How Long Will Your Stoker Hold a Fire

Phil May · Post by **Phil May** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 6:22 pm

Sat mourning I shut stoker off at 4 am in anticipation of installing the domestic coil. At 8 am I started draining a very hot unit. Had new coil in and cleaned the boiler by 9 am. Refilled the boiler around 10 am. Turned back on a little after 10 and within 5 minutes had a blazzing fire. Kind of make me think the outfire timer is kind af not needed. And yes it was a pain trying to clean the gasket with steam coming out of hot boiler. God hates a coward.

carlherrnstein · Post by **carlherrnstein** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 7:08 pm

Back in the fall right after I started my combustioneer I was burning leftover coal from my dads house and I shut the stoker down to do some repairs that I hadn't caught before I lit it. I had the power off for about 28 hours, when I dug (with my bare hand of course

) I found some hot fire down in the bottom of the retort

. I also had the power go out for 2 hours with no effects. Then with the last load of coal I had two out fires for no apparent reason.

So I think the coal has a lot to do with how well the fire holds.

Pacowy · Post by **Pacowy** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 7:30 pm

The 700 pot holds quite a bit more coal than does a 520 pot, so it tends to hold the fire better. Some of the bigger units are run without timers. On mine I fluff up the fire every 12 hours or so in the off season (though I wouldn't recommend that for the usual suspects [350-520-700-900-1300's]).

Mike

Post by **Rob R.** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 7:55 pm

Mine has held a fire for 10 hours on a few occasions, not sure how much farther it would go.

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 8:35 pm

Surprisingly, my Keystoker KA6 held a fire for 90 minutes when I did the mid season clean out. When I was done cleaning, I just flipped the power back on and away it went. I was very surprised but also pleased. A short power interruption won't booger up the fire.

lsayre · Post by **lsayre** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 8:37 pm

When it comes to AA's and AHS's it could be days.

Rick 386 · Post by **Rick 386** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 10:13 pm

lsayre wrote:When it comes to AA's and AHS's it could be days.

Never really checked it until the end but our AA was good for at least 2 days. Then I lost interest in it.

However we are on about 7 years running it all year long so it doesn't matter anymore. I have good heat resistant gloves to service it........

Rick

Post by **coaledsweat** » Mon. Feb. 03, 2014 6:39 am

lsayre wrote:When it comes to AA's and AHS's it could be days.

I went two and a half and it was back to its usual self (a basketball size white hot orb) in about ten minutes run time. Needless to say I was stunned.

CoalHeat · Post by **CoalHeat** » Mon. Feb. 03, 2014 8:05 am

Kind of make me think the outfire timer is kind af not needed.

Warm weather, lazy draft, no calls for heat, no hot water use, no timer=outfire, especially if you have the jackets on and insulation underneath. The boiler could sit there all day without firing. In most cases you don't need the timer during the cold weather, but it helps keep the fire ready for that call for heat.

Post by **Richard S.** » Mon. Feb. 03, 2014 11:22 am

Wood'nCoal wrote: Warm weather,

Especially if you have cold night and then everyone taking showers in the morning. Gets all fired up and whammo no more need for heat.

The Van Wert will go about 5 or 6 hours.

rubicondave33 · Post by **rubicondave33** » Tue. Feb. 04, 2014 6:56 pm

I've had mine without power for 4 hours without losing the fire.

cArNaGe · Post by **cArNaGe** » Tue. Feb. 04, 2014 8:21 pm

Rob R. wrote:Mine has held a fire for 10 hours on a few occasions, not sure how much farther it would go.

I'm in the same boat... But if I were to go down and turn the auger by hand it could keep going for a long time.