Wood or Switch to Coal in Heatmore 400 Dscc?

 
Sixkids
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Post by Sixkids » Sun. Oct. 18, 2015 1:15 pm

We have a Heatmore 400 dscc. We burn wood in it each winter which we buy from a local pallet shop.
In our 3,500 sq ft. home we use hot water baseboard heat heated by the Heatmore and a backup of oil.
In our kitchen we have a wood / coal cookstove. We LOVE the heat the coal fires give off. So this year I am wondering if I should try to talk my husband into converting the Heatmore to burn coal. According to my 20 year old son, we burn approximately a cord of wood every 3 - 7 days depending on the weather.
One cord to 1 1/2 cords of round log ends from the pallet shop, (hard wood), will fit in our truck if my 22 year old daughter and I are stacking it! Each truck load is $45. Plus $4.00 each round trip for the truck diesel fuel.
One skid of Blaschak Anthracite coal contains 60 bags of coal, (40 lbs each), for $319.20 plus $8.00 diesel fuel for that one trip required to pick it up each skid of coal.
If any of you have made the change from wood to coal in a Heatmore did you find it any better than heating with the wood? Did it have a longer burn time than the wood? Approximately how much coal did you use in place of a cord of wood?
When we use coal in our wood / coal cook stove we experience a much longer burn time than when we use wood. With the coal we can heat the house overnight with one cookstove firebox full. (This isn't true when using wood). We also see that the heat is greater with the coal than with the wood and wonder if that is also true in the Heatmore as well.
Any and all information would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Carole :D


 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Sun. Oct. 18, 2015 8:35 pm

It's an outdoor boiler correct?
Does it have shaker grates in it?

If it does, I think it would be worth a try..

 
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Sun. Oct. 18, 2015 8:59 pm

1-1.5 cords of wood on a pickup ? 1 cord takes 4x4x8 space & weighs about 3500 #.As far as your Heatmore OWB,... it needs to have shaker grates to be able to burn coal.It also needs to supply the combustion air below the grates.

 
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Post by Sixkids » Sun. Oct. 18, 2015 10:10 pm

Yes, it is an outdoor boiler unit.
Yes, you are right in your measurements for a cord of wood.
Our Heatmore does offer coal grates for purchase for our model. We don't have them but can order them as they are offered for this model.
Thank you!

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Mon. Oct. 19, 2015 2:40 am

I bet the grates for something that big come with a hefty price tag.

 
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Post by chubs » Mon. Oct. 19, 2015 12:30 pm

Depending on where you live, I would try some big peices of bit. in it. Have a friend w/ a 200 size w/ grates that burns wood and bit. in his an really likes it.

 
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Post by Sixkids » Mon. Oct. 19, 2015 1:08 pm

Is 'bit' soft coal? We have hard coal and worry about burning through the wood type grates. We have Anthracite coal here.


 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Mon. Oct. 19, 2015 2:07 pm

Sixkids wrote:Is 'bit' soft coal? We have hard coal and worry about burning through the wood type grates. We have Anthracite coal here.
Yes Bit is soft coal. Bit is short for bituminous. It's an earlier stage of coal. Don't let the "soft" fool ya. Bit coal can be an angry beast to tame and can burn hotter than anthracite early in the burn cycle.

About the wood grates.. To be successful burning anthracite, you really need the shaker grates and I bet they would be pretty pricey for that unit. Anthracite has about 10 times as much ash as wood, that's why the shaker grates are needed. The ash needs to be shaken out of the fuel bed or it will block incoming combustion air. It might burn OK for a couple days, then your fire will suffer a slow and cold death, not to mention the frustration you will experience.

 
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Post by Sixkids » Thu. Nov. 05, 2015 7:59 am

The shaker grates for the 400 unit are about $500. If we burn Bit coal in place of Anthracite, we wouldn't need to change out the grates? Our local dealer has gone out of business so we are currently looking for another Heatmor dealer in NW PA area who might be able to answer questions, or to order the grates if needed. We are also open to suggestions on 'doing our own thing' as well. :)

 
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Post by freetown fred » Thu. Nov. 05, 2015 8:44 am

Get the shaker grates & go with the Anth. (hard coal) --you'll make up that $500.00 in no time at all plus stayin nice & warm

 
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Thu. Nov. 05, 2015 9:03 am

You mentioned getting a load of wood for $45 ,1.5 cord on a stake body 6 wheeler,1 round trip nets you 1.5 cord of wood for $45....... Even with the longer burn times of anthracite coal,you will spend more money burning coal than you do with the current deal with wood. $500 is a lot of money to "upgrade" a used OWB with their questionable lifespan & only mediocre beneficial results from burning coal in a unit designed specifically for burning wood. :(

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Thu. Nov. 05, 2015 4:21 pm

Sixkids wrote: If we burn Bit coal in place of Anthracite, we wouldn't need to change out the grates?
Bit coal and Anthracite are both heavy with ash compared to wood. You need shaker grates for Bit coal too. You can try working it out with some kind of poker tool but I have to imagine it will be quite a chore. And the coal won't like it either.

 
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Post by 2001Sierra » Thu. Nov. 05, 2015 11:48 pm

There is also a learning curve. Some coal/wood boilers can be difficult to master with coal. Dedicated coal boilers lessen the learning curve. I would hate to see you spend that kind of money and be disappointed.

 
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Post by Sixkids » Fri. Nov. 06, 2015 7:33 am

Thank you everyone! We DO appreciate all of the comments.
In talking to the past Heatmor Dealer in this area we found out the following;
Newer Heatmor's are now sold as coal burners. EPA influence.
The grates in the newer ones burn out with use of wood or coal, and need replaced.
Several clients who have the older units, (as ours), have burned a combination of wood and coal and used the original wood grates and they are still going strong, without the need of replacement grates.
The Dealer did the same, Burned wood / coal in an older unit with wood grates, and cleaned out the ashes once a week. (The Heatmor has an auger).
The Dealer has since gotten older, with health problems, has sold his OWB, moved his heat indoors to a coal stove in the basement where he burns rice coal.
The dealer suggests knocking out the 2 plugs in the Heatmor to allow more air flow and trying the wood / coal combination with the current original grates.

 
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Fri. Nov. 06, 2015 7:42 am

Well,following that advice won't cost you much,nothing spent & if it works reasonably well,you will benefit from longer burn times. Keep us posted,others in the same predicament may be able to benefit as well.


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