Keystoker KA6 shut down ?? or let run ?? for summer

Hi Everyone

is it better to let my boiler run all summer or shut it down ?? I have been shutting it down every summer , if i do let it run do u still clean it ?? just looking for thoughts , cause i have read some people just let it go all year round . thanks as always

jay

Hi Jay - You should clean & service the boiler/stoker either way, but if you fire it back up you don't need to rust proof anything. You may not save much (or any) $ by running through the summer, but it depends on your other option(s) for producing hot water. If the K6 keeps the basement dry, and you want to maximize the boiler and flue pipe life...I'd keep burning and see how it goes.

Clean the boiler as often as you like, and my .02 says to run it 24/7-365 unless residual heat keeps the basement warmer than you want it to be. The small fire and smaller demand for hot water will keep it running well, and I have been doing the 24/7-365 for over 42 years now. When you do shut it down, you may see a few gaskets seeping as the contraction of the steel occurs, and this could be a great time to do a little R&R.

The exhaust piping is most important, so carefully check that out, and replace as necessary. Saving money with another hot water source does not necessarily work out well, when you consider the things that may not last anywhere near as long as because of the thermal changes.

What he said plus, it is a known fact that thermal cycling is not anywhere near as kind to metal as a steady state temperature condition.It all depends on the specific conditions [time,money,maintenance,etc]that you want to establish. Mike

I keep my Yellow Flame boiler running almost year round. I have the timer set to fluff the fire at the longest between firings that it will stay lit. The only time I have any problems is when the outside temp gets over 92 then I lose all draft and the fire goes out before the next fluff cycle comes on. No biggie. I made my own burn bags with lunch bags, crushed lump coal, and strips of newspaper. I have the temps set at 120/140 and we have plenty of hot water. When the wife wants in the tub she demands HOT skin removing water so I bump it to 140-160 for her then turn it back down to 120-140.

I kept pretty good records one year and I am burning 1/4 ton a month for DHW. That works out to about $45 a month for DHW. If I went to an electric 40 gallon heater it would run me about $37-$40 a month in electricity plus I would have to spend the $$$ for the heater, wiring, breaker, and copper pipe to connect it into the system. Then I would have to break down the boiler, scrape it, clean it to within an inch of it's metal life to keep it from corroding away to a pile of rust each summer. I'll burn the 5-10 bucks a month in extra coal usage. It's worth it to me.

We have experienced higher than normal heat and humidity for the central region of NYS lately. Wife wants the boiler shut down. I don't want to but man has it been uncomfortable until the humidity dropped to normal yesterday. I have a half ton left and a full 275 gallon fuel oil tank. I'm on the fence about shutting down. Probably will for the first time since 10/2010. Will have to clean the boiler very thoroughly and get some incadescent lightbulbs going. Our basement is dry but cement block/masonary always has moisture available to start corrosion. I'll find out soon enough.

Steve, how warm is your basement?

Rob

The basesment is warm. It's not finished off space right now. I'm sure it transmits heat up through the floors. But, it is bone dry down there. We do NOT have a wet/damp basement but it is cement block walls with cement floor- all exposed. I'm planning a wall or room of sorts around the boiler and coal bin to restrict dust from coal and ash. I'm sure that would help reduce the heat signature for the rest of the basement. Probably need to put an external air supply into the newly walled off area. Then I may be able to burn all summer without the wife complaining. Our weather has eased a bit with a reduction of humidity and high temps which has stopped the complaining. When I do shut down I can't wait for the wife's shower to go cold cuz the oil boiler can't recover fast enough.

Have you tried opening some windows? Is the boiler and piping insulated?

Opening the windows would help, I'm sure. My wife worries about robbers, interlopers, and such being able to access any space of our home . So she sets this battle up all the time. Funny you should ask. I have placed the black expensive pipe insulation on most all of the boiler and loop piping. The boiler just has the factory insulation under the tins with no additional insulation. I'm sure opening the windows and obsecene amounts of insulation would cut down on the heat transfer to some degree. I say run it! If I was not sitting on a FULL tank of heating oil I would get 7-8 ton of coal next week and keep stoking. I do need to shut down to clean things up, though. I'm currently maintaing 1-1.5 inch of flame between the coal and ashe. About seven 5 gallon buckets a week giving about one ash pan per week.

Dirty Steve wrote:Opening the windows would help, I'm sure. My wife worries about robbers, interlopers, and such being able to access any space of our home

Good thing the robbers can't knock the glass out of a window. Maybe put a sign next to the open window that says "Do not close, venting toxic coal gas".

Add a small sign on your home: "Rehabilitation Center for Eastern Mountain Lions, please close all gates behind you." Toss a couple large bones on the lawn for the 'interlopers and miscreants' to view........

Order up that 8 tons before you spend the money on "summer things"!!! PS: The wife will get used to the warm basement.......or the cooler showers.

ok i see everyone says let her run ., so since there is a lil fire in there clean it as i would if there was no fire ?? i was rubbing 3n1 oil on the grate part everyyear to avoid ruist buid up etc... scraping boiler walls etc... blow out fans ?? but i think the boiler will run !!! thankls everyone waiting for your help as always

Yup....still burning. Humid outside with temp in the 90's. This weekend time permitting I can shut down, clean properly and paint anything that needs it..... I hope.