Not Sure If I Should Burn Coal or Not.
Posted: Sun. Feb. 11, 2007 12:14 am
I am new to this forum and just installed a used coal/wood boiler and plumbed it in to my natural gas boiler to try and ease my gas use. I have only used wood in it so far with limited sucess. I think it was made more for coal than wood. It is made by a company called Stelrad. I think they are British. it has a small firebox, at least for wood.(14" long 13" wide and 24" high). It has shaker grates and and ash pan.It also has a draft door on the bottom door that opens and closes automaticaly with a chain attached to a lever. I don't seem to be able to get enough heat out of it with wood and I would like to try coal but I need some information first since I know vwery little about burning coal.. I have a metalbestos 6 inch stainless double wall with insulation chimney. It is only used by the wood/coal boiler and is 30 feet high and in a wooden chase. The chase also houses my gas boiler chimney and my fireplace chimney so it is fairly big. If I burn a hard clean coal will it hurt my metalbestos chimney and if so how many years can I expect to get out of it before I would have to replace it? Is there any noticable smell or smoke to burning coal(as with wood) that neighbors might complain about? Any information would be greatly appreciated.