Interesting Info for Those Looking to Purchase Hilkoil Coils

 
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SMITTY
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Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler

Post by SMITTY » Sun. Nov. 29, 2009 12:50 am

ceccil wrote: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
Right on! Thanks Jeff! 8-) I guess my situation is unique judging from his answer ..... but I guess 304L is the material of choice for coils. 316Ti HAS to be better .... :gee: It's gotta be pricey though.
crazysteamer wrote:Just out of curiosity, what is in your basment that you think would attack a 304 SS coil and not a 316 coil? .....
...... 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.
The coils deteriorated from the outside in. Basically it was condensation forming on the coils in my ultra-humid, wet basement then mixing with the coal ash. I cleaned them as best I could, but I didn't want to disturb them & cause leaks just to clean ..... turns out that was poor logic! :| I think if I either left the valves open & kept the coils hot, or removed them immediately after shutdown & wire-wheeled them, I most likely wouldn't have had any issues.

I think I'll take the easy road next year & leave the valves open. Will keep condensate off the coils ..... & the stove too as an added bonus. I'm sure it wouldn't have burned $220 worth of oil to do that in the first place .... :roll:

 
crazysteamer
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Post by crazysteamer » Tue. Dec. 01, 2009 9:51 am

There is virtually nothing at room temps that will attack any of the stainless unless it is a result of sulfur / temps / water - in which case any of the 300 series will also fail. The L series is just as susceptable to the type of attack that I think you are suffering.

I would think that if the pitting is from the outside in, then I would look at the condition of the coil at the end of the heating season - clean them well and call it it a day. I am not sure (reasonably pretty sure), that keeping the unit 'warm' is going to do anything beneficial that cleaning deposits off won't do (which is cheaper and should be done anyway).

Any chance you can get a close -up picture of the 'corrosion'? Is it localized pitting or general across a surface - like flaky rust?

 
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SMITTY
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Posts: 12496
Joined: Sun. Dec. 11, 2005 12:43 pm
Location: West-Central Mass
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 Highboy
Coal Size/Type: Rice / Blaschak anthracite
Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler

Post by SMITTY » Tue. Dec. 01, 2009 11:07 pm

Check out the pics on this thread: My HW Coils Are Looking Rough After Summer in Damp Basement

Read the whole thread, there's some good info there. ;)


 
TdiDave
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Post by TdiDave » Sun. Dec. 13, 2009 8:45 pm

Any feedback from the Therma-Coil folks? I send them a email asking about different size options, I got a reply back within a few days asking for a few more details. I sent some additional information but it has been a few weeks and no reponce. I am in the need to get a additional coil for my stove but guess I may just go with the HilKoil again.

Any input ?

 
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SMITTY
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Joined: Sun. Dec. 11, 2005 12:43 pm
Location: West-Central Mass
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 Highboy
Coal Size/Type: Rice / Blaschak anthracite
Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler

Post by SMITTY » Sun. Dec. 13, 2009 10:37 pm

It took them quite a while to get back to me too (via email). You could always call them: 530-743-0900

 
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SMITTY
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Joined: Sun. Dec. 11, 2005 12:43 pm
Location: West-Central Mass
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 Highboy
Coal Size/Type: Rice / Blaschak anthracite
Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler

Post by SMITTY » Sun. Dec. 27, 2009 5:02 pm

I'm updating both threads I started relating to this Hilkoil issue.

Several weeks ago I filed a complaint with the NY state Attorney General's office against Hilkoil for not honoring their warranty. I would post the actual letter, but not sure if Richard has rules barring that or not .. so I'll just pick some key points from the letter that they sent to the Attorney General as a rebuttal:
Our coils are not meant to be wire brushed or cleaned as he insists. The coils are a permanent part of the stove once installed.
The extensive damage to these coils was so overwhelming and far beyond any normal use that we could only attribute all the damage to misuse & abuse on the part of Mr. Smith & his boiler-stove system. We determined the damage could have been from any number of reasons or a combination of reasons: IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF COILS TO BURNING FUEL, DEFECTIVE FUEL OR TYPE OF FUEL, ACIDIC ANTI-FREEZE IN BOILER WATER, CONNECTIONS TO HIS BOILER SYSTEM (where are the receipts from a licensed plumbing professional, as recommended?), CLEANING SOLVENTS OR OILS WHICH HE ADMITS TO USING AND WHICH WE DON'T RECOMMEND.
His warranty was not registered or validated.
So warranty is void because I did not return the card?????? :mad: :roll:


 
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ceccil
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Post by ceccil » Sun. Dec. 27, 2009 5:34 pm

SMITTY wrote:where are the receipts from a licensed plumbing professional, as recommended?),
Since when did the word "recommend" mean require. It say nothing about being required to be installed by a licenced plumber.
SMITTY wrote:CLEANING SOLVENTS OR OILS WHICH HE ADMITS TO USING AND WHICH WE DON'T RECOMMEND.
Again, it says recommend. It doesn't say specifically not to use them. I guess you could take it any way you want. What do the lawyers on here think?

Also the installation instruction DO NOT say they recommend the coil be installed by a licenced plumber. In fact is more or less says you can do it yourself. Below is a part of the installation instructions.

Jeff

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Last edited by ceccil on Sun. Dec. 27, 2009 5:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

 
User avatar
SMITTY
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Posts: 12496
Joined: Sun. Dec. 11, 2005 12:43 pm
Location: West-Central Mass
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 Highboy
Coal Size/Type: Rice / Blaschak anthracite
Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler

Post by SMITTY » Sun. Dec. 27, 2009 5:35 pm

Exactly. This is what to expect if you want your warranty coverage! :shock:

Small claims is an option, but I'm done with this. Spent enough already. I'll just make sure I get the word out from here on.

 
TdiDave
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Posts: 146
Joined: Sat. Jan. 31, 2009 10:44 am
Location: Hancock, Maryland
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Leisure Line - Pocono
Coal Size/Type: Rice
Other Heating: Heat Pump

Post by TdiDave » Mon. Dec. 28, 2009 2:47 pm

I hate to see this as I am still in need to get a additional coil for my stoker. To date my Hilkoil looks ok with no signs of wear. I havnt got any responce from the folks at "Therma-Coil" on making a coil bigger than the 2 they show on the web site. Would you guys recomend to not place the order for another "Hilkoil" ?

Dont one of our members have a budy or know a guy that could make these things local ?

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