What boiler temperature do you operate at?
- 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
Curious at what temperature everyone runs their boilers. Do you run a lower temperature in the shoulder months? When I had the Harman VF3000 I operated at 180 because I needed all the reserve I could get as it didn't recover quickly. With the EFM it has the capacity to recover quickly so I don't need to worry about that.
- Rob R.
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- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
I used to use an electronic control that varied the setpoint based on how long the heat calls lasted. It worked very well...until the control failed last winter. I decided to go old school and put a L4006B on and just let the boiler maintain a steady temperature.
165 with a 10 degree differential works well for me until it gets down below 15 degrees. Around mid December I will likely crank it up to 185 and leave it there until late February.
165 with a 10 degree differential works well for me until it gets down below 15 degrees. Around mid December I will likely crank it up to 185 and leave it there until late February.
- 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
In a normal heating system, you would go by the radiation that is installed and the operating temperature used to size that radiation.
Your system has a variety of components in it. A large hot air heat exchanger, they usually like to be at 180. The base boards, radiator and indirect radiant floor you have can be run at lower temperatures.
My system has enough radiation to heat the load at 150 degrees on the coldest day of the year. I run the boiler at about 150 degrees for Summer DHW and about 160 degrees during the heating season.
-Don
Your system has a variety of components in it. A large hot air heat exchanger, they usually like to be at 180. The base boards, radiator and indirect radiant floor you have can be run at lower temperatures.
My system has enough radiation to heat the load at 150 degrees on the coldest day of the year. I run the boiler at about 150 degrees for Summer DHW and about 160 degrees during the heating season.
-Don
- lsayre
- Member
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- Joined: Wed. Nov. 23, 2005 9:17 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
I'm year round at 180 high/170 low. But that's because we like taking hot showers anytime and on demand, and my 3 gpm rated DHW coil would not permit that if I dropped it down 10 or more degrees.
- hotblast1357
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- Location: Peasleeville NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1984 Eshland S260 coal gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite pea
- Other Heating: air source heat pump, oil furnace
During summer and shoulder months, 155 on-165 off. When it gets to -10 I go up to 165 on-175 off.
I have a variety of components in my system, 3 cast iron radiators in the basement, a water to air heat exchanger in my furnace for the upstairs, and a water to water plate exchanger doin my dhw. I run constant circulation 90 feet to my house through my water to water exchanger, boiler is in its own building.
I have a variety of components in my system, 3 cast iron radiators in the basement, a water to air heat exchanger in my furnace for the upstairs, and a water to water plate exchanger doin my dhw. I run constant circulation 90 feet to my house through my water to water exchanger, boiler is in its own building.
- nepacoal
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- Location: Coal Country
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
- Coal Size/Type: Buck
Summer - 145 Low
Winter - 180 Low (as soon as thermostat is turned up)
Dumps at 221
Winter - 180 Low (as soon as thermostat is turned up)
Dumps at 221
Last edited by nepacoal on Sun. Oct. 21, 2018 12:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- coaledsweat
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- Coal Size/Type: Pea
- oliver power
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- Location: Near Dansville, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: KEYSTOKER Kaa-2
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93 & 30-95, Vigilant (pre-2310), D.S. 1600 Circulator, Hitzer 254
I designed my system for 180*. That's what I run at. Very happy with performance.