Coalpail.com Forum

Hi to every one.when I decide on what coal boiler I am going to buy. I plan on putting it out in a 8x10 cement out building I have, about 20 feet from my house.My Question is. what precautions can I make to prevent freezing of water lines if I have an outage if i'm away from home when it happens.

I put automotive antifreeze in my boiler and lines and water/water brazed-plate heat exchanger... My house baseboard system is still just pure water.

Greg L

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Greg, if I understand your answer correctly you have two heating systems .one you use the automotive anti-freeze in.and the one for your house you have plain water.

LsFarm wrote:I put automotive antifreeze in my boiler and lines and water/water brazed-plate heat exchanger... My house baseboard system is still just pure water.

Greg L

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Yes that is correct, the systems are separate, the coal-heated water goes underground into the house, where it passes through the water-to-water heat exchanger, giving up it's heat to the other water and house heating system, then it returns to the outdoor coal stove to be reheated.. The circulator pump for this hot water loop runs continously.. this costs about $10 per month.

The house heating system has the common return manifold go through the water-to-water heat exchanger on the way back to the propane boiler, the aquastat for the propane is set 20* lower than the coal boiler water temp, so the propane boiler only fires if the coal boiler goes out. The thermostats, circulators and entire baseboard house heat system works as before the coal boiler was added..

Hope the above makes sense..
Greg L

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Yes,I understand now. Thanks for the Reply.

LsFarm wrote:Yes that is correct, the systems are separate, the coal-heated water goes underground into the house, where it passes through the water-to-water heat exchanger, giving up it's heat to the other water and house heating system, then it returns to the outdoor coal stove to be reheated.. The circulator pump for this hot water loop runs continously.. this costs about $10 per month.

The house heating system has the common return manifold go through the water-to-water heat exchanger on the way back to the propane boiler, the aquastat for the propane is set 20* lower than the coal boiler water temp, so the propane boiler only fires if the coal boiler goes out. The thermostats, circulators and entire baseboard house heat system works as before the coal boiler was added..

Hope the above makes sense..
Greg L

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What's the difference between automotive antifreeze and boiler anti freeze? When I was doing plumbing we were not allowed to even think of using auto antifreeze in a heating system. Boiler antifreeze was about the same price, maybe just a bit higher, so no big deal.

my plummer told me it corrodes the copper piping and is harder on the other componates over time?

I hadn't heard that there was a difference.. I had access to automotive antifreeze, so I used it. I haven't had any issues... I would think that the copper would be safe,, automotive antifreeze is used in all automotive applications.. copper radiators, aluminum radiators, cast iron blocks and heads. I've never read anything about corrosion inside a sealed system..

Greg L

Automotive product is not as strong and (usually) is not as cost effective. Some of the drama associated with circulating a Glycol rich mix is loss of thermal indecency and dealing with a less than environmental friendly liquid if the wet system leaks or service needs to be done.

I only use enough antifreeze to protect to about +15*,,, the increase in viscosity of the circulating water is negligable... a thick glycol mix is an issue, the people with ice-melter systems for their driveways have issues with circulation of the thick fluids..

Greg L

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coalboy wrote:Hi to every one.when I decide on what coal boiler I am going to buy. I plan on putting it out in a 8x10 cement out building I have, about 20 feet from my house.My Question is. what precautions can I make to prevent freezing of water lines if I have an outage if i'm away from home when it happens.

My only question to you coalboy is what took you so long to go with coal being you live in one of the best Area for Anthracite Try Calivn V Lenig coal or UAE Harmony mine both have good Quality coal both are 130.00 a ton Picked up
Oh and What boiler are you looking at

The reason is, I just bought this house 1-1/2 years ago.so now that i'm settled in. it's time to switch to coal.My last house I had. I used a LOSH coal boiler.And it treated me very well.As far as what boiler.If I go new I'm looking at a Keystoker KA-6 or a Harman vf 3000. the kestoker dealer is only a mile up the road from me.So i'm really leaning towards the KA-6.But I recieved call today About an EFM that is for sale so I will look into that for sure First.Yes, calvin Lenig Breaker is about 6 miles from my home.There also is two other breakers around that same distance.The UAE Harmany Mine is about 12 miles.

coal berner wrote:

coalboy wrote:Hi to every one.when I decide on what coal boiler I am going to buy. I plan on putting it out in a 8x10 cement out building I have, about 20 feet from my house.My Question is. what precautions can I make to prevent freezing of water lines if I have an outage if i'm away from home when it happens.

My only question to you coalboy is what took you so long to go with coal being you live in one of the best Area for Anthracite Try Calivn V Lenig coal or UAE Harmony mine both have good Quality coal both are 130.00 a ton Picked up
Oh and What boiler are you looking at

coalboy wrote:The reason is, I just bought this house 1-1/2 years ago.so now that i'm settled in. it's time to switch to coal.My last house I had. I used a LOSH coal boiler.And it treated me very well.As far as what boiler.If I go new I'm looking at a Keystoker KA-6 or a Harman vf 3000. the kestoker dealer is only a mile up the road from me.So i'm really leaning towards the KA-6.But I recieved call today About an EFM that is for sale so I will look into that for sure First.Yes, calvin Lenig Breaker is about 6 miles from my home.There also is two other breakers around that same distance.The UAE Harmany Mine is about 12 miles.

coal berner wrote: My only question to you coalboy is what took you so long to go with coal being you live in one of the best Area for Anthracite Try Calivn V Lenig coal or UAE Harmony mine both have good Quality coal both are 130.00 a ton Picked up
Oh and What boiler are you looking at

The other two breaker's that I know of are Calvin lenig brothers they are surface mine coal The consistent & Qaulity is not the same Not like Deep mine coal like UAE or Calvins is Very good and consistent if you are interested in EFM's PM me I can help you get Refurbs or new ones do you Remember the model # on your losch

I'll try to make a phone call tomorrow about anti-freeze to verify. I think the boiler is non toxic, the auto is poisonous to humans. They just don't want the off chance of a leak getting into domestic water. Anti freeze pumps just fine, but does move heat slower. You don't lose efficiency, but it'll take baseboard a bit longer to heat a room. If we built a house that we knew was going to be anti-freezed, we'd add 20% to the length of the baseboard.

I'd make every effort to avoid anti-freeze in a residential heating system. It's a maintenance head ache. Biggest problem is it deteriorates with age and causes seals to fail. In many systems, especially with domestic hot water coils, it's a potential health hazard. More than you want to know is here:
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