Coal Boiler: Anybody cover it with insulation?

Hello Everybody,

Entering my 2nd season using a coal boiler. When I got a refill in the middle of last winter, the delivery guy told me that if I cover the boiler with insulation, the boiler will consume 1/3 less coal. Alot of heat is lost through the skin of the boiler. I then put 2 rolls of R13 over the top of it and down the sides. Not sure how much of an impact this made?

I have an old house (1884). Not sure if I'm helping myself or hurting myself by restricting the passive heat to come up through the floors? Can I have some opinions please? Thanks!

Leo

I had a wood boiler add-on, married with an oil boiler in my "marital residence". I wrapped the wood boiler with insulation (the rigid foil covered fiberglass), mostly because it was way too warm in the basement, where the boiler was located. Heat in the house, is "heat in the house", ... get it where you want it. ??

I like the warm floors that a warm basement gives you. If its too warm down there wrap it, if not, I would leave it.

Is the basement where the boiler is located damp and cold? The heat from the boiler will help keep the basement dry. Is the basement too warm and is not prone to being damp? Then I'd insulate the boiler.

I don't think there would be a 1/3 savings, maybe a 1/10th savings in fuel use. But like stated above, heat in the house is heat in the house. Having warm floors is a big pluss for comfort.

Greg L

my basement is cold and damp. I don't use it for anything other than the cat's liter box. 1/3 savings does sound like a bit much.

The other reason you might want isulation is if you run it all summer for the hot water, in that case its to keep the heat out of the basement.

leowis1 wrote: 1/3 savings does sound like a bit much.

I'd agree with the above, heat goes up.... One of the things usually commented about our house is that it's the same temperature in every room. You don't have cold spots, I firmly believe the giant block of heat sitting in the basement is one reason.

The other reason you might want isulation is if you run it all summer for the hot water, in that case its to keep the heat out of the basement.

I turn the coal boiler off in May can clean it out with a shop-vac. I then switch over to the gas hot water heater. I'm heating with my gas boiler at the moment. The turkey-day high will be 64 and then drop down to the low 40s. I'll switch over to the coal boiler and keep it that way until April.

If you have hot water jacket it's worth it, not only do you get the hot water but it will add a considerable amount of life to the unit.We burn about a ton between June and august.

Mine is insulated. If the boiler starts to hit high limit in the winter I'll probably pull the insulation off it to allow it to throw more heat into the house.

Hey Leo, I was wondering where you got to. Lutz said he was hearing from you.