Help with boiler selection

 
Soupy6914
Member
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 9:21 am
Location: Buffalo, Ny

Post by Soupy6914 » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 9:39 am

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.


 
User avatar
David...
Member
Posts: 243
Joined: Sun. Nov. 06, 2016 9:48 am
Location: RI
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Franks 80k output
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Jotul 507B
Coal Size/Type: Nut

Post by David... » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 9:51 am

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

 
Pacowy
Member
Posts: 3555
Joined: Tue. Sep. 04, 2007 10:14 pm
Location: Dalton, MA
Stoker Coal Boiler: H.B. Smith 350 Mills boiler/EFM 85R stoker
Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat/anthracite

Post by Pacowy » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 10:00 am

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

 
User avatar
windyhill4.2
Member
Posts: 6072
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

Post by windyhill4.2 » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 10:39 am

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.

 
User avatar
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

Post by McGiever » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 11:36 am

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. :)

 
titleist1
Member
Posts: 5226
Joined: Wed. Nov. 14, 2007 4:06 pm

Post by titleist1 » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 12:04 pm

Welcome to the madness!!! :lol: 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?

 
lincolnmania
Member
Posts: 2684
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

Post by lincolnmania » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 12:39 pm

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.


 
Soupy6914
Member
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 9:21 am
Location: Buffalo, Ny

Post by Soupy6914 » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 4:10 pm

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.

 
Soupy6914
Member
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 9:21 am
Location: Buffalo, Ny

Post by Soupy6914 » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 4:41 pm

lincolnmania wrote:
Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 12:39 pm
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.
Here on this site or local Craigslist.

 
User avatar
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

Post by StokerDon » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 4:46 pm

Soupy6914 wrote:
Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 4:10 pm
If I added a second boiler which one should I power vent. The oil or coal. Thanks for all the help so far.
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

 
waldo lemieux
Member
Posts: 2270
Joined: Sun. Sep. 30, 2012 8:20 pm
Location: Ithaca,NY

Post by waldo lemieux » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 4:50 pm

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

 
User avatar
windyhill4.2
Member
Posts: 6072
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

Post by windyhill4.2 » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 4:53 pm

Soupy6914 wrote:
Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 4:10 pm
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.
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.

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.

 
lincolnmania
Member
Posts: 2684
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

Post by lincolnmania » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 5:23 pm

Soupy6914 wrote:
Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 4:41 pm
Here on this site or local Craigslist.
my local craigslists and facebook marketplace. most of them are up around hazelton or scranton or williamsport. check yours up there, coal seems pretty popular up there in buffalo ny.

 
User avatar
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

Post by McGiever » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 6:04 pm

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

 
Soupy6914
Member
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 9:21 am
Location: Buffalo, Ny

Post by Soupy6914 » Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 8:26 pm

McGiever wrote:
Fri. Feb. 02, 2018 6:04 pm
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
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?


Post Reply

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