Heat Excahnger Sizing for a KA 6 Keystoker Boiler
Hello. I have been trying to decide on the Harman VF3000 boiler or a Keystoker boiler. I have forced hot air and want to put in a heat exchanger for heat and heat my hotwater. I started to make a few calls and Harman said that there unit would not work (not sure why). So I called a Keystoker dealer and then called Keystoker and talked to Jim he was great answered all my questions and assured me that a KA 6 would work for my application asked him about a heat exchanger size but he told me to contact a HVAC contractor in my area for the sizing so I guess I will. I wish I could figure that on my own there has got to be a chart on BTU's and square footage that I could figure out myself I have duct work sizes. But I will contact somebody if I have to. Any help would be great! Thanks Jason
- Rob R.
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 17965
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
Hi Jason - You can do a heat loss calculation on your home and base the heat exchanger and boiler size off that number. There are a number of programs that you can use to do this, and even a few websites.
e.g. http://www.warmlyyours.com/hlc/room/room_general
How do well does your current system heat your home? Do you know how many BTU's per hour the furnace is rated at?
-Rob
e.g. http://www.warmlyyours.com/hlc/room/room_general
How do well does your current system heat your home? Do you know how many BTU's per hour the furnace is rated at?
-Rob
- watkinsdr
- Member
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sat. Mar. 24, 2007 8:14 pm
- Location: Kensington, New Hampshire
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S260 Boiler
Please check your existing FHA furnace for its BTU capacity; assuming, your existing furnace heats your home without problems... I realize assuming is never good...
I'm in the process of doing the same upgrade. I love my Keystoker Koker; but, I want to generate unlimited DHW year 'round. My furnace has a data plate on the inside which states its capacity on either natural gas; or, propane---with propane being significantly less.
I'm assuming you're going the creative route and installing your own heat exchanger in your hot air plenum. I plan on buying a heat exchanger with slightly more capacity than my existing furnace. I believe my existing furnace has approx. 110K BTU net with propane; so, I'm going with an exchanger with approx. 130K BTU capacity.
Please keep us updated on your progress.
I'm in the process of doing the same upgrade. I love my Keystoker Koker; but, I want to generate unlimited DHW year 'round. My furnace has a data plate on the inside which states its capacity on either natural gas; or, propane---with propane being significantly less.
I'm assuming you're going the creative route and installing your own heat exchanger in your hot air plenum. I plan on buying a heat exchanger with slightly more capacity than my existing furnace. I believe my existing furnace has approx. 110K BTU net with propane; so, I'm going with an exchanger with approx. 130K BTU capacity.
Please keep us updated on your progress.
Watkinsdr, why not just use the hot water coil option in the Koker for your hot water instead of switching to the boiler solution? Love my Koker also, performing better that I ever imagined. Keeping the house at 74 and using about 5 tons a year. Your help a while back was priceless!
- watkinsdr
- Member
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sat. Mar. 24, 2007 8:14 pm
- Location: Kensington, New Hampshire
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S260 Boiler
Hey jrn8265:
I have a DHW coil in my Koker; and, it works great! But running the Koker 24/7/365 is unrealistic to generate DHW; so, I'm upgrading to an AHS S-130 Coal Gun boiler. I plan on running the Coal Gun year 'round heating the house (with a heat exchanger in my FHA plenum, using my existing furnace as an air handler), heating my DHW, and heating my in-ground pool.
The boiler arrives tomorrow, Friday 3/25. I plan on installing everything (except the new coal bin...) Saturday 4/2. I hope to have detailed digital pictures of the whole thing... My wife is the official photogragher!!
Best Regards
I have a DHW coil in my Koker; and, it works great! But running the Koker 24/7/365 is unrealistic to generate DHW; so, I'm upgrading to an AHS S-130 Coal Gun boiler. I plan on running the Coal Gun year 'round heating the house (with a heat exchanger in my FHA plenum, using my existing furnace as an air handler), heating my DHW, and heating my in-ground pool.
The boiler arrives tomorrow, Friday 3/25. I plan on installing everything (except the new coal bin...) Saturday 4/2. I hope to have detailed digital pictures of the whole thing... My wife is the official photogragher!!
Best Regards