Van wert VA 800

John.wild10 · Post by **John.wild10** » Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 11:04 am

Hell everyone, I am new to the forum and relatively new to coal. I have a handfired coal stove (Hitzer 50-93) and looking to upgrade to a boiler for a more even heat and heat the basement after I get it finished. I am looking at a used van wert va 800. The house was built in 1980 is 2100 sqft living space right now and about 3100 after the basement is finished would this boiler be overkill? Also when looking in the manual it shows the timer wiring for the va 400 and 600, was the 800 not designed for a timer? Sorry for the loaded question

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 11:09 am

Upgrade to what??? CONFUSION!! Sorry J, couldn't help myself.

John.wild10 · Post by **John.wild10** » Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 11:12 am

Van wert va 800 boiler

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 3:01 pm

Probably overkill...
unless you have a barn door that stays open...
Olympic sized pool...
Or a large shop to go along with the house...

Post by **StokerDon** » Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 6:59 pm

The VA-800 is probably overkill for a 2100 sq ft house, unless it's at the north pole. Make sure you heat your domestic water with it, that would help. Having extra heat reserved isn't really a problem for an under fed stoker boiler.

The VA-800 is rated at 198,000 BTU gross output and 24 pounds per hour. This can be turned down a bit by adjusting the feed rate.

John.wild10 wrote: ↑
Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 11:04 am
when looking in the manual it shows the timer wiring for the va 400 and 600, was the 800 not designed for a timer?

You might be able to get away without running a timer, but I wouldn't count on it. You can wire the timer the same as a VA-400 or VA-600.

-Don

John.wild10 · Post by **John.wild10** » Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 10:40 pm

That’s about the response I was expecting I guess I’ll have to keep my eyes open for something smaller. Thanks for all the responses.

Post by **Rob R.** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2020 12:34 pm

John.wild10 wrote: ↑
Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 10:40 pm
That’s about the response I was expecting I guess I’ll have to keep my eyes open for something smaller. Thanks for all the responses.

Hi John - a VA800 is certainly more boiler than you need, but it will idle along and heat the house just fine. You might get a little more unburned coal in the ash due to the high feed rate and low load, but to Don's point above you could reduce the feed rate to mitigate that.

A smaller boiler would take up less space, and not need as big of a chimney...but if you have a line on a nice VA800 for a good price, I would not dismiss it just because it is bigger than you need.

Post by **Richard S.** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2020 12:41 pm

Agree with Rob, it will idle along just fine even in the summer just for hot water.

hotblast1357 · Post by **hotblast1357** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2020 12:44 pm

Ya I heat a 30x38 house, downstairs and upstairs, for a total of 2280 sq ft and my dhw, and my boiler is in a remote building that is 14x16 100’ from the house, and I run a AHS 260.

It’s nice when it’s -20 and all the heat zones are calling and the wife can take a hour long shower lmao

John.wild10 · Post by **John.wild10** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2020 8:05 pm

Well maybe I won’t rule it out then. Thanks for the additional input.

Dave 1234 · Post by **Dave 1234** » Wed. Jan. 15, 2020 10:59 am

Is it in ''very good condition'' ? Easy to get to your place ? How low of a price ? How much room do you have for the install ?

A bigger boiler gives a lot of interior room to capture as much heat from your coal as possible before it leaves to go up the flue.

Dave

lamina1982 · Post by **lamina1982** » Fri. Jan. 17, 2020 12:34 am

Currently a 600 for sale
https://rochester.craigslist.org/for/d/penfield-v ... 19290.html

And a 400
https://williamsport.craigslist.org/for/d/mount-c ... 84800.html

And 800

https://buffalo.craigslist.org/app/d/binghamton-v ... 34915.html