Hello all, new member here. I've been doing some research on wood stoves for the past few weeks and have been coming to this site most regularly to get reviews / info on them. But now I think we will be taking a different direction and thought I'd like to join for getting answers to some of my questions.
We live in west central PA, about halfway between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. About 7 yrs ago, my wife, our one-yr-old and I settled into our first home. We purchased what used to be, an 1870 built Mennonite church that had been converted into a single story, two bedroom, one bath house with plans to remove the original church ceiling (4.5' above the installed living space ceiling) and put a second story in. But before we could even get all our belongings from the move-in unpacked and settled, we were surprised to find out we were having another child. Then in January '05, we had (not one) but two children - BANG! - from single parents to a family of five in 18 months.
Anywhoo, we had oil furnace heat (and still do) but about 5 years ago I found an Osburn freestanding stove (I think it's a Regent 1000) in a local add for $300 and put it in our living room. We've been using it since and it keeps the house anywhere from 65-85F. I've gotten to the point that I can cut the locust / oak / elm to length, split and stack in my stove to get an overnight / all day burn of about 9 hrs each. But that's letting the house temp drop to -65F... so I'll spend the next two hours trying to get it back to 70+. Also, I don't mind cutting and splitting wood but carrying armloads thru the house when there's 4" snow outside (I keep the wood in a closed pavilion in the back yard) can get old quick. I'll keep a wheelbarrow load in the basement, but that will only last 2-3 days and I've had to gingerly plot my course with a wheelbarrow filled with wood down an ice-laden paved driveway...not fun!
So I started searching CL and Pennswoods classifieds and came across a couple larger wood stoves. I was about to purchase a Coalbrookdale Darby when it was sold before I had a chance to look at it. I started searching again and came across a Lennox 24 ACJ wood / coal furnace for $575. It comes with a T-54 humidifier, new kidney and good firebrick (plus some extra bricks). The seller bought the house it's in and used it the past three years (plus had it serviced each year). He got a different stove and now wants to sell this one. I got to thinking - I'd been wanting a furnace for the past several years and I could get this one in before the cold hit. Plus, I'd still have the Osburn to use if needed.
So, here are a few questions...
I can't seem to find any info on the furnace for sale. Does anyone know about these furnaces?
I will be removing our oil furnace and replacing with this one. I'll also vent to the existing chimney (separate from the wood stove) that the oil furnace vented to. This is an old, unlined brick chimney. If I burn coal for a winter, would I need to have the chimney lined first or would it be fine without? The reason? I will be removing this chimney and putting a 2-stack chimney in it's place (but not this year) - one for wood / coal - one for oil (I'll keep oil for backup and chilly fall / spring days).
Anything I should be looking for / concerned with? Any things I don't want to overlook when I look at the furnace?
Any and all advice / suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
We live in west central PA, about halfway between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. About 7 yrs ago, my wife, our one-yr-old and I settled into our first home. We purchased what used to be, an 1870 built Mennonite church that had been converted into a single story, two bedroom, one bath house with plans to remove the original church ceiling (4.5' above the installed living space ceiling) and put a second story in. But before we could even get all our belongings from the move-in unpacked and settled, we were surprised to find out we were having another child. Then in January '05, we had (not one) but two children - BANG! - from single parents to a family of five in 18 months.
Anywhoo, we had oil furnace heat (and still do) but about 5 years ago I found an Osburn freestanding stove (I think it's a Regent 1000) in a local add for $300 and put it in our living room. We've been using it since and it keeps the house anywhere from 65-85F. I've gotten to the point that I can cut the locust / oak / elm to length, split and stack in my stove to get an overnight / all day burn of about 9 hrs each. But that's letting the house temp drop to -65F... so I'll spend the next two hours trying to get it back to 70+. Also, I don't mind cutting and splitting wood but carrying armloads thru the house when there's 4" snow outside (I keep the wood in a closed pavilion in the back yard) can get old quick. I'll keep a wheelbarrow load in the basement, but that will only last 2-3 days and I've had to gingerly plot my course with a wheelbarrow filled with wood down an ice-laden paved driveway...not fun!
So I started searching CL and Pennswoods classifieds and came across a couple larger wood stoves. I was about to purchase a Coalbrookdale Darby when it was sold before I had a chance to look at it. I started searching again and came across a Lennox 24 ACJ wood / coal furnace for $575. It comes with a T-54 humidifier, new kidney and good firebrick (plus some extra bricks). The seller bought the house it's in and used it the past three years (plus had it serviced each year). He got a different stove and now wants to sell this one. I got to thinking - I'd been wanting a furnace for the past several years and I could get this one in before the cold hit. Plus, I'd still have the Osburn to use if needed.
So, here are a few questions...
I can't seem to find any info on the furnace for sale. Does anyone know about these furnaces?
I will be removing our oil furnace and replacing with this one. I'll also vent to the existing chimney (separate from the wood stove) that the oil furnace vented to. This is an old, unlined brick chimney. If I burn coal for a winter, would I need to have the chimney lined first or would it be fine without? The reason? I will be removing this chimney and putting a 2-stack chimney in it's place (but not this year) - one for wood / coal - one for oil (I'll keep oil for backup and chilly fall / spring days).
Anything I should be looking for / concerned with? Any things I don't want to overlook when I look at the furnace?
Any and all advice / suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
thanks,