Sulfur Smell

Post Reply
 
mason coal burner
Member
Posts: 797
Joined: Sun. Sep. 27, 2009 12:25 pm
Location: so. nh

Post by mason coal burner » Fri. Nov. 05, 2010 7:27 pm

i'm getting a sulfur smell this year that I didn't get last year . this is only my second year burning coal . last year I burned kimmels . this year i'm burning coal I got bulk from small time guy no idea where he gets it . using MPD this year not last year . when reloading this year I started just loading coal to top of bricks all at once after shaking . last year I would load coal in layers letting each one catch after shaking . these are the only things I've done different . any ideas why i'm getting sulfur smell ?

 
User avatar
jpete
Member
Posts: 10829
Joined: Thu. Nov. 22, 2007 9:52 am
Location: Warwick, RI
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Mk II
Coal Size/Type: Stove, Nut, Pea
Other Heating: Dino juice

Post by jpete » Fri. Nov. 05, 2010 7:35 pm

Either you aren't burning hot enough or the coal simply has a high sulfur content. I've been burning coal for most of 10 years now and sometimes it's very bad, sometimes not at all. I always get it from the same guy but I have no idea where he gets it.

 
User avatar
Coalfire
Member
Posts: 1029
Joined: Mon. Nov. 23, 2009 8:28 pm
Location: Denver, PA
Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine 96K btu Circulator
Coal Size/Type: Nut

Post by Coalfire » Fri. Nov. 05, 2010 8:55 pm

Sulfer smeel in house or out of chimney???

 
User avatar
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

Post by freetown fred » Fri. Nov. 05, 2010 9:11 pm

with this crappy HEAVY weather we've been having here--I've been having some sulpher smell outside--it's bad tonight--but the weather is REAL heavy--I don't know what you've got weather wise in NH---I always keep my manual damper 2/3 closed---no fumes inside

 
User avatar
oliver power
Member
Posts: 2970
Joined: Sun. Apr. 16, 2006 9:28 am
Location: Near Dansville, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: KEYSTOKER Kaa-2
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93 & 30-95, Vigilant (pre-2310), D.S. 1600 Circulator, Hitzer 254

Post by oliver power » Fri. Nov. 05, 2010 9:23 pm

open the manual damper more.....


 
mason coal burner
Member
Posts: 797
Joined: Sun. Sep. 27, 2009 12:25 pm
Location: so. nh

Post by mason coal burner » Fri. Nov. 05, 2010 9:40 pm

smell is in and out at least most of the time . not strong . but noticable . should I open MPD more all the time or just hour or so after fresh load .

 
User avatar
I'm On Fire
Member
Posts: 3918
Joined: Thu. Jun. 10, 2010 9:34 am
Location: Vernon, New Jersey
Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machines DS-1600 Hot Air Circulator

Post by I'm On Fire » Fri. Nov. 05, 2010 10:08 pm

MPD should be left open for several minutes or more after adding a new charge of coal. I don't think its necessary to leave it open for an hour or so.

 
User avatar
coaledsweat
Site Moderator
Posts: 13763
Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
Location: Guilford, Connecticut
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
Coal Size/Type: Pea

Post by coaledsweat » Fri. Nov. 05, 2010 10:31 pm

mason coal burner wrote:using MPD this year not last year . when reloading this year I started just loading coal to top of bricks all at once after shaking . last year I would load coal in layers letting each one catch after shaking . these are the only things I've done different . any ideas why i'm getting sulfur smell ?
Leave the MPD open. If the smell goes away, lose the MPD. If it doesn't, try loading your coal like last year.

 
User avatar
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

Post by freetown fred » Fri. Nov. 05, 2010 10:31 pm

As OP said,if you're getting some inside--open the manual damper & leave it till this cold sets in :) then shut it some

 
franco b
Site Moderator
Posts: 11416
Joined: Wed. Nov. 05, 2008 5:11 pm
Location: Kent CT
Hand Fed Coal Stove: V ermont Castings 2310, Franco Belge 262
Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood Modern Oak 114
Coal Size/Type: nut and pea

Post by franco b » Fri. Nov. 05, 2010 10:54 pm

By loading coal in a large batch it takes time to get hot enough to burn the gasses, which leads to the smell. You were doing the right thing in loading in layers. When it is colder you can load in larger amounts since the stove will be running hotter. Many will leave the ash door open until blue flames appear before closing the ash door. The major advantage of a hopper in a stove is that the fresh coal will be very hot and near ignition temperature so will ignite gasses quickly.


 
buck24
Member
Posts: 379
Joined: Sun. Feb. 28, 2010 5:47 pm
Location: NEPA/Pittston Twp. PA
Hand Fed Coal Stove: New Buck Corp. / MODEL 24 COAL
Coal Size/Type: Pea, Nut / Anthracite

Post by buck24 » Fri. Nov. 05, 2010 11:32 pm

I would open the MPD and then I would shake the stove down. Next, I would add the coal in layers like you did last year. Give it a little time to catch good and you see the blue ladies and you know that the gases are being burned off. Now when you have a good fire going you can cut back on the MPD about 3/4 closed and see if there is a difference. Some stoves seem to get choked out when you fill them up quickly in one shot. You will have to experiment with the timing when to close your MPD 3/4' s of the way.

 
User avatar
Berlin
Member
Posts: 1890
Joined: Thu. Feb. 09, 2006 1:25 pm
Location: Wyoming County NY

Post by Berlin » Sat. Nov. 06, 2010 12:35 am

if you're getting sulfur smell in the house consider that an indicator of a problem, not THE problem. the loading/sulfur content of the coal isn't the issue, the flue gasses entering the home are, be thankful you can smell it. lose the MPD

 
User avatar
Tim
Member
Posts: 326
Joined: Wed. Apr. 15, 2009 8:49 am
Location: Grampian, PA

Post by Tim » Sat. Nov. 06, 2010 3:46 am

Hve ya checked for a fly ash build up in the chimney ??...My AA130 if I neglected it would give ya that rotten egg smell ..only to find a build up of ash in the pipes cutting the draft.

 
User avatar
oliver power
Member
Posts: 2970
Joined: Sun. Apr. 16, 2006 9:28 am
Location: Near Dansville, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: KEYSTOKER Kaa-2
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93 & 30-95, Vigilant (pre-2310), D.S. 1600 Circulator, Hitzer 254

Post by oliver power » Sat. Nov. 06, 2010 7:24 am

Berlin wrote:if you're getting sulfur smell in the house consider that an indicator of a problem, not THE problem. the loading/sulfur content of the coal isn't the issue, the flue gasses entering the home are, be thankful you can smell it. lose the MPD
I too am not a fan of MPD's in pipe when burning coal. Barometric damper I can see. But not a manual pipe damper, in a modern air tight coal stove.

Post Reply

Return to “Hand Fired Coal Stoves & Furnaces Using Anthracite”