Low Heat ? Won't Get Above 140 Deg

jcw265 · Post by **jcw265** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 5:52 pm

Hey everyone,

My KA6 will not get above 140 deg in water temp? The radiators are putting out heat but my house temp has gone from 68 to 61 ! Yes I am in Ohio and the temp has been -40 deg and my house has no insulation (1870) home solid brick. I have turned up the feed rate to see if that helps. Any suggestions please. As always thanks in advance

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 5:55 pm

turn off the radiators and see if the boiler will recover and get back to normal temp. then turn the rads. back on

jcw265 · Post by **jcw265** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 6:01 pm

I can't turn them off. Would turning down my house thermostat help by killing the call for heat?

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 6:09 pm

Got a manometer on that?
What's it reading?
How many ton burned this season?
Cleaned out the stove pipe recently?
Has the fire box been brushed as well as the heat exchanger this heatiing season?
Cleaned under the grates for fines accumulations?

Lot of questions aren't they?

jcw265 · Post by **jcw265** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 6:17 pm

Everything was fine until this cold weather hit. I clean my KA6 every year. Burn has been fine. Just seems like it can't keep up. Will turning down t-stat stop the pull for heat ?

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 6:22 pm

you might need to install one of those switches that turn off the circulators when boiler temps drop too low,I can't remember what it's called

Low cut off switch??

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 6:24 pm

What is the feed rate knob set at? How many turns out. How many inches of dead ash do you have at the end of the stoker grate?

jcw265 · Post by **jcw265** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 6:24 pm

Won't turning the t-stat do that. Example if I put t-stat on 50 wouldn't that stop the circ. Pump from pulling ?

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 6:25 pm

Yes, turning the thermostat down below room temperature will stop the circulators and allow the boiler to reach the set temperature. What are the high and low aqua stat settings? What's the differential?

jcw265 · Post by **jcw265** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 6:26 pm

Feed rate was 12 and is now 10. There was about 4-5 inches of ash.

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 6:27 pm

Rice or buck coal?

jcw265 · Post by **jcw265** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 6:27 pm

High 180. Low 160 diff is 10

jcw265 · Post by **jcw265** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 6:28 pm

Coal size = Rice

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 6:31 pm

Adjust the feed nut until you have only one or two inches of ash on the end of the grate. Try setting the diff at 15 and bump the high to 190 and low to 170.

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Tue. Jan. 07, 2014 6:33 pm

Only advance the feed rate 1 turn every 30-60 minutes. If hot coals are falling off the grate, back it down a turn