Interesting info for those looking to purchase Hilkoil coils

I heard back from Therma-coil and he says they make them from 304L and that he is surprised to hear about Smitty's problem with the coils after just one season. He is asking for info regarding the problems. He also said they can make them from 316 if needed. I don't know if he is looking for a minimum qty. to do this or not. I'll get with Smitty and give him the info so maybe he can talk to him and layout the issues so I don't give him the wrong info.

Jeff

Does Therma only make those sizes listed? I would be interested in getting one from them if they could make it the same size as my 31T (21"x17" tripple loop). I could have them both in and see how they last side by side.

I'm not sure. Look for the contact link on the bottom of their page and fire them off an email. They got back to me very fast. I never could get ahold of Hilcoil, they wouldn't answer their phone. I ended up buying my coil from a local stove shop that had ordered one for a customer that decided he didn't want it.

Jeff

I shot them a reply from the email you sent me Jeff, & I attached some pics of my old coils last night. Still waiting for them to get back to me ......

I asked for a quote in 316L or Ti, & gave them the measurements of my 21T coil. I let everyone know when they get back to me.

SMITTY wrote:I shot them a reply from the email you sent me Jeff, & I attached some pics of my old coils last night. Still waiting for them to get back to me ......

I asked for a quote in 316L or Ti, & gave them the measurements of my 21T coil. I let everyone know when they get back to me.

Smitty - I don't recall if this was covered in another post or not, but I can't find the info. Did you have cold water running through your coils all summer (like tempering cold water going into a hot water heater)? I see you mention they are tied into your boiler somehow. Does the boiler run all summer for DHW?

My point is that if there was cold (well or tap) water running through the coils all summer, that cold water would be continually condensing moisture out of the air and combining with the sulfur residue to make acid, eating the coils all summer. You did mention condensation drips from the coils on the grates, no? That wouldn't happen unless COLD water was running through them. Water just sitting static would not.

Chris

No, the valve was closed & the boiler water just sat in there all summer. Not ice cold well water & not warm. But I think my basement gets so humid in the summer that even room temp metal will form condensation. The outside of the stove didn't, but for some reason the coils did. Maybe the water being inside kept the temp just a few degrees cooler? That's my only guess. My Mark I spent 3 seasons down there without any heavy rust whatsoever inside. The Mark III rusted where the coils came in, but not the opposite side. Then the condensate dripped onto the grates & into the ash pan. I'll get some pix of that later on - the ashpan has cancer spots all over it, as do the grates.

I had the same problem as Smitty...when I asked about making the replacement out of 316 he (hilkoil) said it's too brittle to make the tight bends on my 21t coil. Of all the coal burners on this forum, are Smitty and I the only two to have had this problem?

kzad wrote:Of all the coal burners on this forum, are Smitty and I the only two to have had this problem?

Your the only two that I know of. My basement is damp also but I run a dehumidifier that drains into a condensate pump so it will not shut down because of a full tank. This made a huge difference with the dampness. My coil survived just fine.

Jeff

I have a similar problem as smitty but not because of his indoor pool...
Sandy soils here so no drainage problem...
Just a large body of salt water known as the Atlantic...
600 feet from the house...
OK technically Nantucket Sound...
The moisture blown off the water makes the stove pipe condense and ooze...

THERMO-BILT, Inc. warrants the stainless steel heat exchanger coil to
be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ten
years from the date of purchase by the original owner. If, during the
warranty period, the stainless steel heat exchanger should burn out for
any reason other than obvious intentional misuse, it will be replaced
with a new one when returned, postpaid, with proof of purchase.
We make no warranty covering consequential damages, incidental
damages, or incidental expenses, including injury to persons or
property, which may occur during the use of this product.
THERMO-BILT, Inc. Box 3207 Schenectady, NY 12303
PHONE # (518) 377-4004


on the direction sheet that came with my coil. Along with a registration form to mail in

304 ss is not far behind 316 ss in durability. Smitty, If your 304 coil is wasted, chances are the 316 would have met the same fate. The only difference I ever seen with 316 vs 304, the 316 was easier to bend, maybe a little softer. It would sweg easier too. And I used a lot of ss tubing in my day.

My .02 cents

Thanks for that info Cap.

What do you think about 316Ti ? On paper it seems to be indestructible .....

SMITTY wrote:I shot them a reply from the email you sent me Jeff, & I attached some pics of my old coils last night. Still waiting for them to get back to me ......

I asked for a quote in 316L or Ti, & gave them the measurements of my 21T coil. I let everyone know when they get back to me.

Ok .... I just heard back from the place & he says (with exclamation points ) that he's never seen any thing like this either. He also said that he doesn't think 316 will make that much of a difference in a case like this. As far as a quote goes, he says they would need an order of 50 or more in order to make the cost reasonable.

Anyone need 316Ti coils?

I couldn't afford one right now if I wanted, after all that has happened this month ....

EDIT:

to include contact info for:
Thermacoil Products
David McCord
530-743-0900

SMITTY wrote: As far as a quote goes, he says they would need an order of 50 or more in order to make the cost reasonable.

Wow, we'll never get that many to order @ once. So he's saying the 304 should hold up fine in a coal burning environment? I'm sure that's what mine is and it's holding up fine.

If I do need another or decide to add another coil, I will likely order one from them rather than Hilkoil because of the run around he gave you even though we all know it said "LIFETIME WARRENTY" at one point. I think everyone should send them an email stating their displeasure with the way one of our fellow members was treated and that we will be taking our business elsewhere from this point forward. I know I am going to. I have no desire to do business with a company that will not stand behind it's own product.

I'm right behind ya Smitty!!

Jeff

Just out of curiosity, what is in your basment that you think would attack a 304 SS coil and not a 316 coil?

I agree that a lifetime warranty is a lifetime warranty.

The only thing that I can think would cause a problem with stainless steel and high temperatures would be choloride ions (any type of salt) in the water - which is pretty much always present unless you are running distilled water....especially if you have any type of a salt regenerated water treatment system.

This would be a problem with 304 / 316 - virtually any stainless you can readily purchase.