Let coal fire die gracefully
-
- Member
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Thu. Nov. 23, 2017 3:11 pm
- Location: NW PA
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: DS AquaGem 1100
- Coal Size/Type: Blaschak bulk pea/nut
- Other Heating: LP Boiler
Are there any tips or tricks to let a coal fire burn out efficiently, reducing the amount of partially burnt coal left over? Are you best to continue to shake regularly without adding new coal, or better to leave the fire alone until it dies? I always re-burn any left over coal, but it would be nice to minimize the clean-out process.
- freetown fred
- Member
- Posts: 30293
- Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
- Location: Freetown,NY 13803
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut
Shake regularly--at least in my hand fired/hopper HITZER--takes at least 36 hrs on mine--not really sure on them thar girly stoves!!! LOL
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14658
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
I'll clear ash at the final normal tending time, just not add any fresh coal. Then let it burn out from that point. As the fire begins to produce less heat, I'll adjust the primary combustion air wide open. This strategy seems to burn up most of the coal that's left, the quickest.
- Sunny Boy
- Member
- Posts: 25553
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 1:40 pm
- Location: Central NY
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Anthracite Industrial, domestic hot water heater
- Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood range 208, # 6 base heater, 2 Modern Oak 118.
- Coal Size/Type: Nuts !
- Other Heating: Oil &electric plenum furnace
+1Lightning wrote: ↑Thu. Oct. 25, 2018 5:24 pmI'll clear ash at the final normal tending time, just not add any fresh coal. Then let it burn out from that point. As the fire begins to produce less heat, I'll adjust the primary combustion air wide open. This strategy seems to burn up most of the coal that's left, the quickest.
I've tried it a number of ways and found that to burn off as much coal as possible, it needs more primary air as the heat volume drops and reduces the draft strength. You have to make up that heat volume/ draft strength loss by getting the remaining smaller volume of coal to burn hotter.
Remember that it's heat expansion of the gasses inside the stove that produces the pressure difference we call "draft". Once the draft strength drops below a certain point the fire will die quickly no matter how much coal is left.
No heat, no draft, no fire.
Paul
-
- Member
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Thu. Nov. 23, 2017 3:11 pm
- Location: NW PA
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: DS AquaGem 1100
- Coal Size/Type: Blaschak bulk pea/nut
- Other Heating: LP Boiler
Great, thanks for the info everyone! I'll give it a shot this week.
-
- Member
- Posts: 400
- Joined: Sat. Jan. 24, 2015 11:22 pm
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vigilant II 2310
- Other Heating: natural gas central forced air
Has anybody tried a few pounds of charcoal on the top? That would burn fine at lower temp and draft, yet hot enough with draft enough to keep anthracite burning? The charcoal would surely all burn up.nickdearing88 wrote: ↑Sun. Oct. 28, 2018 9:15 pmGreat, thanks for the info everyone! I'll give it a shot this week.
-
- Member
- Posts: 338
- Joined: Sat. Apr. 04, 2015 10:36 pm
- Location: SE Ohio - Carrolton/Kilgore/Perrysville -- inbetween
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Hitzer 82 FA
- Coal Size/Type: Reading NUT 40lb plastic bags
- Other Heating: Heat Pump
In my Hitzer82 FA, I perform a shake at about regular tending time... add no coal... wait another 8-12 hours or so and open under air wide open.
This seems to give it a last kick while there is still enough unburnt coal without any over fire concerns.
Then 8-12 hours later, I shake and empty 2 pans of complete Ash. Empty.
Your mileage will vary.
This seems to give it a last kick while there is still enough unburnt coal without any over fire concerns.
Then 8-12 hours later, I shake and empty 2 pans of complete Ash. Empty.
Your mileage will vary.