KA-6 Burning 3 Pounds an Hour, Average.

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Carbon12
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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

Post by Carbon12 » Thu. Nov. 21, 2013 10:26 am

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???

 
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Rob R.
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Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
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Post by Rob R. » Thu. Nov. 21, 2013 10:40 am

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.


 
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Carbon12
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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

Post by Carbon12 » Thu. Nov. 21, 2013 11:00 am

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

 
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whistlenut
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Post by whistlenut » Thu. Nov. 21, 2013 11:04 am

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. :idea:

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