Help with boiler selection
Ok I’m convinced I need to switch over to coal. Just had my oil tank filled. (We ran out even though we have automatic delivery and we keep the house at 64). So it’s time to supplement or change that is where the questions start.
Right now I have a 1800 SPF house built in 1901 and an oil fired boiler 80s era with basically 4 zones 3 for heat and a loop that feeds a DWH storage tank. House has been puriodicaly updated with insolation. I also have a pool with a spa that I would like to heat if possible but if not I’ll figure something out. So what I can’t figure out is what boiler to go with and should I get rid of the oil boiler all together. Or should I just get a hand feed stove and stick it in the living room.
Right now I have a 1800 SPF house built in 1901 and an oil fired boiler 80s era with basically 4 zones 3 for heat and a loop that feeds a DWH storage tank. House has been puriodicaly updated with insolation. I also have a pool with a spa that I would like to heat if possible but if not I’ll figure something out. So what I can’t figure out is what boiler to go with and should I get rid of the oil boiler all together. Or should I just get a hand feed stove and stick it in the living room.
- David...
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It's usually not a good idea to get rid of the oil boiler in case you go away for a while or your ability to burn coal stops. Selling the house could be a problem also.
David
David
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Hi Soupy and welcome to the forum,
x2 on David's comment.
From your description it sounds like a boiler would be a good choice relative to a stove. It would let you take advantage of the distribution network you already have in place for the heating zones plus DHW, and potentially provide some capacity for pool/spa heating.
To help people post info useful to your situation, could you please provide some info regarding (a) your approximate location (e.g., zip code or nearby city); (b) input/output ratings from the nameplate of your oil boiler; (c) the months when you'd like to be able to heat the pool/spa; and, (d) the approximate btu output you need for heating the pool/spa.
Thanks.
Mike
x2 on David's comment.
From your description it sounds like a boiler would be a good choice relative to a stove. It would let you take advantage of the distribution network you already have in place for the heating zones plus DHW, and potentially provide some capacity for pool/spa heating.
To help people post info useful to your situation, could you please provide some info regarding (a) your approximate location (e.g., zip code or nearby city); (b) input/output ratings from the nameplate of your oil boiler; (c) the months when you'd like to be able to heat the pool/spa; and, (d) the approximate btu output you need for heating the pool/spa.
Thanks.
Mike
- windyhill4.2
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- Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both
An EFM520 will handle the job just fine,but keep the oil burner as a secondary backup for the what if that may come along.
- McGiever
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- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
Welcome to the Community
There is not a 'one size fits all' here.
Coal delivery and handling as well as removing the ash will play a big part in the planning, choice of location and what stoker design ultimatly suits best.
And your chimney arrangement too.
Help Us Help You.
There is not a 'one size fits all' here.
Coal delivery and handling as well as removing the ash will play a big part in the planning, choice of location and what stoker design ultimatly suits best.
And your chimney arrangement too.
Help Us Help You.
Welcome to the madness!!! Overall a great choice on your part to consider coal as a heat fuel.
Some more things to consider for the solutions offered....Whats your budget for the project? Are you looking to DIY or get a contractor to do it?
Some more things to consider for the solutions offered....Whats your budget for the project? Are you looking to DIY or get a contractor to do it?
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welcome to the forum.
are you looking into a new or used coal boiler?
if you have the skills you can save a fortune by refurbishing a used boiler.
iirc the lowest cost new stoker boiler is about $5,500 and a efm 520 is like $12,000.
i have found at least six used stoker boilers for under $1,000 each.
are you looking into a new or used coal boiler?
if you have the skills you can save a fortune by refurbishing a used boiler.
iirc the lowest cost new stoker boiler is about $5,500 and a efm 520 is like $12,000.
i have found at least six used stoker boilers for under $1,000 each.
For starters I live between buffalo and Rochester Ny.
The current boiler is a buderus G 105. Name plate says 96,000 btu.
Last year I had the pool open from may to September 24,000 gallon. Not sure of the btus on the heater it’s covered in snow right now. More then likely it will be DIY.
If I added a second boiler which one should I power vent. The oil or coal. Thanks for all the help so far.
The current boiler is a buderus G 105. Name plate says 96,000 btu.
Last year I had the pool open from may to September 24,000 gallon. Not sure of the btus on the heater it’s covered in snow right now. More then likely it will be DIY.
If I added a second boiler which one should I power vent. The oil or coal. Thanks for all the help so far.
Here on this site or local Craigslist.lincolnmania wrote: ↑Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 12:39 pmwelcome to the forum.
are you looking into a new or used coal boiler?
if you have the skills you can save a fortune by refurbishing a used boiler.
iirc the lowest cost new stoker boiler is about $5,500 and a efm 520 is like $12,000.
i have found at least six used stoker boilers for under $1,000 each.
- StokerDon
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The oil boiler. Although a lot of people have power vents on coal appliances, a chimney works best. The fire never goes out on a coal stoker so the power vent has to run 24/7. When the oil boiler heat call ends the fire goes out and the power vent can turn off.
Also power vents are made out of metal. When fly ash and metal meet, fly ash wins.
-Don
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Souper,
I suggest a used EFM (for its simplicity and efficiency). You can likely use the same chimney for both as you wont use both at the same time. you will wonder why you didnt do it long ago.
waldo
I suggest a used EFM (for its simplicity and efficiency). You can likely use the same chimney for both as you wont use both at the same time. you will wonder why you didnt do it long ago.
waldo
- windyhill4.2
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- Joined: Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 2:17 pm
- Location: Jonestown,Pa.17038
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
- Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both
Now if only you would enter your location into your profile ,other members could then just glance to the upper right hand corner... anytime you post & no matter where you post. Kinda hard to hunt thru the threads for this post which tells where you are from.Soupy6914 wrote: ↑Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 4:10 pmFor starters I live between buffalo and Rochester Ny.
The current boiler is a buderus G 105. Name plate says 96,000 btu.
Last year I had the pool open from may to September 24,000 gallon. Not sure of the btus on the heater it’s covered in snow right now. More then likely it will be DIY.
If I added a second boiler which one should I power vent. The oil or coal. Thanks for all the help so far.
An EFM520 will easily handle the load if all other issues are workable for it..
Power vent should go to the oil boiler as it will only get occasional use & with oil can be on/off operation. Coal exhaust needs to be constantly moved out,so the power vent would run all the time & the coal exhaust is hard on the stainless steel.
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- Joined: Fri. Jan. 26, 2007 9:55 pm
- Location: Birdsboro PA.
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 350
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: reading allegheny stoker
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: alaska kodiak stoker 1986. 1987 triburner, 1987 crane diamond
- Coal Size/Type: rice
- 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
Soupy, Tell us how you would handle both coal and ash, so we get a better feel of how this may lead us in the proper direction...got to narrow the field a bit.
Thanks
Thanks
I was planning on building a bin and buying in bulk. And to be honest I haven’t put much thought into the ash thing. How much a week are we talking about?