Recommend a Coal Boiler

Van Wert is another brand to consider. They are one of the few units that are one piece (base & boiler), auger fed, can burn buck and/or rice, easy to insulate, and are very efficient.

I have been on this forum for a few years now, and I have read thousands of posts about each kind of boiler. As stated, my Harman would not handle this home nor would I recommend it. However, if I was building new, I would want a new boiler. Leisure Line uses the proven boiler tube of the Axeman and feeds it with a bullet proof bed stoker. I have no doubts that my choice would be the LL 220. Maybe someday I will have a home(well, I still have 2 up there) that I reside in, in the northern climes. Then I will test the choice with one. Can't go wrong with any of the suggestions, some have a higher degree of learning and tech savvy to operate and maintain. That is why I lean to the simpler bed stoker in a superior boiler design.

Kevin

Vampiro wrote: EFM makes a nice boiler. They also are built well and have underfed stokers. Axeman has a far better auger design, where it feeds the proper amount, and excess goes back down the center hole. It is less susceptible to jams, and the longevity is far better.

I'll defer to Doug if he says the AA's are more "hands-off". In my experience with EFM's I can't really see any issues with auger jams or longevity that would be of any significance for a homeowner. I've run about 200 tons of coal through 3 different auger-fed EFM stokers and can recall only 1 time when the unit was stopped by a feed auger jam (which was caused by foreign material in the coal). Likewise, I haven't seen anything that looks like undue wear of the auger, and AFAIK the augers I have been using are decades old.

When materials other than stainless steel are used for the auger pipe, the pipe itself may become somewhat of a wear item (particularly if wet coal is used). I'm not aware of this issue being unique to EFM's (but that doesn't mean it isn't).

Mike

I'll defer to Doug if he says the AA's are more "hands-off". In my experience with EFM's I can't really see any issues with auger jams or longevity that would be of any significance for a homeowner. I've run about 200 tons of coal through 3 different auger-fed EFM stokers and can recall only 1 time when the unit was stopped by a feed auger jam (which was caused by foreign material in the coal). Likewise, I haven't seen anything that looks like undue wear of the auger, and AFAIK the augers I have been using are decades old.

When materials other than stainless steel are used for the auger pipe, the pipe itself may become somewhat of a wear item (particularly if wet coal is used). I'm not aware of this issue being unique to EFM's (but that doesn't mean it isn't).

I assuredly can't argue with any of that, I have never heard a bad word uttered about the EFM line. The only thing I will say about it is you need an expert close by, or you are one yourself. It is an old unit and you must rely on this forum or yourself to maintain and troubleshoot it. With LL, they are in business right now, they are in this forum, and the unit is more simple.

Kevin

Efm's have a very low auger angle that allows them to go under custom made skids. If you ever have an auger jam, (which I have never had so far) you just close the discharge gates and lift the skid off, exposing the auger box.

You have the perfect opportunity building a house to use a skid system. It requires less hoe work, utilizes more of your basement for coal storage and does not require a high basement height. You will not have to lift coal. The coal truck chutes wet coal into your skids and then the coal is dispensed from a sealed bag for no coal dust.

Check out the below links;
EFM 520 Install With Skid/Bulk Bags Feed

Check out vermontday's setup and the links posted, very ideal setup!

EFM is still in business and is still making the df520, you can purchase new.

If you set it and forget it, it will run as normal.
Fine tuning may have to be done, but that is typical with any model and with any particular set up.
The manual is only a few (large type) pages and will handle 99% of problems.
Of the very few problems I have experienced with an EFM, they were mainly due to user error or
fixing something that isnt broke

EFM also is on the forum with a rep.

KLook wrote: I assuredly can't argue with any of that, I have never heard a bad word uttered about the EFM line. The only thing I will say about it is you need an expert close by, or you are one yourself. It is an old unit and you must rely on this forum or yourself to maintain and troubleshoot it. With LL, they are in business right now, they are in this forum, and the unit is more simple.

Kevin

There are 17 EFM dealers in NY, including several in CNY. There is no shortage of expertise regarding the S-20 stoker that powers the current DF520, and most of the used/refurbed 350's and 520's out there.

The S-20 has few wear parts, and many owners have no problem with performing their own maintenance, even if a dealer is nearby. It should also be remembered that the EFM stokers are heavy duty units. The S-20 stoker unit alone weighs 214 lb; with proper care they should last a long time.

When I got my first EFM stoker, I received a 5-minute tutorial on its operation. That's all that was needed.

Mike

Guys my head is spinning with this most excellent information. Thanks so much so far. When I get to the stage where I need to implement the boiler I WILL ABSOLUTELY dig through this thread, as I have been a little each night. I wont lie.... I am confused as there just seems to be no optimal purchase. I need to run the cons and pros of each against my home and figure out the ones that suit me best. This is not an easy task. Thanks so much though.