Monarch Add-A-Furnace Hand-Fed- How to Keep the Fire Going?

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Coalchris
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Posts: 2
Joined: Sun. Nov. 16, 2014 10:37 am
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Monarch Add-a-Furnace
Coal Size/Type: Chestnut
Other Heating: propane furnace

Post by Coalchris » Sun. Nov. 16, 2014 3:35 pm

Hi everybody - This is my first post. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me on keeping my coal fires burning.

I have an old Monarch brand Add-a-Furnace. It's tied into my forced air system (I also have a propane furnace as well). The Monarch is hand-fed and can burn either coal or wood. It burns chestnut coal. I'd like to use it as my primary source of heat (which it was last year, although I wasn't as warm as I would have liked).

My problem is I can't continuously keep the coal fire burning. It goes out. I have to keep starting it back up (I use wood to start the coal). I understand that theoretically, I should be able to get the coal lit and just keep it running for longer periods of time just through ash removal and adding more coal. At this point I'm pretty much lighting coal fires twice a day.

Currently, when I get up in the morning or get home in the afternoon, there are still parts of the coal bed burning. However, I haven't figured out how to re-stoke the fire without adding wood to get it going again.

Additionally, sometimes the coal fire I build isn't enough to heat the house to the temperature I like (I'm comfortable in the mid-60s). I have a small 1100sqft Ranch. I know the furnace CAN do the job because in the past, I have gotten lucky... I have had the house into the 70s in the cold depths of last year's (2013-14) winter. I just can't consistently replicate this success.

I really don't know what additional information you all would need to help me solve this problem, but I'm willing to investigate and answer any questions you have. Please let me know if you have any thoughts. Thanks!

- Chris

 
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SWPaDon
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Location: Southwest Pa.
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Clayton 1600M
Coal Size/Type: Bituminous
Other Heating: Oil furnace

Post by SWPaDon » Sun. Nov. 16, 2014 3:55 pm

Welcome to NEPA Crossroads.

Here is a link to modifications you may need to do to be able to burn anthracite in your furnace: Clayton / Hot Blast Mods and Tending for Anthracite

 
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WNY
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Post by WNY » Sun. Nov. 16, 2014 4:29 pm

Does it have the shaker grates in it for coal? with a shaker handle?

Post a pic or two of your setup if possible.


 
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Lightning
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Location: Olean, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite

Post by Lightning » Sun. Nov. 16, 2014 5:36 pm

Hey Chris, by first glance it sounds like the fuel bed is bound up with ash and can't get the primary air up thru the grates that it requires. As mentioned, this furnace has shaker grates right? When you shake it, shake till many red embers are falling and there is an orange glow radiating down thru the grates into the ash pan. After a shake down, load coal to the top of the fire bricks, prop the load door open about an 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch and leave the ash pan door open till the blue flames show up. Also, make sure the MPD is open. And DO NOT leave it unattended with the ash pan door open. It could become dangerously hot.

 
Coalchris
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Posts: 2
Joined: Sun. Nov. 16, 2014 10:37 am
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Monarch Add-a-Furnace
Coal Size/Type: Chestnut
Other Heating: propane furnace

Post by Coalchris » Sun. Nov. 16, 2014 5:51 pm

Here is the setup:
monarch.jpg
.JPG | 104.8KB | monarch.jpg
monarch_shaker_damper_set_up.jpg
.JPG | 122.6KB | monarch_shaker_damper_set_up.jpg
monarch_1.jpg
.JPG | 94.8KB | monarch_1.jpg
Yes it's got cast iron shaker grates. The handle shakes back and forth. Doesn't seem as robust as some shaker systems I have seen...

Let me know if these pics help or if you want me to get a different angle or whatever.

 
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Lightning
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Location: Olean, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite

Post by Lightning » Sun. Nov. 16, 2014 5:56 pm

How about some pics it with the load and ash doors open please. That air control with the chain connected to it, where does that air go? in under the grates I assume?

Are you shaking ash out like I described above?

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