Anticipated Fire up Date for 2013-2014 Winter
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14658
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
I see a few of you guys are burning already.. I've been running the wood pellet insert in one end of the house and a little electric piggy heater in the new living room so far to keep the chill away.
This time of year I scope out the long range forecast for October and look for a good time to fire up the furnace. Last year it was Oct 26th, year before was closer to Halloween. I'm hoping to fire it a bit earlier this year since I've got the water coils to help my electric bill and I've gotten better at running lower fires so it doesn't get too warm in the house. For my area, It seems that Oct 9th is looking good, pretty cold at night and highs generally in the 50's, So I'm gonna tentatively plan a fire up for that day this year..
Anyone else have a fire up date in mind?
This time of year I scope out the long range forecast for October and look for a good time to fire up the furnace. Last year it was Oct 26th, year before was closer to Halloween. I'm hoping to fire it a bit earlier this year since I've got the water coils to help my electric bill and I've gotten better at running lower fires so it doesn't get too warm in the house. For my area, It seems that Oct 9th is looking good, pretty cold at night and highs generally in the 50's, So I'm gonna tentatively plan a fire up for that day this year..
Anyone else have a fire up date in mind?
- lsayre
- Member
- Posts: 21781
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 23, 2005 9:17 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
I'm heading for a shutdown for my annual clean-out on Saturday 10/5 - Sunday 10/6, followed by firing it back up right after, and turning on the Thermostats. I guess that means I'm targeting 10/6.
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- Site Moderator
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- Joined: Wed. Nov. 05, 2008 5:11 pm
- Location: Kent CT
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: V ermont Castings 2310, Franco Belge 262
- Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood Modern Oak 114
- Coal Size/Type: nut and pea
Been firing for over a week. About 8 to 10 pounds a day in the small Franco Belge to keep the house in the low 70s. At that firing rate there is only a small fire in the middle of the fire pot which illustrates again the importance of keeping as much heat as possible in the fire pot. The coal on the sides acts as insulation. Without the hopper to feed hot coal I doubt I could maintain such a small fire. A design like William's new Crawford I am sure could go very low and still keep a very efficient burn since it has just about the best insulated fire pot as possible.
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14658
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
franco b wrote:About 8 to 10 pounds a day in the small Franco Belge to keep the house in the low 70s.
Wow, that's awesome! The smallest amount of coal I've been able to achieve is about 20-25 pounds per day in my football field style burn chamber lol.
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- Site Moderator
- Posts: 11416
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 05, 2008 5:11 pm
- Location: Kent CT
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: V ermont Castings 2310, Franco Belge 262
- Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood Modern Oak 114
- Coal Size/Type: nut and pea
Yes, but remember the comfortable maximum for this stove is about 30 pounds per day, that's why I have a larger stove on the lower level of a raised ranch. This year that stove will be a Vigilant 2310 to try out.Lightning wrote:franco b wrote:About 8 to 10 pounds a day in the small Franco Belge to keep the house in the low 70s.
Wow, that's awesome! The smallest amount of coal I've been able to achieve is about 20-25 pounds per day in my football field style burn chamber lol.
Running a stove low is also dependent on a very easy drafting chimney. I once ran the smallest version of the Franco so low the smoke pipe was cold to the touch, The present one is lukewarm.
- freetown fred
- Member
- Posts: 30293
- Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
- Location: Freetown,NY 13803
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut
I'm with franco--I been lit off for a week--running about 10-15 lbs a day idled down real nicely shake every 2 days-- Keeps the damp out of this 250 yr old stone foundation, AND ME
- anthony7812
- Member
- Posts: 5141
- Joined: Sat. Mar. 12, 2011 2:04 pm
- Location: Colley,Pennsylvania
- Stoker Coal Boiler: VanWert VA 400
- Coal Size/Type: Buck/Anthracite
I'm gonna echo freetown, its been producing a small little red glow buried in blackness allowing me a good 24-36 hr burns. Had to open a window or 2 here lately but keeps the basement dry and nights warm.
- Rob R.
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- Posts: 17977
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
I keep my EFM burning year-round, but the heat has turned on a few times in the last week. I consider October 1st the start of the season. I just shut the power off to my EFM, I will let it cool off over night and give it a good cleaning tomorrow to get ready for the cold.
- Wiz
- Member
- Posts: 926
- Joined: Sun. Nov. 27, 2011 8:45 pm
- Location: Tannersville Pa
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker Ka 6
- Coal Size/Type: Casey Junk Coal :(
Running ka-6 year round and completed pre season cleaning today. Started my one match light at 5:00 pm , determine to keep thermostat off until Nov 1. Subject to change if wife says turn thermostat on, rather burn coal then get hit by frying pan.
- Lightning
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- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
According to the long range forecast I'll need to push the start up date back another week to Oct 16th. It's gonna hold mid to upper 60's thru till then. It's been dry to. I don't think olean has seen any rain for about 10 days now.
- anthony7812
- Member
- Posts: 5141
- Joined: Sat. Mar. 12, 2011 2:04 pm
- Location: Colley,Pennsylvania
- Stoker Coal Boiler: VanWert VA 400
- Coal Size/Type: Buck/Anthracite
Lopez cold springs has never not flowed, I have filled up gallon jugs in a matter of a second before. Took about 2 minutes to fill a gallon jug, she is gettin dry around here. I let the fire go out about a week ago seeing what the temps were gonna run for this week, im sure glad I did whew its warm.
- SMITTY
- Member
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- Joined: Sun. Dec. 11, 2005 12:43 pm
- Location: West-Central Mass
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 Highboy
- Coal Size/Type: Rice / Blaschak anthracite
- Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler
The way I'm going I won't have this boiler hooked up until Turkey day .... but bring on the heat! Loving this! 2 weeks in Cali, then a heatwave back home.
Makes the constant sneezing, eye watering and multiple asthma attacks tolerable.
Makes the constant sneezing, eye watering and multiple asthma attacks tolerable.