Vintage Laundry Tank Heater

I started learning about coal stoves a few months ago. Then, I bought a vintage laundry tank heater. I wasn't aware that it was a tank heater, until I got to the seller's house, 100 miles from home. For those who aren't aware of tank heaters, this little laundry stove has internal pipes that take in cold water, and exits hot water.

The plan was to use it in my hard side popup camper. However, I want a smaller, heavy duty camp stove for the camper. I'd like to put the laundry stove in my living room, as a trial run. I did some test burns in it with wood and coal, while it was sitting on my cement porch. Amazingly, there's very little heat under the stove, as the ash pan enclosure acts as a dead air space.

I did get temps up to 480 degrees off the top of the stove.

Oh, I forgot to mention that the coal burned for 9 hours. I was thrilled with that. I had about 4"-5" of coal in the fire pot.

So this does no harm to the laundry stove with out the water connected and circulating?

The bucket a days can be ruined with out water circulated while holding a fire.

McGiever wrote: ↑

Sun. Dec. 23, 2018 12:37 am

So this does no harm to the laundry stove with out the water connected and circulating?

The bucket a days can be ruined with out water circulated while holding a fire.

I was just getting on here to post that question. Thanks for bringing it up. Hopefully, others will chime in with their thoughts about it.

Also, should I cap off the pipes, or leave them open. There was a small bit of smoke (from bug debris, no doubt) when I first fired it up. So, I bought screw on metal caps to keep out insects.

Someone passing by the house saw it sitting on the porch and offered to buy it. I think I should sell it and get something more appropriate for the living room. Looks like my search continues.

Wouldn't recommend capping or sealing water coil pipes, as pressure will build if sealed.
Stuff in some loose steel wool could keep bugs out and not cause pressure to build up.

Sell it if you plan to burn anthracite or want something with long slow burn times.

McGiever wrote: ↑

Sun. Dec. 23, 2018 10:27 am

Wouldn't recommend capping or sealing water coil pipes, as pressure will build if sealed.
Stuff in some loose steel wool could keep bugs out and not cause pressure to build up.

Sell it if you plan to burn anthracite or want something with long slow burn times.

Thanks! Steel wool is an excellent idea for the burn season. Btw, I already did a 9 hour anthracite burn in it with the caps on.... so glad it didn't explode! Yikes!

Well, air will compress and that is good there, water doesn't compress and that can do some serious damage if explodes and water suddenly flashes to steam...wow!

McGiever wrote: ↑

Sun. Dec. 23, 2018 11:43 pm

Well, air will compress and that is good there, water doesn't compress and that can do some serious damage if explodes and water suddenly flashes to steam...wow!

Thanks so much! So, the caps on empty pipes is ok. Or, should I go ahead and remove them and stuff a bit of steel wool for safety's sake?

No need to have the caps on for a stove indoors. I'd remove at least one cap - then you don't have to wonder if there is any pressure that may cause a problem if the pipes are corroded, thin-walled, and weak inside the stove.

Because of the amount of expansion involved, compressed air can be very dangerous if suddenly released as a pipe wall blows out. That's why some storage tanks are pressure tested with water and not air.

Paul

Sunny Boy wrote: ↑

Wed. Dec. 26, 2018 10:47 am

No need to have the caps on for a stove indoors. I'd remove at least one cap....

Paul

Thanks, again! Will do that.