how to remove a lot of crushed coal from basement?
Hello,
I am looking for some coal-expert advice.
I just pulled out a wood floor in my 118 year old basement and found that it had been laid over 4" of crushed coal, which had presumably collected there over decades of coal storage in that room. I started to shovel it into a bucket to carry out and realized it was making a lot of dust, then thought about the pilot lights on my modern water heaters a few feet away, so I stopped.
I would like advice on how to safely remove these two or so cubic yards of broken and pulverized coal without causing an explosion.
If I spray it with water to keep down the dust, will it become immovable mud?
If I get a big shop-vac will the electric motor cause it to explode?
Are you allowed to use a vacuum truck for coal dust? Could I wet it first?
Can I dispose of it in the regular trash dump?
This feels like one of those situations where I could come up with an answer on my own that seems logical and then it could go wrong...
Thank you for your expertise!
I am looking for some coal-expert advice.
I just pulled out a wood floor in my 118 year old basement and found that it had been laid over 4" of crushed coal, which had presumably collected there over decades of coal storage in that room. I started to shovel it into a bucket to carry out and realized it was making a lot of dust, then thought about the pilot lights on my modern water heaters a few feet away, so I stopped.
I would like advice on how to safely remove these two or so cubic yards of broken and pulverized coal without causing an explosion.
If I spray it with water to keep down the dust, will it become immovable mud?
If I get a big shop-vac will the electric motor cause it to explode?
Are you allowed to use a vacuum truck for coal dust? Could I wet it first?
Can I dispose of it in the regular trash dump?
This feels like one of those situations where I could come up with an answer on my own that seems logical and then it could go wrong...
Thank you for your expertise!
-
- Member
- Posts: 6515
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 10, 2008 3:48 pm
- Location: Cape Cod, MA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: want AA130
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine BS#4, Harman MKII, Hitzer 503,...
- Coal Size/Type: Pea/Nut/Stove
Dust Deputy...
Used coffee grounds to keep the dust down...
Used coffee grounds to keep the dust down...
- McGiever
- Member
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
Shopvac with a swimming pool long vacuum hose and a long extension cord...to get some distance...then use a drywall dust sweeper bag inside shopvac...replace sweeper bags as they fill up.
Coal came from the ground...no problem returning back...fine coal dust is what is used in better quality water filtration filters.
Coal came from the ground...no problem returning back...fine coal dust is what is used in better quality water filtration filters.
Cape Coaler,
How would I use coffee grounds to keep the dust down?
McGeiver,
I was wondering about that: keeping the vacuum outside the window. At least then the explosion will not be inside with me... Will keeping the dust inside of bags prevent explosion, by separating the motor spark from the dust?
Thank you both.
I'm still wondering about a vacuum truck. I have 2-3 cubic yards for coal to remove, about 500 gallons. That is a lot of shop-vacs-full.
How would I use coffee grounds to keep the dust down?
McGeiver,
I was wondering about that: keeping the vacuum outside the window. At least then the explosion will not be inside with me... Will keeping the dust inside of bags prevent explosion, by separating the motor spark from the dust?
Thank you both.
I'm still wondering about a vacuum truck. I have 2-3 cubic yards for coal to remove, about 500 gallons. That is a lot of shop-vacs-full.
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14658
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
I don't think anyone has ever reported an explosion from coal dust. I'd think it's safe to remove it anyway you see fit. I'd recommend wearing a dust mask if you stir up a lot of dust in a confined area.
- warminmn
- Member
- Posts: 8108
- Joined: Tue. Feb. 08, 2011 5:59 pm
- Location: Land of 11,842 lakes
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Junior, Efel Nestor Martin, Riteway 37
- Coal Size/Type: nut and stove anthracite, lignite
- Other Heating: Wood and wear a wool shirt
Turn the power off to the appliances with the breaker that goes to them and any other electric lines that go to the basement. Turn off gas supplies. That will eliminate the ignition point. Still you have to be careful about creating a spark. I think I'd very lightly water or oil it down with a sprayer just to keep the dust down too.
Lightning, That seems not to be the case:
https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Coal_dust
"Coal dust suspended in air is explosive -- coal dust has far more surface area per unit weight than chunks of coal, and is more susceptible to spontaneous combustion. As a result, a nearly empty coal store is a greater explosion risk than a full one."
https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Coal_dust
"Coal dust suspended in air is explosive -- coal dust has far more surface area per unit weight than chunks of coal, and is more susceptible to spontaneous combustion. As a result, a nearly empty coal store is a greater explosion risk than a full one."
-
- Member
- Posts: 232
- Joined: Mon. Jan. 24, 2011 8:06 pm
- Location: Waynesboro,Pa
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 30-95
- Coal Size/Type: nut
- Other Heating: New natural gas hot air furnace inst, 2020
Some video of coal dust explosions https://www.bing.com/search?q=coal+dust+explosion ... =EUPP_UE11 I spent many years working underground and control of coal dust was always a priorty
Last edited by biggerpatterson on Mon. Dec. 10, 2018 3:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
- Member
- Posts: 6515
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 10, 2008 3:48 pm
- Location: Cape Cod, MA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: want AA130
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine BS#4, Harman MKII, Hitzer 503,...
- Coal Size/Type: Pea/Nut/Stove
sprinkle damp coffee grounds on top of dusty item...
Holds down dust...
Vacuum truck fast and easy on the back...
But not on the wallet...
Shovel, 5 gallon buckets and a teenager...
Better on the wallet...
You want a good respirator...
not a cheap paper filter...
No matter who is doing the cleanout...
Holds down dust...
Vacuum truck fast and easy on the back...
But not on the wallet...
Shovel, 5 gallon buckets and a teenager...
Better on the wallet...
You want a good respirator...
not a cheap paper filter...
No matter who is doing the cleanout...
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14658
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
Do you coal delivery guys worry about a basement explosion when pouring in tons of coal?
Is there warnings on bagged coal about coal dust explosions? I've never looked, maybe there is.
Is there warnings on bagged coal about coal dust explosions? I've never looked, maybe there is.
-
- Member
- Posts: 6515
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 10, 2008 3:48 pm
- Location: Cape Cod, MA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: want AA130
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine BS#4, Harman MKII, Hitzer 503,...
- Coal Size/Type: Pea/Nut/Stove
It need a proper air fuel ratio to be explosive...
Grain silos, empty 5 gallon gas container...
Given the right circumstances every thing burns/explodes...
Couple of tons in a basement is dilute enough not to cause problems...
In a vacuum hose it might be a problem...
Wood shops have a ground strap in the dust collectors hoses...
Grain silos, empty 5 gallon gas container...
Given the right circumstances every thing burns/explodes...
Couple of tons in a basement is dilute enough not to cause problems...
In a vacuum hose it might be a problem...
Wood shops have a ground strap in the dust collectors hoses...
- lsayre
- Member
- Posts: 21781
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 23, 2005 9:17 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
biggerpatterson wrote: ↑Mon. Dec. 10, 2018 2:57 pmSome video of coal dust explosions https://www.bing.com/search?q=coal+dust+explosion ... =EUPP_UE11 I spent many years working underground and control of coal dust was always a priorty
Thanks for posting this!
-
- Member
- Posts: 4197
- Joined: Wed. Oct. 03, 2012 9:53 am
- Location: Western Massachusetts
- Baseburners & Antiques: Crawford 40, PP Stewart No. 14, Abendroth Bros "Record 40"
- Coal Size/Type: Stove / Anthracite.
- Other Heating: Oil fired, forced hot air.
I get static shocks when I vacuum the ash pan drawer on my stove if the humidity is low enough, so I guess it could happen.