Silica Beads to Control Moisture During Off Season

Post Reply
 
User avatar
2biz
Member
Posts: 135
Joined: Mon. Feb. 13, 2017 7:49 am
Location: Southern Ohio
Other Heating: Leisure Line AK-110, Propane logs, Propane Ceramic 3 Burner Heater

Post by 2biz » Wed. Jun. 02, 2021 10:50 am

I have had the Leisure Line AK110 for 4 seasons now. Awesome Furnace BTW! I have tried several methods to keep the moisture and corrosion from forming inside the furnace in the off season....Gun Safe Heater, Blaster Corrosion Stop, Etc...Methods which I found here on the forum. Nothing has seemed to work too well. When I closed it down this spring, I decided to try something different. Control Moisture with Silica Beads. I did a search on Silica Beads and didn't get any returns, so thought I would share. So far so good. The beads in the smaller bags I got off Amazon and the crystal is supposed to turn dark color when saturated. As you can see, the results are about 6 weeks in, just a few of the beads are turning dark. The larger bags of beads I got from work from an overseas machine shipment. A good "Free" source for the beads if you have access to them....The inside of the furnace is as dry as the day I turned it off and no corrosion yet. BTW, I did block the exhaust with an old rag to help eliminate that source of moisture....

Anyway, thought I would share. It seems to be working very well for me and glad I've found something to help protect my investment.

Image

Image

 
User avatar
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

Post by McGiever » Sat. Jun. 05, 2021 10:17 am

Thanks for sharing! 😄

It’s early June now...be interested to see what ya got by late August.

 
User avatar
mntbugy
Member
Posts: 2041
Joined: Fri. Dec. 23, 2016 2:36 pm
Location: clearfield,pa
Hand Fed Coal Stove: D S 1500, Warm Moring 400
Baseburners & Antiques: Art Garland 145,GW114 ,Clarion 115, Vestal 20 Globe,New Royal22 Globe, Red Cross Oak 56,Acme Ventiduct 38,Radiant Airblast 626,Home Airblast 62,Moores #7,Moores 3way
Coal Size/Type: stove and nut and some bit
Other Heating: Propain

Post by mntbugy » Sat. Jun. 05, 2021 12:28 pm

The orange silica that comes with electronic cabinets and shoes. Also can buy a can of the stuff. Works pretty good. When it turns red in color. Put on baking sheet and stick in oven to dry. Never goes bad.


 
User avatar
2biz
Member
Posts: 135
Joined: Mon. Feb. 13, 2017 7:49 am
Location: Southern Ohio
Other Heating: Leisure Line AK-110, Propane logs, Propane Ceramic 3 Burner Heater

Post by 2biz » Tue. Jun. 08, 2021 11:57 am

Yea, forgot to mention the Amazon ad said the beads can be regenerated by placing in direct sunlight once they've become saturated. I'm sure the baking sheet/oven method works great too.

 
User avatar
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

Post by McGiever » Tue. Jun. 08, 2021 12:07 pm

I would vote for disconnecting the stove pipe completely as opposed to stuffing the rag in it. Then slip a plastic shopping bag over end on chimney side held tight with a couple wraps of tape perhaps.

Nobody gets lucky or gets a free pass when it comes to steel corrosion from moist air and fly ash acids.

These stove last so much longer/better with just a little forethought! 😊

 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17979
Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
Location: Chazy, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr

Post by Rob R. » Thu. Jun. 10, 2021 10:33 am

You can buy much larger bags of dessicant if needed. Uline is a good source for the larger packs.

I used to buy 4oz packs by the pallet for a pharma manufacturing plant I worked in. They work very well and can be "restored" by baking in an oven.


 
grumpy
Member
Posts: 12263
Joined: Sat. Jan. 02, 2010 12:28 am

Post by grumpy » Fri. Jun. 11, 2021 8:13 pm

Can’t you just let air flow through the stove and out the chimney ? That’s what I do, never a problem.

 
User avatar
2biz
Member
Posts: 135
Joined: Mon. Feb. 13, 2017 7:49 am
Location: Southern Ohio
Other Heating: Leisure Line AK-110, Propane logs, Propane Ceramic 3 Burner Heater

Post by 2biz » Mon. Jun. 21, 2021 7:09 pm

grumpy wrote:
Fri. Jun. 11, 2021 8:13 pm
Can’t you just let air flow through the stove and out the chimney ? That’s what I do, never a problem.
I've never tried that before. Have always had trouble with moisture/corrosion even though my garage is insulated and dry. This seems to be working ok...

Post Reply

Return to “Stoker Coal Furnaces & Stoves Using Anthracite (Hot Air)”