Hand Fired Coal Stove

Having enjoyed discussing the kero heat options I could not help but
wonder if you have looked into any other alternative/outside the norm
methods of heating your home since you moved to Europe.

I have heated with numerous sources over the years including electric,
natural gas, propane, kerosene and wood all of which have advantages
as well as disadvantages.

About 12 years ago while heating about 90% with wood and 10% with
natural gas I was researching something about wood stoves and ran
across the NEPA Crossroads forum (which has a small wood burning
section) which is a forum about burning the clean anthracite coal that
comes from Pennsylvania.

Long story short is that after several years of research I have been
heating 99% with a hand fired coal stove for the past four winters.

It is without a doubt the best heat I have ever been around and
allowed me to heat my house to the subtropic temperatures that my wife
prefers for about $450 last winter. (We see subzero F here in the
mountains of WV every year.)

I saved about 30% by trucking in a whole load of coal the 350 miles
directly from the mine.

Anyway if coal is available in your part of the world it may be an
option for you to look at.

My anthracite is cleaner than wood, stores forever, is not damaged by
water or bugs and is much less work with me only having to add coal
and shake down the ash once a day.

In fact when my son was born I was gone from the house for 40 hours
and the stove was still happily burning keeping the house nice and
warm for our return from the hospital.

Hope you and your are well!

SD