Coil Failures Need Advice

I posted a while back about putting in a SS coil in my stove. I received some excellent technical advice. My problem now is that I'm worried about the coil failing because of the temps in the stove. THe coil sits about 2-3" off the fire. I was wondering if anyone has heard any problems with this type of application (coil in stove)? I'm also worried if I did have a problem if it would be covered under my insurance. I really think I'll save a ton of money with the coil but again I'm worried about a steam explosion and water flooding my house. Is it worth it??

If the water is circulating through the coil, it is unlikely to boil to steam. Unless you do not have large enough of a tempering tank. or haven't used any hot water for a long time, you should not have an issue.

If no hot water has been used for a long time, then just run some hot water to cool down the holding tank.

If plumbed correctly you should have no problems.

As for insurance, if the plumbing is done to code they should not be able to deny coverage.

As for being worth it, personally I like not burning ANY propane to heat the house and water. It's worth it for me. The only propane I burn during winter is for the clothes dryer and cooking. Maybe $20-30/month. Much better than the $1200++/month before coal.

Hope this helps. Greg L.

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Another thing to consider is backup power for the circulation pump. If you are not prone to power outages, they you should be okay or if you have a generator. You may want to look into a 12Vdc or equal backup pump/power supply to keep the water circulating..

Without a headspace you can't make much steam anyway. It will probably overpressurize and pop the saftey valve at the water tank. That will allow cooler additional make up water into the system and the cycle will repeat.

I was told the coil should sit about 6-8" over the grate? Does this distance sound OK or is it conservative?

Thanks

I think anywhere above the fire would be OK. I suppose the temps above the fire in the firebox are pretty consistent anyway. It should not contact the fire. I would want it pretty clear of the coal bed, especially with a hand fired. Repeated hits with your service tools could be a problem eventually.

The hand fired coal boiler I tended as a teenager heated domestic hot water. It had a cast iron "hand" suspended above the fire about six inches, right where the flue gases would turn to make it's second pass through the boiler tubes. It was a cast iron lump that looked like a four fingered hand. Suspended by its 3/4 inch iron supply and return water pipes. It was certainly out of the way of coal shovels or clinker pokers.

Yanche wrote: It was a cast iron lump that looked like a four fingered hand.

That would be a cartoon hand.

My stove is an automatic feed stoker so I don't have to worry about hand shaking. When I leave the house in the morning I put the stove down for a low fire. Does it matter if the coil is 3 or 6" off the fire.? Heat rises so I'm not sure if a few inches would make a difference. However, when I fire the stove hard having the coils higher may be a good thing?