Did You Make the Right Decision?
- LsFarm
- Member
- Posts: 7383
- Joined: Sun. Nov. 20, 2005 8:02 pm
- Location: Michigan
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Self-built 'Big Bertha' SS Boiler
- Baseburners & Antiques: Keystone 11, Art Garland
The last time I heated my farm with propane, the cost of propane was around $1.10/gallon, today it's $2.20. and it's been as high as $2.90.
The last heating season using propane, the prebuy in October was $5500, [5000 gallons] and I had to buy another 1000 gallons to get through
the middle of May.
so that season cost $6600, today the same amount of propane would be $13200.00..
Each of the last three years, I've burnt roughly $2400 worth of coal each year.. this last season was probably around $1800...
So I couldn't be happier.. I do have to empty the ashpan every day or two in the winter, and fill the coal hopper each week or two,
but that labor is paying me around $500/hour for toting the ashpan and coal buckets.. I'm getting paid like a Lawyer to haul buckets !!
So yes definitely I made the right decision,
and I've got several years worth of coal stored,, to hedge the transportation costs [diesel fuel price increases] and coal price increases.
Greg L
The last heating season using propane, the prebuy in October was $5500, [5000 gallons] and I had to buy another 1000 gallons to get through
the middle of May.
so that season cost $6600, today the same amount of propane would be $13200.00..
Each of the last three years, I've burnt roughly $2400 worth of coal each year.. this last season was probably around $1800...
So I couldn't be happier.. I do have to empty the ashpan every day or two in the winter, and fill the coal hopper each week or two,
but that labor is paying me around $500/hour for toting the ashpan and coal buckets.. I'm getting paid like a Lawyer to haul buckets !!
So yes definitely I made the right decision,
and I've got several years worth of coal stored,, to hedge the transportation costs [diesel fuel price increases] and coal price increases.
Greg L
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- Member
- Posts: 179
- Joined: Wed. Jan. 25, 2006 4:05 pm
- Location: NE PA
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Alaska Kodiak Stokerstove 1
One of the best decisions I ever made. Less than $700 spent on coal including delivery. Heats my domestic HW and a baseboard unit also. Average $100/mo. elec. bills in an all elec. house. I shudder to think what the cost would be w/o the coal. Back when I started w/ coal, comparable all elec. houses to mine were averaging $300/mo. during the heating season. Thankfully I never had one heating season in this house (built new in 1988) w/o wood or coal heat. The elec heat is turned off everywhere but the bathrooms where the wife likes it warmer.
I'll gladly put up with a little extra maint. for that kind of savings.
Stove is still running as its producing all my HW and takes the chill off on cool mornings....really hate when I have to shut the stove down and turn that damn elec. WH back on.
I'll gladly put up with a little extra maint. for that kind of savings.
Stove is still running as its producing all my HW and takes the chill off on cool mornings....really hate when I have to shut the stove down and turn that damn elec. WH back on.
- freetown fred
- Member
- Posts: 30293
- Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
- Location: Freetown,NY 13803
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut
Never heated with anything but wood or coal & I gotta say, my back is real grateful for the change to coal.
-
- Member
- Posts: 127
- Joined: Fri. Mar. 04, 2011 6:29 pm
- Location: Quakertown PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
We had a very mild winter in my parts. I burn a tank of oil in Dec, and another tank in Jan. The EFM went online in the beginning of Feb, and I burned a little over a ton that month. The next ton has gotten me through March, and will probably last through April. I paid 325/ton delivered, which is quite high, vs $600+ for a tank of oil. Won't take too many winters to pay off the heating system install at that rate, especially when I find a more reasonable price for coal
- stovepipemike
- Member
- Posts: 1225
- Joined: Sun. Jun. 15, 2008 11:53 am
- Location: Morgantown ,Penna
I can now keep the entire house at a comfortable temperature.The boiler has paid for itself in 3 1/2 years. Tending to the needs of the boiler has taken on the aspects of a hobby. I fetch my own coal,so that means I get to beautiful upstate Penna.for several one day excursions each heating season.Last but not least ,is the fact that I get to deny my greenbacks a visa to go to some location where they seem to hate Americans. Mike
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- Member
- Posts: 8601
- Joined: Sat. May. 24, 2008 4:26 pm
- Location: Chester, NY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: LL AnthraKing 180K, Pocono110K,KStokr 90K, DVC
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Invader 2
- Baseburners & Antiques: Wings Best, Glenwood #8(x2) Herald 116x
- Coal Size/Type: Rice,
- Other Heating: Heating Oil CH, Toyotomi OM 22
Love that coal! Three buildings on the farm and over 4000galls of HO per year pre coal. This year about 50 galls - hey, I gotta check that old oil thingmebobber (whatever it was called) still works in case of an emergency. Things that would qualify as a genuine emergency are .... hmm... say, the end of the world. NEVER goin' back.
I bought about 41/2 ton this year based on last year and have about 1 ton+ left. At an average of 245 a ton to keep the house in the 70s vs. mid 60s on oil at 700 gallons a year I made the right decision. Now if I can only talk the wife into a boiler with heat exchanger. I have save enough in heating costs to cover the project but I spent it elsewhere
- 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
Given that my only alternatives are wood, oil , propane, or electricity, I'm very happy to be burning coal. In my younger days I heated a house with wood, but I'm too old for that now.
Now if I had the choice of natural gas where I live I would have to consider it, and if it ever comes our way I would probably tie in a NG boiler as a back-up unit (mainly so I can replace my electric range/oven with a NG unit).
Now if I had the choice of natural gas where I live I would have to consider it, and if it ever comes our way I would probably tie in a NG boiler as a back-up unit (mainly so I can replace my electric range/oven with a NG unit).
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- Member
- Posts: 8601
- Joined: Sat. May. 24, 2008 4:26 pm
- Location: Chester, NY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: LL AnthraKing 180K, Pocono110K,KStokr 90K, DVC
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Invader 2
- Baseburners & Antiques: Wings Best, Glenwood #8(x2) Herald 116x
- Coal Size/Type: Rice,
- Other Heating: Heating Oil CH, Toyotomi OM 22
BTW, according to the town regs I must have a primary source of heat other than my AnthraKing etc. (all electric powered) and I need to comply as I am very keen on following the regs. So I bought a beat up old Hitzer 50-93 in case of a power emergency that I will install this summer. I mean we old folk need to be prepared. We do need new regulators.
- oliver power
- Member
- Posts: 2970
- Joined: Sun. Apr. 16, 2006 9:28 am
- Location: Near Dansville, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: KEYSTOKER Kaa-2
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93 & 30-95, Vigilant (pre-2310), D.S. 1600 Circulator, Hitzer 254
I'm very happy with the coal. Now that I have a coal fired boiler/central hot water heat, my house is the exact same temperature from one end, to the other. Thermostat set at 72 or 73 degrees. Tend it every 24 hours.
- coalkirk
- Member
- Posts: 5185
- Joined: Wed. May. 17, 2006 8:12 pm
- 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
It's a no brainer. Saves me about $2,500.-$3,000. per heating season over oil. Wrapping up the 9th season the savings just keep piling up. And it is most satisfying to know when I walk in the home from outside and its nice and toasty that it is all due to a very tiny coal fire in my basement. I don't want to jinx myself but that 9 seasons of heat has been trouble free as far as the equipment is concerned. I'm still using the original grates, blowers and feed motor. Even my vent pipes are original.
- I'm On Fire
- Member
- Posts: 3918
- Joined: Thu. Jun. 10, 2010 9:34 am
- Location: Vernon, New Jersey
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machines DS-1600 Hot Air Circulator
Well, I've got a hand fed but yes, I'm happier and made a great choice. The last time I filled my oil tank was I think the 2010-2011 heating season and it was close to $2k for the season. Last season was my first season burning coal and I spent around $1000 (5 ton) in coal. This season I spent around $900 on 3 ton of nut. I have 20 bags of coal left and have been buying a few bags of pea a week since the end of March until the season ends. I'm a pretty dumb guy, but switching to coal was one of my more intelligent decisions.
- Dennis
- Member
- Posts: 1082
- Joined: Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 5:44 pm
- Location: Pottstown,Pa
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: AHS/WOC55-multi-fuel/wood,oil,coal
- Coal Size/Type: Anthracite/stove size
Saving 50% to 60% over fuel oil.
My second season and my boiler will be half payed for.
Very little effort and mess to save $2500.00 a season.
Not only the right decision, but the BEST DECISION
My second season and my boiler will be half payed for.
Very little effort and mess to save $2500.00 a season.
Not only the right decision, but the BEST DECISION