and a coal boiler. I'm heating with gas right now. Temps in the mid 50s. When the temps drop to the 40s, I'll switch over to coal. Anyhow, I did extensive research into the chimney and I'll give that info to you.
The byproduct (smoke) of oil and gas burner at much cooler temperatures than coal. Coal burns super hot. The coal smoke exits the chimney quickly. The oil and gas smoke may condensate near the top of the chimney because of that smoke starts cooling down and stick to walls. Chimney damage is almost always at the top. Now, when hot coal smoke meets this condensation at the top of the chimney, this mixtures makes sulfuric acid. This stuff will eat through bricks and morter.
I had my chimney lined with a stainless steel liner. This resist corrosion. And I'm only burning one fuel at a time. Not both. If you're going to do what you want to do, then you should have a dedicated liner for both appliances. Not sure if your chimney is wide enough? The proper chimney width all depends on how many btus you're burning. You can find a chart on the internet somewhere. But I think a 7" liner can handle 160k-240k btus.
I would not use a stove on the 2nd floor that's using the same chimney from the boiler in the basement. If you cut a hole in the chimney wall, that's an exit point for the carbon monoxide.
Hope this helps.
The byproduct (smoke) of oil and gas burner at much cooler temperatures than coal. Coal burns super hot. The coal smoke exits the chimney quickly. The oil and gas smoke may condensate near the top of the chimney because of that smoke starts cooling down and stick to walls. Chimney damage is almost always at the top. Now, when hot coal smoke meets this condensation at the top of the chimney, this mixtures makes sulfuric acid. This stuff will eat through bricks and morter.
I had my chimney lined with a stainless steel liner. This resist corrosion. And I'm only burning one fuel at a time. Not both. If you're going to do what you want to do, then you should have a dedicated liner for both appliances. Not sure if your chimney is wide enough? The proper chimney width all depends on how many btus you're burning. You can find a chart on the internet somewhere. But I think a 7" liner can handle 160k-240k btus.
I would not use a stove on the 2nd floor that's using the same chimney from the boiler in the basement. If you cut a hole in the chimney wall, that's an exit point for the carbon monoxide.
Hope this helps.
The same flue can not be used for coal and gas stoves.
The hearth material and construction is determined by the stove requirements. We'll need a make and model.
Is the upstairs stove in a bedroom? If yes, that also nixes the coal stove.
Perhaps it is better to look at the final objectives. Is it to save money? Or is it to get better heat to the 2nd floor? It might prove to be a better investment by improving insulation, draft sealing, windows. And perhaps add a new heating zone to the 2nd floor?
The hearth material and construction is determined by the stove requirements. We'll need a make and model.
Is the upstairs stove in a bedroom? If yes, that also nixes the coal stove.
Perhaps it is better to look at the final objectives. Is it to save money? Or is it to get better heat to the 2nd floor? It might prove to be a better investment by improving insulation, draft sealing, windows. And perhaps add a new heating zone to the 2nd floor?
leowis1 said:
There is a separate flu, within the same chimney, for both the furnace and the upstairs stoves. does that make a diference?
Separate flues are ok as long as the upstairs flue is exclusive to the stove. Are they tile lined?
BeGreen said:
Hi,
Please don't forget to look at what Begreen said: The location of the 2nd floor stove is essential. In a bedroom is a no-no.
Also, the best return on investment is always with insulation. Check your attic first, bring that up to spec, then the walls and windows, then the basement. Check for air leakage (the worst money loss). After those are fixed, then look at a stove. It will cost quite a bit of money and you will have to buy your coal. And you do not live in PA, so shipping that coal is expensive.
carpniels
carpniels said:
I am renting the house, the landlord said go ahead with the stove, but is not going to do any work on the house. So any new insulation is out. I can get coal for $240 a ton in the area (is that alot?)
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