My new coal burning buddy EFM 350

I have lost track of the cost of the copper and fittings for our EFM install. Ballpark is $800 for 20' of 1.25" copper, elbows, unions, ball valves, circulator w/ isolation flanges, new expansion tank, and other adds/ends.

I hear that!

Well, I am very frustrated that I have not progressed much on this boiler install. I have needed the extra money so I completed a couple more stoker refurbs. I am making time this weekend to run the pex lines. What is the recommended fastener to secure the line to a wall or ceiling? I have picked up some circ pumps and a mixing valve but that does not appease my frustration. Thanks again for the help,

George

Well, I am very frustrated that I have not progressed much on this boiler install.

I hate when that happens.

that boiler is so nice, I think I would just set it up and look at it. It would a shame to even get it dirty lighting a fire. Man Scrapper does a hellofa job !

Great looking boiler!

tom69z wrote:that boiler is so nice, I think I would just set it up and look at it. It would a shame to even get it dirty lighting a fire. Man Scrapper does a hellofa job !

Yea I agree guess when you been doing them for over 30 years you do get good at it .
Aswell as having good help down there at the shop .

As well as having good help down there at the shop .

Who is that?

I'll bet that comment will have you 'buying the brews' for some time!!!!

Got to give credit where credits due, my oldest son who rents one of my propertys does most of the bull work as far as the boilers and bases, Ann marie does all the prep work and painting, I do all the assembly and mechanical. Yes eat youre heart out guys, I got a wife who can sand, grind, run a drill press, sandblaster and run a paint sprayer, be lost without her. Cant forget to mention COALBERNER who helps a lot with removal and deals with a sore back and pinched fingers, since my heart attack i couldnt do it without them SCRAPPER

Well, I am finally much closer to being done with this install than I every thought I would be. Huge Thanks to my dad. He is mid 70's and has a lot of leg issues but continued with the install anyways. He had his own heating and cooling business as I was growing up. I should of continued it but Im 6'4", tough in some of those basements. lol I thought this was a difficult project. More stress than work. I am definitely not a plumber. The first burn was on Sunday night. I set the temps to 180 and 160 degrees. The EFM was spot on. All elec were correct, sounded and performed better than I hoped. I just hooked up the new low water shut off tonight, and mounted the out fire control. I purchased the wrong low water cutoff the first time. I mistakenly bought a 24V style and not a 110. Problem solved. I have quite a few pics but I am whipped from this install. That pex/al/pex is no joke. That should be used in prisons for recreation. That sucked! But it is working well, and worth the trouble. I also mounted the proper hanger for the supply run. But I did forget to put the ball valve on the top of the circ pump on first zone. Oh well, only had 4 pex/al/pex male adapters.... so until I need to break the run, it stays. Lol. The DHW coil is working very well. I love setting the propane water heater to pilot, taking a long long (on well water) hot shower and then turn the water heater burner back on. And it stays on pilot. Yeah baby. I only do that so I can chuckle to myself.

Big thanks to Coal Berner for the phone calls. What a great person, and a wealth of knowledge. And he is still busting my nuts that it took so long.

What a learning experience.

And Thank you to Wood N Coal for posting his install and taking the time to reply to the PM's.

Great lookin install! I can't wait to get started on mine.

Nice job! Glad to see it burning.

Thanks guys. I have the low water cutoff and out fire switch on and wired. I have power to low water first, if it passes it goes to the out fire control, pass that test and everything is a go.

Unless you see something I forgot, I am almost done. Just got some tweaking on the fan switch in the plenum but that should be it.
It was nice to have the wide open area to work in, I learned a lot on this project.

... and for a sneak preview on the next project, a whole home generator. Coleman brand Honda motor, 11k

What type of insulation is that you have on the boiler ? As for the generator, are you doing an automatic transfer switch, and is it gas or propane ?

The insulation is not much at all. I am not aware of the name, but appears to be bubble wrap and tinfoil. I plan on using an auto transfer switch and it is set up for propane now, but also runs on NG. But on NG the manual says its only good for 10k.


This picture shows the insulation better