Converting to coal

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Vonda
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Post by Vonda » Sun. Jan. 02, 2022 10:43 pm

I am wondering if more people are starting to see the benefits of burning coal? Anyone has any statistics?

 
grumpy
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Post by grumpy » Sun. Jan. 02, 2022 10:48 pm

Vonda wrote:
Sun. Jan. 02, 2022 10:43 pm
I am wondering if more people are starting to see the benefits of burning coal? Anyone has any statistics?
You have come to the right place... stand by...

 
grumpy
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Post by grumpy » Sun. Jan. 02, 2022 10:56 pm

Long time between post.


 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Mon. Jan. 03, 2022 7:32 am

YEP---10 minutes!!! LOL

 
dcveem3
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Other Heating: Propane/Heat Pump

Post by dcveem3 » Sun. Jan. 16, 2022 8:10 am

Well, for me, we heat 4100 sq/ft(NOT including basement). Dual fuel, HP/Propane. I have a Harman Magnum in the basement and use the returns located in the basement to distribute the warm air to the 1st floor. I keep it at 175-200deg stack temp which puts the stove around 550deg. Burn 4.5 tons a year of rice. So, before coal, we used 1200 gallons a year of propane to heat at 68-69deg. Propane is also used for heating water and cooking. Since burning coal, we use 300 gallons of propane a year...remember, we cook and heat water too. I paid $1100 delivered this year for 5 ton of coal.

So in summary and to the extent that I'm interested in, with coal we NOW heat 5400 sq/ft and keep the basement(walk out but only one end is exposed)at 78deg and the first floor at 72deg and the 2nd floor at 60(no one lives on the 2nd floor...we are empty-nesters!). So here's the numbers;
To heat 5400 sq/ft=1800 gallons of propane/yr at average temp of 71deg @$2/gal=$3600/yr.
To heat 5400 sq/ft using coal/propane=300 gallons/yr + 4.5 tons of coal at an average temp of 71deg= $1100+$600(propane)=$1700/yr.
Difference is roughly $1800/yr and I say roughly due to the volatility of Propane market. I typically fill in the late summer and pay between .80-1.70gal over the last 9 years. Obviously, THIS summer will be very different!!!

Now if you consider the work involved, inconveniences, stove/upkeep costs etc etc this might not be a huge difference to the individual. But for me, I enjoy the challenge of drudging through the snow/ice and refilling my coal trailer and pulling it down to the walk-out side of the house and filling countless 5 gallon buckets...lol! The HEAT is worth it!!! It's so much nicer in this house with a coal stoker in the basement. Heats the hardwood floors to the point where you can go barefoot throughout the first floor in a pair of sweats and a tee shirt...even when it's 6deg like it is this morning!!! So there's that. Hope it helps.

Don

 
LTStorm07
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Post by LTStorm07 » Sun. Jan. 16, 2022 9:48 am

I'll echo what Don had said as I have a similar setup. Dual setup of a hydro air unit consisting of heat pump and propane boiler. House built in 2002 with R21 walls, 3200 sq/ft without counting full basement and attached insulated garage which are both heated (basement is radiant heat from boiler). Based on a lot of math from last year heating costs since I didn't have coal at that time and I didn't heat the basement or garage, I used right around 128 million BTUs @68 degrees. Keep in mind last winter was a MILD winter as well. This winter not so much...

If this would have been propane alone, the math looks like this
128 million BTU = 1557 gallons of propane @ 90% efficiency
Wholesale price I pay: 1557 x $1.40 - $1.75 = $2,179.8 to $2724 (I own my own tanks)
Retail price you could pay: 1557 x $3 (current price here) = $4,671
Equivalent coal heat cost: $1300 (6.5ton x $200 delivered)

Now because I used a heatpump as well, it drastically cuts back on propane cost to the tune that I actually used roughly 600 gallons last year. I heat my domestic hot water via indirect hot water too.

This year is a different story, I put in a coal boiler to offset the propone costs. I also added insulation to the attic to bring it up to r70, and had the basement rim joist and top blocks spray foamed to R15. As it stand now, the house is set to 72 (2 story each on their own zone), 1600 sq/ft basement is around 71ish, and the 1100 sq/ft garage is heated to 50. My heatpump runs A LOT less now due to the basement being warmed, and if I had to guess I'll burn roughly 3 tons of coal.

Unlike Don, I'm not carrying buckets as I have a bin in my basement with a coal vacuum that transfers the coal to the 55 gal barrel of my EFM boiler. The only thing I have to lift is the ash pan once or twice a week. Each day I pull my fines handle (EFM thing), and once a week I turn the coal vac switch on. Even this cold spell, I'm using the equivalent of a 5 gallon bucket of coal a day.

On the other hand, my close friend who has a 1900 sq/ft home, built 2008 with radiant heat is paying retail price for propane and is set to spend $3500-$4000 this winter on propane.
Last edited by LTStorm07 on Sun. Jan. 16, 2022 9:51 am, edited 1 time in total.


 
sitdwnandhngon
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Post by sitdwnandhngon » Sun. Jan. 16, 2022 9:50 am

We had a multifuel furnace when we moved in over a decade ago. Once I figured out how to use coal in it I stopped cutting firewood, so much more consistent.

When that stove wore out (it was very old) I replaced it with a stoker, and just this week again with a bigger stoker.

Just a few minutes each day to tend it, and very consistent heat at a decent price. Hard to beat it when you can do the whole heating season with very comfortable house temps under 2 grand.

 
Jerrybro
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Post by Jerrybro » Sun. Jan. 16, 2022 10:38 am

Heating our house takes 600 to 800 gallons of oil per year. In the past I’ve seen coal usage reduce that but this is the first year we’re able to run the stove 24/7. I’ve just finished the first pallet of Blaschak after 8 weeks of running and have used 96 gallons of oil. Coal here costs $100 more a ton than it does in PA, but it is still cheaper than burning oil alone.

 
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WNY
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Post by WNY » Sun. Jan. 16, 2022 11:12 am

Coal has been heating homes for a long time.
I have Been heating for over 16+ years with Coal. our natural gas bill to heat our old 1890 Victorian is close to $250-400/.month depending on temperatures (plus only old inefficient floor furnace). I can run both Coal stoves (basement and back of house) with better temp control (much warmer) using about a ton a month at avg. $250/ton. my coal bin holds about 4-5 ton, sometimes lasts the entire season, but usually fill it up late winter (feb/march and have a good start for next season).

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