New to coal

 
Djy1983
Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat. Oct. 19, 2019 3:01 pm
Location: Berwick PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Leisure Line pocono

Post by Djy1983 » Thu. Jul. 09, 2020 7:45 pm

Thanks guys! One of the replies further up had me questioning all my plans. But it sounds like I’m good to go!


 
Djy1983
Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat. Oct. 19, 2019 3:01 pm
Location: Berwick PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Leisure Line pocono

Post by Djy1983 » Fri. Jul. 10, 2020 12:54 pm

Are there any well seasoned EFM guys near the Berwick area? I wouldn’t mind someone giving my stove a once over before I start it. I would also love to have someone go over how they thoroughly clean the stove yearly. I know there are a lot of posts here, but it would be great to go through it with someone in person.

 
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Dakotaguy
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Posts: 134
Joined: Sun. Nov. 15, 2015 8:33 pm
Location: Summit hill pa
Stoker Coal Boiler: Efm 520 highboy
Coal Size/Type: Lots of rice from Lehigh
Other Heating: Pops 2010 df 520 stoker

Post by Dakotaguy » Mon. Jul. 13, 2020 9:42 pm

I would gladly come up to show you how to maintain it the Last person asking for help never follow through its only an hour drive I can be up there Saturday morning

 
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StokerDon
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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 » Tue. Jul. 14, 2020 7:59 pm

Djy1983 wrote:
Fri. Jul. 10, 2020 12:54 pm
Are there any well seasoned EFM guys near the Berwick area?
Dakotaguy wrote:
Mon. Jul. 13, 2020 9:42 pm
I would gladly come up to show you how to maintain it
There ya go, Coal Boots on the ground! That's what makes this forum great! :yes:
Looking forward to seeing a first fire!

-Don

 
Djy1983
Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat. Oct. 19, 2019 3:01 pm
Location: Berwick PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Leisure Line pocono

Post by Djy1983 » Sat. Jul. 18, 2020 11:17 am

Dakotaguy, I’m sorry, but I have not been on here in a few days and did not see your post, I would definitely like to catch up sometime, my next post will explain more!

 
Holdencoal
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Post by Holdencoal » Sat. Jul. 18, 2020 11:25 am

If your worried you could install a differential bypass valve too and not just a ball valve.

 
Djy1983
Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat. Oct. 19, 2019 3:01 pm
Location: Berwick PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Leisure Line pocono

Post by Djy1983 » Sat. Jul. 18, 2020 11:27 am

Well, I finished most of my installation yesterday, and fired up the efm last night. As of noon today, everything is working well. I’m surprised I checkEd the ash tub this morning, and it hasn’t burned enough to put any ash into it yet. That’s a good sign! When I fired it up it had just been filled with cold well water, and within 30 min (after getting it lit, and a good fire going) it was up to 160, and shut down. I have my aqua stat set at 160 low 200 high 10 differential. The timer is set at 2 min per hour. Didn’t set the baro up yet, because I still have to instal my Dwyer meter. I’ll get that done in the next couple days. It wouldn’t have been nearly as easy to set up without everything I learned on this forum.

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Holdencoal
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Post by Holdencoal » Sat. Jul. 18, 2020 11:38 am

Nice work, a few suggestions. Your pressure relief should be piped to 6” off the floor. I would also add gasketed hose caps on the two flushing valves. Those type of valves tend to leak over time from debris in the seat.
Last edited by Holdencoal on Sat. Jul. 18, 2020 11:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

 
Djy1983
Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat. Oct. 19, 2019 3:01 pm
Location: Berwick PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Leisure Line pocono

Post by Djy1983 » Sat. Jul. 18, 2020 11:41 am

Hardcoal, the flushing valves have caps installed. I plan on adding the drop to the pop off today. Thanks for checking it out!

 
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nepacoal
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Posts: 1696
Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
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

Post by nepacoal » Sat. Jul. 18, 2020 12:54 pm

Looks great... If you have any issues with outfires you can change the timer to 2 minutes every half hour. Our EFM uses 2 minutes every hour in the winter but we change it to every half hour in the summer (usually after we have an outfire on the first calm, hot and muggy day)

 
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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 » Sat. Jul. 18, 2020 3:23 pm

Looks great!

Now you just have to remember to fill the coal bin! :lol:

Noth'in like a nice coal stoker boiler fire on a 90+ degree day. 8-)

-Don

 
Djy1983
Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat. Oct. 19, 2019 3:01 pm
Location: Berwick PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Leisure Line pocono

Post by Djy1983 » Sat. Jul. 18, 2020 10:39 pm

As you can see I went all in on coal. The oil boiler has been removed. So now we are totally dependent on the 520 for heat, and hot water. There is absolutely no backup in our home. I guess that’s a testament to my faith in her!!!

 
Djy1983
Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat. Oct. 19, 2019 3:01 pm
Location: Berwick PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Leisure Line pocono

Post by Djy1983 » Sat. Jul. 25, 2020 12:01 am

Well, it officially been a week since I fired up the EFM. It’s been doing it’s thing in the basement for a week, and I haven’t had to touch a thing. (Even with 90 degree temperatures all week) I emptied the ash can for the first time today, and it was only about a third of the way full. Also put a carbon monoxide detector right next to it for the week, and it’s highest reading was zero. I couldn’t be happier with it so far!

 
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Dakotaguy
Member
Posts: 134
Joined: Sun. Nov. 15, 2015 8:33 pm
Location: Summit hill pa
Stoker Coal Boiler: Efm 520 highboy
Coal Size/Type: Lots of rice from Lehigh
Other Heating: Pops 2010 df 520 stoker

Post by Dakotaguy » Sun. Jul. 26, 2020 4:44 pm

Great installation nice stoker when I'm not soo busy I'll PM you show you how to maintain it its not hard to take care of

 
ben
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Posts: 178
Joined: Thu. Aug. 06, 2009 9:06 pm
Location: n central PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 350 with an S-20 pot (1966)
Coal Size/Type: Rice

Post by ben » Thu. Jul. 30, 2020 7:47 am

Nice installation.


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