Hitzer 710 Creosote Buildup Under Grate

Hi, I have a Hitzer 710 coal furnace. This is my first coal stove, so I am still learning. I have burned 2 ton of coal in it. After the first ton of coal, the grate that slides back and forth to feed the coal was so "creosoted" underneath that it was basically welded to the bottom. I had to beat the movable slider out with a sledge hammer, I cleaned the whole assembly. I thought maybe this was due to letting the coal fire go out in the morning as days were reaching 50+ here in WNY and lighting the fire again each night. After a second ton of coal, I took everything apart again and this same thing had happened even though I had been letting the stove idle on warm days. I have now installed a monometer to ensure a .03-.06" water column, checks out.

Any ideas what might be causing the creosote or creosote-like substance? I thought that coal would not produce creosote. I only burn coal.

Thanks very much.

Adam

Coal does not produce creosote anywhere in a stove. Are you talking about clinkers? Photo's please.

Sounds like moisture and fines/sludge. Are you burning wet coal?

Rob R. wrote:Sounds like moisture and fines/sludge. Are you burning wet coal?

That may be it. I have been using Blaschak bagged but for my third ton, I have switched to bulk. It seems drier, so maybe that will cure itself.

Sorry, no pics to post since the plate has been cleaned recently; if it happens again I will be sure to get pics. Thanks for your replies!

I am with the others. There is NO WAY that any creosote product can be produced, and it is very likely that a fine paste of dust and water are creating the mess you call 'creosote.' To prove it to yourself, scrape as much as you can into a metal can, and try lighting it with a torch. If it were creosote it would blister and burn with a nasty smell. Coal probably won't do a thing.

I think you may have heard this before, but PLEASE open the Blashak bags into a tote or similar container and let it drain off for a day or two. This will stop any moisture issues, however make damned sure you can capture the liquid or enjoy a stained floor. This is a 'heads-up' for all coal burners, we all know moisture is a factor, just learn how to deal with it, or suffer poor performance from your coal device.

I'd love a report on your Hitzer 710, as I hear it is a great stove from a very good company. Fearless Freetown Fred swears by them and not at them, so that goes a looooong way in my book!
With any of the inclined bed stokers, I suggest you keep an eye on fines under the grate or grates, because that is the path for the air under the grate. Performance will degrade as they fill up.......and wet fly ash is a real issue.
Like Nike says: JUST DO IT.....clean it regularly. Call Dean if you need more advise. -14 here, no co-ed naked snow angels today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS: all bagged coal is slightly damp, so don't rule out Blashak, learn how to live with it. It is a poor craftsman who blames the tool !!!!!!!!

I also burn wet, bagged Blashak, and one thing I do which may not be possible if you have a smaller stove hopper is basically add coal everyday rather than let the hopper run way down before filling. By throwing a bag (usually that is all I burn a day) in daily, there is always dry coal laying underneath the new (wet) coal. By the time the new coal gets down to the pusher bar it is pretty much dry. When feeding the stove, my coal is always wet, but never dripping. The only time I experience bags dripping water is when I first bring them in from my supplier in the spring. The excess water must drain out of the bags by the time winter rolls around.

I know most people like stoker stoves because they don't need to be tended every single day, but I always check mine when I get home from work to double check draft, CO detector, etc, so while I am there I just throw a bag of coal in also. Besides, it gives me something to do during the dead of winter!!!

Speaking of wet coal, over the summer I painted my hopper with Rustoleum's aerosol truck bed coating material and my hopper is staying nice and rust free this winter. The hopper should last dang near forever with that coating on it!!!! Yes, I do empty and detach it from the stove during the off season.

Thanks for the tips! I have talked with Dean also at Hitzer, I am very impressed with their customer service 100% for sure! I'm in my first season with coal, wasn't looking to point fingers at the coal or the stove, just trying to understand! Thanks again! Everyone on this forum is so helpful, I've read many articles that have helped me along so much, but just got the initiative to create an account looking for advice with this particular issue as I hadn't had much luck finding one similar. I only burnt bagged coal for convenience while I got things figured out, it was always the plan to switch to bulk (I didn't switch coal due to Blaschak)

Hey thanks for your question. Went through the same thing and yes beat that slider silly trying to get it to move. Learned from your post about wet coal bought several buckets drilled holes in the bottom, water drains got dry coal. Thank God for this forum...

I use Blaschak coal also and yes the bags are wet, I have a medium size rubber maid tub I pour 7-8 bags into and then scoop it out into 5 gal buckets and let it sit in front of the stove drying it more then into the stove. I’m in WNY also so I noticed that when it’s freezing out the wet coal will freeze together and you have to chip at it to fill the bucket ! I agree with keeping the hopper full that seems to work very well, I also at the end of the burning season clean out the stove, remove the fans and oil every part of the stove to protect it from rust during the humid summers !

A big +1 B!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!