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No it doesn't. It has a shaker grate

you should always worry about carbon monoxide - use co detectors and test periodically.

You must bolt the feet on and assemble/install the damper in the pipe. The stove itself is assembled.

Yes they are

Each fuel whether its propane - natural gas - wood - coal - all have a different BTU rating of their own. You need to understand its not the size of the stove or furnace so much as its the fuel used to produce the heat from it or BTU's. Sure a larger wood stove can produce more BTU's with a larger fire box. Wood has a much higher BTU rating than natural gas which most likely you use in your furnace. A furnace requires a heat exchanger - blower motor - duct wook & a safety housing to cover its works - all things that add to its size. I don't see in my opinion where the 200,000 BTU rating is misleading what so ever. Example - how ever simple it may be - stand in front of a camp fire compared to an electric heater & see which puts out the most heat its just a simple comparison I know. May I suggest looking up BTU ratings for different fuels. This little stove heats my 1,400 sq. foot house & only using my furnace blower to circulate the heat from it. Cheers

best way to start coal - clean out bottom ash - lay 5 pounds coal bed - lots of dry kindling wood on top - open bottom vents and go - 1/2 hour later with good draft your firebox gets to 400 F ad more coal - 5 pounds at a time - dont smother your fire

your burn is a function of draft - your draft is a function of chimney height

remove ash from bottom tray

I installed mine using heat shields on the walls "corner installation" behind it and on the floor. First I contacted my building department to find out what they required - the building code for any wood or pellet burning stove. It can be different from state to state or local building departments. I live in Michigan & my township requires a heat shield behind a stove and on a floor. If I didn't install the rear heat shields I would have had to keep it at least 36"- 42 inches from the walls - the code can be different for a stove installed in a corner such as in my case. The floor required a heat shield or non-conbustible base that extends so many inches out front of the stove. I purchased my heat shields locally because of our building code required a certain type. I strongly suggest seeking professional advise. Cheers

I installed basically the same stove so I contacted my local building department to find out what they required. I was required for a chimney to have triple walled chimney pipe where it passed through any part of a combustible area such as the ceiling and or roof. In other words I had to run triple walled pipe through the ceiling all the way up until it exited my roof and it had to be a certain height above my roof line. Now below my ceiling I was able to use double walled chimney pipe if I chose to but I ran triple walled interlocking chimney pipe from my Magic Heater on up through the roof and below it I used double walled pipe. Where I live because of so many fire issues our local government agency or building department has a very strict code but at least I know its done properly. I also found out my insurance company could have denied a claim if there ever was an issue if they found out it had not been installed properly. Thus I know its done to code and its safe. Cheers

This is in my opinion you should check with your local building department to be safe.If your concerned in regards to safety I would pull the required permits and than have it inspected. In doing this your insurance company should not have any issue some companies are becoming very strict in regards to free standing stoves. I have installed one similar but I used a fire proof backer board made out of cement and I used bricks just to be safe and don't forget about the floor depending what you will have. I have mine about 15 inches from the wall and you also need so many inches in front of the stove opening for safety in case a spark fell out while either loading or cleaning the stove. You also have to make sure the chimney if installed properly again your building department will make sure its properly installed also. I am a safety minded person also so I was more than willing to pay for the permits to make sure mine was installed properly. Yes it cost me some money for the permits and the inspection but I know mine is done right. Some people are not willing to pay for the permits but if one wants to be safe such as you or I than please do it. Plus in my area sense its a free standing stove I was not accessed like one would be for a fireplace. Cheers

Only properly seasoned wood or coal can be used in this stove.