Most Frequently asked Question Concerning The Reading Stoves
Why should I buy a Coal stove instead of wood or
gas?
Do I need a chimney to use this stove?
How does the power vent work?
I have a chimney that my Oil Burner is connected to. Can I use this
for my stove?
Is it necessary to install a Damper on my stove?
If you vent one of our stoves out of the bottom back vent is a Damper
still necessary?
What size Coal do I use?
How long will the coal last?
Will these Stoves heat my entire house?
How do I start my stove?
Can I burn Wood in my Stove?
How hot do the stoves get?
What kind of fire retardant material is necessary when installing my
Stove?
What happens if my power goes out, will my stove still work?
Why doesn’t the fire go up into the hopper?
Can I keep the fire burning when I leave the house?
How often should I service my stove?
How long will my stove last?
What is the life span on the steel components?
What is the life span on the door glass?
Does the finish on the Lehigh models stay glossy?
Will the stove make my house dirty and dusty?
How often do I have to empty the ashes?
Are the Coal fumes hazardous to my health?
Are the emissions the same with or without a power vent?
Is the power vent designed with a safety system?
What is the warranty on a power vent system.
What type of power do I need for my Stove and/or Power Vent?
1) Why should I buy a Coal stove instead
of wood or gas?
Coal is the most economical form of heating
on the market today compared to wood, oil, electric, propane, or
natural gas. With all the types of home heating choices available
to the consumer Coal gives you the highest rating per million BTU’s
at the lowest price.
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2) Do I need a chimney to use this stove?
No.
Although a chimney certainly will work, there are other options available,
such as a power vent system that is adaptable to all our model stoker
stoves, or double and tri-walled Stainless pipe that can be used
as a chimney. This is only recommended where a shot run of piping
is required. It is always a good idea to contact your zoning officer
and check what ordinance your Town, Borough, or Township requires
when venting a fired heating system.
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3) How does the power vent work?
It is
an “Electric” vent system that acts as a chimney
to remove fumes omitted by burning Coal, Wood, Oil, or Gas.
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4) I have a chimney that my Oil Burner
is connected to. Can I use this for my stove?
Unless there is a double flue system inside the chimney
the answer is NO! Each heating system requires its own ventilation.
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5) Is it necessary to install a Damper
on my stove?
ABSOLUTELY! Dampers are necessary to maximize the efficient
burning and capabilities of the stove.
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6) If you vent one of our stoves out
of the bottom back vent is a Damper still necessary?
YES! It should
be installed as close to the stove as possible.
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7) What size Coal do I use?
Our stoves
are set-up to burn both Buckwheat and Rice Coal. However Buckwheat
is not recommended for use in stoves that have a DIERCT VENT system.
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8) How long will the coal last?
It depends
on the individual requirement demands placed on the unit. However,
the hopper holds approximately 80 lbs. of Coal. At a low to medium
rheostat setting it should last 2 to 3 days. At a medium to high
setting 1-1/2 to 2 days. A ton of Coal with a 2-day burn average
will last approximately 1-month. Please remember this all varies
pending usage.
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9) Will these Stoves heat my entire
house?
Although these stoves are designed to be used as a supplemental
heat source many Folks find they provide enough heat to keep their
homes toasty on chilly days. Location of the stove, age and condition
of the house, insulation r-factor, and the amount of doors and windows
all play a part in the stoves heating capabilities. Generally speaking
these units do a wonderful job covering a 1200 to 2500 square foot
area with warm even heat.
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10) How do I start my stove?
There are
a variety of ways to start your stove but the easiest is to use our
fire starter packs that are available at our Stove Store, and through
our Dealer network pending location. Other options are Charcoal,
or Starter Gel.
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11) Can I burn Wood in my Stove?
NO!
Our stoves are designed to burn Anthracite Hard Coal ONLY!
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12) How hot do the stoves get?
Depending
on the model, the outer surface temperature of the stove can range
from 250 to 650 degrees Fahrenheit, so they do get hot. Remember
they are stoves, they contain fire, and fire is hot. It is always
recommended to keep Children and pets at a safe distance.
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13) What kind of fire retardant material
is necessary when installing my Stove?
A Floor Stove Board/Pad is only required if the stove is set
on a combustible surface. None is necessary if set on tile or concrete.
The stove is designed as such that the fire and heat are concentrated
and contained to the body of the stove. Therefore by the time the
ashes reach the pan they are partially cooled. The Floor Pad will
also protect your carpet from careless ash spills.
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14) What happens if my power goes out,
will my stove still work?
UNFORTUNATELY NO. You will get a 20 to 30
minute burn from the fire remaining in the firebox. Once the air
supply is discontinued, and the coal feed stops the fire WILL go
out. There will be a D.C. adapter kit available shortly that will
allow the continued operation using a 12-volt battery back-up system.
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15) Why doesn’t
the fire go up into the hopper?
Because of the design on the stoker fire plate there
is a limited space containing holes that allows air to reach the
coal being fed to the firebox. Those holes end well in advance of
the hopper coal thereby cutting off the air supply. Remember no air
no fire.
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16) Can I keep the fire burning when
I leave the house?
ABSOLUTELY! This is a stoker type stove. Its operation
is no different then stokers in the basement burning all the time
providing heat and/or hot water. If you keep coal in the hopper,
and the ashes emptied your stove can run unattended providing uninterrupted
heat for days or weeks.
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17) How often should I service my stove?
You
should clean your stove and firebox, as well as doing a visual inspection
a minimum yearly, at the end of each heating season. Removing the
firebox plate and vacuuming the dust and ash particles out of the
box insures an unobstructed airflow and a clean, even burning fire.
Consistent burning will keep your stove cleaner longer. Frequent
fire starts and stops require a little more preventive care.
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18) How long will my stove last?
The
warranty covers your stoves body for 4-years and electrical parts
for 1-year in a domestic environment. 1-year for both when used in
a business or industrial setting. Since regular maintenance will
prolong the life of all equipment the better you care for your stove
the longer it lasts. Tri-burner stoves have been around for 30-years
so you are the one to determine its longevity.
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19) What is the life span on the steel
components?
That depends on the individual. Regular care and maintenance
will provide many years of trouble free operation for your Reading
Stove. However neglect, improper set-up, location, and abuse will
all play a factor in a shorter life span.
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20) What is the life span on the door
glass?
The door glass can last the life of the stove. It is the glass
clarity that becomes affected by the heat of constant burning. A
damp cloth used regularly can improve the life of glass clarity.
However for perfectly clear glass it will need to be replaced every
2-3 years.
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21) Does the finish on the Lehigh models
stay glossy?
Yes! The coating is a baked enamel type finish holding
up to constant high temperatures. You may notice a darkening, or
lightening of the color after constant use but the shine should last
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22) Will the stove make my house dirty
and dusty?
Because of the stoves design any contaminants are contained
in the firebox, and ashpan. And because these are stoker type stoves
and have no moving grates it eliminates the need for raking making
it cleaner than the stoves we remember growing up with. Of course
being careful loading the hopper and removing ashes will also aide
in the cleanliness factor.
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23) How often do I have to empty the
ashes?
The ashes should be checked every time you add coal to the
hopper. Normally the ashes should be removed every 1-3 days pending
the amount of coal you are burning.
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24) Are the Coal fumes hazardous to
my health?
The fumes are no more hazardous than with any other fuel
burning fires. The key to any fire is proper ventilation. If properly
vented all the danger causing fumes will be dispersed in the outside
air, which will allow for a clean, heat producing fire. For your
safety, a Carbon Monoxide detector is supplied with your Reading
Stove, and should be used.
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25) Are the emissions the same with
or without a power vent?
YES! A chimney and damper have the same effect
on emission removal as a power vent system. The only difference is
that the power vent allows the installation of a stove where a chimney
is non-existent, or impractical to build.
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26) Is the power vent designed with
a safety system?
YES! The power vents are set up to stop operation
and shut down the stove in the event of a malfunction. Therefore
all fume emissions are ceased and the dangers imposed curtailed.
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27)
What is the warranty on a power vent system?
To be determined but will be based on the warranty from
field controls.
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28) What type of power do I need for
my Stove and/or Power Vent?
A regular 110-volt house current is all
you need to run your stove, blower, and power vent. Actually the
stoves motor requires very little current to operate making it very
cost effective.
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