Yellow Flame, A Christmas Stoker Boiler
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yeah but its on the wrong side of the shut off
- Rob R.
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I am not trying to turn this into a water treatment thread, but I wanted to point out that tankless coils are sensitive to sediment and will buildup with calcium deposits if the water has sufficient hardness. If you don't get visible buildup on shower heads, dishes, etc, it probably won't be a problem. 12 grains per gallon is a common cutoff for warranty coverage with modern appliances.StokerDon wrote:Is there a way to test for hard water?Rob R. wrote:If it is hard water, and you don't have water softener, that tankless coil won't be very functional in a year or two.
-Don
- tsb
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What did I tell you about valves ?
- StokerDon
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I tried, but your right, you always need more!tsb wrote:What did I tell you about valves ?
-Don
- CoalHeat
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
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- Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
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If it's well water there's a good chance it's high in Calcium Carbonate. How do you heat domestic hot water now?StokerDon wrote:Ummm.... It is well water. It's got all kinds of stuff in it. So, it very well may be hard water.Rob R. wrote:I also used brass on the last tankless coil I installed, it makes for a very nice job. You aren't going to run hard water through that coil are you?
-Don
- StokerDon
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
With an electric water heater. I currently have the most expensive electricity that I have ever had. I would love to have coal fired hot water! The irony here is that, I live less than 2 miles from a nuke plant, within 6 miles of 2 gas fired power plants, within 8 miles of 2 hydro electric plants, plus there is another hydro electric plant about 20 miles up the river and Three Mile Island is another 15 miles up from that. I truely live in the land of power generation, but I don't get one electron out of it! My power comes from Philly over 100 miles away. I guess that's why it's so expensive.If it's well water there's a good chance it's high in Calcium Carbonate. How do you heat domestic hot water now?
Sorry, a little bit off topic there.
-Don
Last edited by StokerDon on Sat. Apr. 01, 2017 6:38 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Fixed quotes
Reason: Fixed quotes
- CoalHeat
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- Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
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- Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
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I've seen free water testing offered at the Home Depot, you might want to look into that. More then likely you'll find the water has considerable hardness. Have you had to change the lower element in the electric water heater yet? I have extremely hard water here, with some iron thrown in as well. A water softener is essential here. I installed one after the toilet wouldn't flush properly because the holes under the rim were all clogged up with lime deposits. I had to run a hose connected to hot water to the tank, warm all the china up and then add phosphoric acid to dissolve the deposits.
- StokerDon
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- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
I've only been in this house for 3 years. 2 years ago the water heater started leaking, so I replaced it. I have not had ant problems with shower heads or fucets clogging up.
So, lets just say I do have hard water, what do I do? NOT hook up the DHW? Should I just get an indirect water heater and plumb another zone?
-Don
So, lets just say I do have hard water, what do I do? NOT hook up the DHW? Should I just get an indirect water heater and plumb another zone?
-Don
- Scottscoaled
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Ya, that works wellStokerDon wrote:I've only been in this house for 3 years. 2 years ago the water heater started leaking, so I replaced it. I have not had ant problems with shower heads or fucets clogging up.
So, lets just say I do have hard water, what do I do? NOT hook up the DHW? Should I just get an indirect water heater and plumb another zone?
-Don
- Rob R.
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The cheap method is to just hook it up and run it. If the coil clogs up flush it out really well and run acid/vinegar through it to remove calcium deposits...then install a water softener.
- CoalHeat
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- 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
Good advice, Rob.
- Hambden Bob
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You close now !
- StokerDon
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- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
I will go with the cheap method.Rob R. wrote:The cheap method is to just hook it up and run it. If the coil clogs up flush it out really well and run acid/vinegar through it to remove calcium deposits...then install a water softener.
-Don
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7486
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
You are absolutly right!!!Wood'nCoal wrote:I'll save ya a trip:
Lowe's has O2 barrier PEX but only up to 3/4", made in Red China.
You ever work with PEX? It SUCKS.
I knew it wouldn't be easy but, WOW DOES IT SUCK!!! Just that little bit took me about three hours. I used my Alaska stove to get the stuff just plyable enough to bend.
This is my temporary test rig with the Taco 007 pushing water to the 50K heat exchanger, then through the 80K heatexchanger to the boiler return.
CAN'T WAIT TO FIRE IT UP!!!
-Don
- CoalHeat
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- 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
You do know that a heat exchanger needs a fan---don't you????