Newbie Boiler Questions

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Badfish740
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Post by Badfish740 » Wed. Jan. 09, 2008 5:32 pm

So I'm still looking for a house, but I do know that when the time comes I'm going to want a coal (or wood/coal) boiler. My fiancee and I are only looking at homes with hotwater baseboard heat because she has pretty bad allergies and when she mentioned to her doctor that we were looking at homes he recommended only considering homes with non-forced air heat and hardwood floors rather than carpet. I'm not looking to replace an oil or propane boiler totally (oil seems to be the norm for boilers here in Northwestern New Jersey), but rather I'd like to add on the coal boiler and use it primarily with the other boiler as a fall back for when we're away for long periods of time, etc...

My first question is since we're looking at the coal boiler as a supplemental, rather than primary heat source, are there any that are hand fired? I don't see the need for getting a stoker since my other heating system will be at the ready if the temperature drops below 68 degrees.

Next, are there many boilers on the market that can burn coal and wood? I plan to also install a woodstove on the first floor of the house for ambiance as well as supplemental heat. I'd like to be able to use wood in both the boiler and the upstairs stove in the event that I come into a glut of wood-in that case I'd save my coal for a rainy day.

Finally, since I plan to only burn coal in the basement and I'll be using quite a bit of it, what should I do about storage? I've seen a few coal bin photos on here which have been informative, but I was wondering if there were any special precautions I should be taken. I know that coal isn't that easily ignited, but what should I do besides keep open flames away and a large fire extinguisher near by?

All in all I like the idea of having options (wood, coal, oil) as far as how I can heat my home. In these energy markets diversity is the way to go.

 
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Highlander
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Post by Highlander » Wed. Jan. 09, 2008 6:02 pm

Whereabouts in NNJ are you?

There are a few different handfired boilers out there, Harman Keystoker and AHS are some that come to mind. I've seen quite a few older designs such as the HS Tarm units on ebay also.

You may want to consider a stoker boiler with an oil burner option, Harman and Keystoker have dual fuel units, they are more efficient burning the coal and are a lot less work then a handfired unit. One boiler instead of two means less plumbing and less space in your mechanical room or basement. You can't burn wood in them, but I suspect feeding a wood boiler will get old very quickly. Creosote buildup in the chimney of a woodfired boiler should also be considered.

Here is a link for Harman
**Broken Link(s) Removed**Here is a link for AHS http://www.alternateheatingsystems.com/Multi-Fuel ... oilers.htm
Here is a link for Keystoker
**Broken Link(s) Removed**

 
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coaledsweat
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Post by coaledsweat » Wed. Jan. 09, 2008 6:29 pm

Badfish740 wrote:Next, are there many boilers on the market that can burn coal and wood? I plan to also install a woodstove on the first floor of the house for ambiance as well as supplemental heat.
Yes there are, and no that is not what you want. Get the stoker, you won't need a woodstove or supplemental heat. Two boilers in the basement, one burning coal and one you never want to use.
You want ambiance? Burn your wood in a fireplace as God intended! :)

I have 15 years at what you want to do, if I knew then what I know now...............


 
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europachris
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Post by europachris » Wed. Jan. 09, 2008 8:18 pm

I grew up with a hand-fed hot air supplemental system, burnt both wood and coal. I'll never ever go back now that I've had a stoker. Wife and I are both out of the house 10 hours or more a day, and unless I can train my dogs to tend a fire, a hand fed just isn't practical unless you're going to burn wood and coal. Most hand fed boilers are NOT optimized for anthracite coal, only bituminous (which is what we burned and it was nasty in a hand fed) and burning wood in a large unit will require feedings every 4 to 6 hours to get any sort of heat (and minimize creosote) and eat a LOT of wood.

I have nothing against hand-fed, and would really like a hopper fed anthracite stove like the old Surdiac or a new Hitzer. But, I have no chimney here for one, so I had to go the direct vent stoker route and love it. I'm partial to Keystoker just because I have one and like the design. They make a range of boilers that will work for you depending on what house you select. A member here just installed a Kaa-2 (the smallest unit) and is having great luck with it, and a few others have the Ka-4 and Ka-6 units (larger respectively). Others will chime in with personal preferences, I'm sure! :)

But, if you are talking main heating source, go with a stoker. No question. I'm jealous as coal fired hydronic heat would be the Cadillac setup. My parents have a house in Whippany, NJ with hot water and it's just so nice. They have a older Morso wood stove upstairs, but I'm trying to talk my father into a stoker boiler and keep the natural gas unit for backup. I don't think they'll be staying in the house that much longer, he's pushing 68, and while still in excellent health, they are looking to move into a condo, etc. and get away from 1 acre of yard care, snow blowing, house maintenance, etc.

 
Badfish740
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Post by Badfish740 » Thu. Jan. 10, 2008 11:23 am

coaledsweat wrote:I have 15 years at what you want to do, if I knew then what I know now...............
Ha! I guess I had this nostalgic notion of shoveling coal like my great grandfather. He was a fireman on the Pennsylvania Railroad who ran trains on what is now the Northeast Corridor between Trenton and New York City. Of course he eventually made engineer so I guess he got tired of shoveling too :D The coal stoker/oil option sounds like the best option for me. I'll still have a woodburner for the family room though.

 
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Post by Flyer5 » Thu. Jan. 10, 2008 5:58 pm

Badfish740 wrote:
coaledsweat wrote:I have 15 years at what you want to do, if I knew then what I know now...............
Ha! I guess I had this nostalgic notion of shoveling coal like my great grandfather. He was a fireman on the Pennsylvania Railroad who ran trains on what is now the Northeast Corridor between Trenton and New York City. Of course he eventually made engineer so I guess he got tired of shoveling too :D The coal stoker/oil option sounds like the best option for me. I'll still have a woodburner for the family room though.
If you have the room and really want to have a back up for extended days away from home I would add a seperate oil boiler piped in series parralel. This way when you are burning the oil or gas multiple days you can shut the water off to the coal unit . Then when you are home the oil/gas unit is just a backup .The multi fuel units are usually a comprimise on one fuel or all . You can find propane and oil boilers that are almost new for next to nothing now . I have a keystoker Ka4 and cannot say enough things about it . There are a lot of other units as well . Dave

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