It's Alive!

 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17980
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. » Tue. Mar. 02, 2021 5:41 am

Yesterday afternoon the wind started roaring, and it hasn't stopped. 3 degrees outside and I woke up at 4 am because it sounded a freight train was going by. The EFM seems to have all it wants on 4 teeth, but the house is comfortable so I will just let it run. A little solar gain and some cooking will probably be just enough for the stoker to start cycling again.

The new addition is cozy and only getting occasional heat calls. Spray foam is amazing.

Attachments

.MP4 | 27.9MB | PXL_20210301_214730734.mp4
.MP4 | 126.9MB | PXL_20210302_103339853.mp4


 
User avatar
franpipeman
Member
Posts: 689
Joined: Fri. Jan. 11, 2008 4:27 pm
Location: Wernersville pa
Stoker Coal Boiler: efm 520 stoker fitzgibbons pressure vessel
Hand Fed Coal Stove: harman, russo
Coal Size/Type: rice
Other Heating: alpine propane condensing boiler radiant floor

Post by franpipeman » Tue. Mar. 02, 2021 8:10 am

I m glad to see another convert to Spray foam. It is so painful with insulation when you see the price but after you see and feel what spray foam does your glad to spend the money.

 
User avatar
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

Post by coalkirk » Sat. Mar. 13, 2021 7:26 am

Yes its all about stopping air infiltration. fiberglass just doesn't cut it.

 
CapeCoaler
Member
Posts: 6515
Joined: Sun. Feb. 10, 2008 3:48 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA
Stoker Coal Boiler: want AA130
Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine BS#4, Harman MKII, Hitzer 503,...
Coal Size/Type: Pea/Nut/Stove

Post by CapeCoaler » Sat. Mar. 13, 2021 9:59 am

But then you need to add mechanical ventilation...
HRV or ERV but at least it is controlled...

 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17980
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. » Sat. Mar. 13, 2021 10:31 am

CapeCoaler wrote:
Sat. Mar. 13, 2021 9:59 am
But then you need to add mechanical ventilation...
HRV or ERV but at least it is controlled...
Yes, that is what my spray foam contractor said about foaming the entire envelope. In my case we only did a portion of the existing house and he said it was not necessary.

 
Holdencoal
Member
Posts: 673
Joined: Sun. Nov. 17, 2019 2:17 pm

Post by Holdencoal » Sat. Mar. 13, 2021 8:09 pm

Yeap if you sprayed the whole house make up air vents would be needed.

 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17980
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. » Tue. May. 25, 2021 7:10 am

Another heating season is behind us. I cleaned the EFM this past weekend and put a light bulb in it to keep it warm. I have not figured out how much coal I burned yet, but a rough guess is 3.5 tons since mid January. The new stovepipe setup is awesome. Good draft even in hot weather, and very little flyash in the pipe. I could easily run the boiler year-round if I want to.

Before next heating season I plan to add a plate heat exchanger to my electric water heater. The cost of the electric has not been terrible, but coal-fired domestic hot water should still save me about $25 per month in the heating season.


 
User avatar
CoalHeat
Member
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Tue. May. 25, 2021 10:39 pm

Sounds like a plan!
My EFM is set at 160 and 3 teeth feed for the summer. I tried 150 last year but it can't produce enough hot water under moderate demand, such as running the washing machine or shower. Most of the time the stoker is idle so it takes a while for the fire to get going when I start using hot water.

 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17980
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. May. 27, 2021 7:45 am

CoalHeat wrote:
Tue. May. 25, 2021 10:39 pm
Sounds like a plan!
My EFM is set at 160 and 3 teeth feed for the summer. I tried 150 last year but it can't produce enough hot water under moderate demand, such as running the washing machine or shower. Most of the time the stoker is idle so it takes a while for the fire to get going when I start using hot water.
I tried running 3 teeth one summer. For me it did not save any coal and resulted in running out of hot water when filling the bathtub.

 
User avatar
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

Post by freetown fred » Thu. May. 27, 2021 8:09 am

Damn Rob--you got a bath-tub????????????????????? LOL

 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17980
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. May. 27, 2021 10:03 am

freetown fred wrote:
Thu. May. 27, 2021 8:09 am
Damn Rob--you got a bath-tub????????????????????? LOL
Yes, with a fast fill fixture. The boys treat it like a swimming pool. 😂

 
User avatar
CoalHeat
Member
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Thu. May. 27, 2021 8:26 pm

I wouldn't be able to run 3 teeth if there was a house full here, but it's just me and I don't generally take baths with the exception of the yearly warshin' whether I need it or not.

 
User avatar
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

Post by freetown fred » Thu. May. 27, 2021 9:33 pm

A man after my own heart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

 
User avatar
CoalHeat
Member
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Thu. May. 27, 2021 10:21 pm

HAHAHAHA!!!!

 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17980
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. » Sat. Sep. 04, 2021 2:14 pm

Rob R. wrote:
Sat. Feb. 20, 2021 12:54 pm
It is a short piping run over to my water heater. I have enough pex leftover, just haven't pulled the trigger on all the fittings and plate exchanger. Looks like a good job for the summer.
We are in the final weeks of summer, but I did finally order the plate heat exchanger and fittings to install on my water heater. I ended up getting a 20 plate unit from https://altheatsupply.com/. I also got the unions and elbows from the, which made the order quality for free shipping.


Post Reply

Return to “Stoker Coal Boilers Using Anthracite (Hydronic & Steam)”