Coal Quality and Fly Ash
I have a Hitzer 608 Stoker. I changed coal suppiers this year. After burning since end of Octoer/beginning of November I noticed about days ago I got that sulfur rotten egg smell almost constantly. So I took stove pipe off and there was enough fly ash at flue collar on top of stove that it was almost completely closed off. I have never had this happen in the 3 years of owning my stove. Can coal quality lead to an increase of fly ash?
- 2001Sierra
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- Location: Wynantskill NY, 10 miles from Albany
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker 90 Chimney vent
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Other Heating: Buderus Oil Boiler 3115-34
For sure! White ash coal has way more fly ash than red ash coal. I ran a hand fed for 28 years and stopped sweeping the chimney because nothing really came out that did not already fall to the base. In came the Keystoker 90 stoker and after 2 years I was embarassed at how much ash swept out of the chimnney, almost a scary amount. I burn mostly white ash coal. I now sweep the chimney every year Who would of thunk the stoker would of been such a drastic change.
- Rob R.
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- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
The amount of flyash produced can vary from one coal source to another, or even from one load to the next depending on variability of the raw product.
Stokers tend to produce more fly ash because of the air velocity through the coal.
Stokers tend to produce more fly ash because of the air velocity through the coal.
- fastcat
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- Location: CNY (McGraw)
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: Blaschak Nut/Stove Mix
How has the wind been in your area this year? Here it has not blown as much or as hard this year as in past years and I have had to clean my T on the back of the stove which I have never had more than 1/4" in the bottom.
- Rob R.
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- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
Tonight I decided to pull the flue pipe off my EFM and check it for flyash...it was 50% full! Different coal this year, lot more flyash. Guess I should set a better example and check the pipes more often.
- lsayre
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- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
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- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
Does the lead-up to taking a clean-out cap off for flue pipe cleaning require a full shutdown, or merely a decent draft?Rob R. wrote:Tonight I decided to pull the flue pipe off my EFM and check it for flyash...it was 50% full! Different coal this year, lot more flyash. Guess I should set a better example and check the pipes more often.
- coalkirk
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- Location: Forest Hill MD
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1981 EFM DF520 retired
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Jotul 507 on standby
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite/rice coal
If you use T's with caps instead of elbows, it's a snap. I've got one at the top into the chimney and one at the bottom into the boiler. Takes less than a minute with no shut down. You do suck a little flue gas out but no big deal.
I've cleaned mine out twice so far this season.- freetown fred
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Nice ck. If I wasn't straight up through the house I'd definitly use that set up--cudoes dude
- fastcat
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- Location: CNY (McGraw)
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: Blaschak Nut/Stove Mix
Fred your stove doesn't exit out the back? Use a T there instead of an elbo.freetown fred wrote:Nice ck. If I wasn't straight up through the house I'd definitly use that set up--cudoes dude
- Frackstoker
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- Location: Lebanon County
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker 90
- Coal Size/Type: Rice - Blaschak
- Other Heating: New Yorker Oil Boiler
Sounds like a good plan! Thanks everyone. Where should the baro-damper be located for the T set-up?coalkirk wrote:If you use T's with caps instead of elbows, it's a snap. I've got one at the top into the chimney and one at the bottom into the boiler. Takes less than a minute with no shut down. You do suck a little flue gas out but no big deal.I've cleaned mine out twice so far this season.
- coalkirk
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- Location: Forest Hill MD
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1981 EFM DF520 retired
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Jotul 507 on standby
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite/rice coal
Well I can't take credit for the idea. Honestly don't remember who I copied it from but it works great. Pop off that end cap, shove the shop vac wand in and done in a few seconds with no shut down. I've got the same arrangement at the bottom where the vent exits the boiler just above it is another T with the Baro.Bear038 wrote:Coalkirk, just saw your idea for the Tee as a clean out. On my way to the supply house, it will be done by this evening
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I just ordered a Tee fitting also, tired of dealing with the double wall elbow. The double wall Tee was about $75 with shipping but it will be worth it if it causes less frustration, Those damned elbows always spin out of whack and with the double walls is just frustrating as all heck.