KA-6 Burning 3 Pounds an Hour, Average.
- Carbon12
- Member
- Posts: 2226
- Joined: Tue. Oct. 11, 2011 6:53 pm
- Location: Harrisburg, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
- Coal Size/Type: Rice/Anthracite
- Other Heating: Heat Pump/Forced Hot Air Oil Furnace
Upper 20's to low 30's at night. 40's to 50's during the day. 2500 square foot house with merely adequate insulation but lots of merely adequate windows and a bunch of patio sliding doors and skylights. Not an overly windy spot. House at 70. DHW for 2 adults and 1 child. I think 3 pounds an hour is reasonable. 72 pounds/24 hrs. I just now removed some pins from the idle timer to see what effect that has on the consumption. Am I in the ballpark, usage wise???
- Rob R.
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 17980
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
You are the only one standing in the ballpark of that particular home. That is my sly way of saying what is normal for someone else might be much different for you. Regardless, you seem to be doing fine.
Changing the timer cycle will have little effect on consumption during the heating season, provided it is at a "reasonable" setting. For me, proper adjustment of the feed & air and the average operating temperature of the boiler have a more measurable impact on daily coal consumption during the heating season.
Changing the timer cycle will have little effect on consumption during the heating season, provided it is at a "reasonable" setting. For me, proper adjustment of the feed & air and the average operating temperature of the boiler have a more measurable impact on daily coal consumption during the heating season.
- Carbon12
- Member
- Posts: 2226
- Joined: Tue. Oct. 11, 2011 6:53 pm
- Location: Harrisburg, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
- Coal Size/Type: Rice/Anthracite
- Other Heating: Heat Pump/Forced Hot Air Oil Furnace
Roger, Rob forgot to mention hi limit 180, low limit 150. Diff of 15. Once it is steadily cold, I'll have to fine tune more. I am getting heat loss, sort of, through the hot air coil. The water is thermosiphoning through it. I need to put a spring valve in the zone. Damn,....I figured I thought of everything when I designed the piping! Live and learn
- whistlenut
- Member
- Posts: 3548
- Joined: Sat. Mar. 17, 2007 6:29 pm
- Location: Central NH, Concord area
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AA130's,260's, AHS130&260's,EFM900,GJ & V-Wert
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Franks,Itasca 415,Jensen, NYer 130,Van Wert
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Alaska, EFM, Keystoker, Yellow Flame
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Alaska, Keystoker-2,Leisure Line
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Alaska, Gibraltar, Keystone,Vc Vigilant 2
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Ford, Jensen, NYer, Van Wert,
- Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwoods
- Coal Size/Type: Barley, Buck, Rice ,Nut, Stove
- Other Heating: Oil HWBB
Usage seems normal, but it is not that cold yet. Spring check is part of the 'learn as you burn' chapter 3. If you are warm and safe, all is good. Don't sweat the small stuff.....and it's all small stuff.