Heating with coal

I figured since a lot of you live in coal country, there was a possibility that some of you heat with coal. There are not any coal mines near me, but I can buy bituminous (soft) coal down in Cincinnati at the docks on the Ohio river. They unload it from the barges there to sell to electric plants and industrial customers for the steel industry. Since it is in such bulk, the prices are really good; around $80 a ton already screened for grain sized stoker.
I am driving down near Chillicothe Ohio (southeast Ohio) this weekend to pick up a coal stoker furnace called a Combustioneer. It kind of works on the same principles as a pellet stove where as it has a built in hopper with an auger in the bottom that feeds a fire pot whenever the thermostat calls for heat. You then can attach it to your duct work and use as a central furnace or as a stand alone unit.
I figure I will install it in my pole barn for cheap heat and if I get the hang of using it without it making a mess, hook one up to the house.
Do any of you guys heat with coal?

I use a Lennox Brentwood Zero clearance combustion wood burner. I built an antique mantel around it. My grandpa was the last one that I know of who heated with coal. He used it in a regular fire place. Sure did put out the heat. Good luck and I hope it works for you.

When I was a kid in the late 50's early 60's, my Dad was a care taker of an apartment building with 26 units. In the winter it was my job before breakfast to go down into the basement furnace room and stoke the fire and fill the coal hopper. First thing I did when I got home from school was check it again and then before going to bed I checked that coal eating son of a bitch again. My self, I never want to see one again. Messy big time. Coal dust is everywhere and is a real pain to clean up. Not to mention the heavy black smoke. Nope, not for me. Good luck pard.

this is what i use. burn wood and coal. i like to get soft ball size coal but last i bought of good clean coal it was 150 a ton 4 years ago. got some for 75 a ton 3 years ago but it was a lot of coal dust to beach ball size. i am out right now. just burning wood





only other heat is a oil furnace and dont use it much. last year i put in a set of gas logs to help heat in the old part of the house.

When I was growing up back in eastern Ky we used coal in our fireplace.