Did You Learn Anything New This Heating Season?

Now that it's almost the end of the heating season, I figured it was a good spot to look back & see if anyone had learned anything??? I sure did!!

Things I learned This Winter:

1. My Harman TLC-2000 works much more effectivly with a blower fan. (I was able to save some money & coal by running the stove cooler, while getting moe heat from it)

2. Adding another layer of firebricks makes life easier. (I added one layer & now I can get more coal in the stove for longer burns & easier loading of the stove)

3. Stick with Blaschak (I tried another brand & fought it all winter!)

4. I can get by (all winter) with just one shake-down per day. (I have to add coal in between shakedowns but it's much easier & less dust)

5. Remote Thermometer Can Save Your Fire or house ( I bought one of these
**Broken Link(s) Removed** which has alarms for to high or to low a fire temp & alerts you up to 100' away. I keep the reciever on my bed headboard...Think I'll even use it for it's intended purpose in the BBQ this summer!)

Anyone else learn anything? (good or bad)

I learned that pipes fix themselves. I had a joint where a new pipe met an old pipe and it would seep water when it cooled down, when the circ. was running it wouldn't leak as it expanded. Rust or something must have plugged it because it doesn't leak anymore.

Learned about this website and a great bunch of guys! I never would have considered the switch to coal for my commercial building or considered buying not one, but two used Axeman Anderson boilers to heat it next winter. Before joining the forum I was considering installing Harman pellet boilers to do the job (I am a dealer). The problem with the Harmans is that they are to small unless I install three. The AA's will do the job comfortably.

Steve

I learned I need to get more heat from mine, a heat jacket and domestic coil/pump/plumbing will be added for next year.
Also, Need a bigger coal bin (only hold 4-5 ton)!! I will be at 6.5 ton after I burn up what I have. I will building another bin for next year.

I calculated the amount of coal vs. gas BTU usage, I think I saved around $600-800 vs. Gas.
$300/month (approx, probably more!!) for gas x 6 months = $1800
$200/Ton Coal x 6 ton = $1200

I learned heating with oil sucks, is expensive and did I mention it sucks.

I laid out my plan to convert to a coal boiler. I decided against adding just a stove, (much to my wife's objections). learned how to correct some minor problems with my current radiation system.

Getting prices for a masonry chimney now and beginning to look for a DF520. If the stars, moon and my time off all line up I should have everything done by July.

Using MatchLite charcoal to start a fire, a return air duct is a must, outside combustion air helps, & democrats burn coal.

spc wrote:Using MatchLite charcoal to start a fire, a return air duct is a must, outside combustion air helps, & democrats burn coal.

Good point!
Forgot the MatchLite technique....Works great!!

I learned I have been storing a stoker in the barn for 40 years

and may do so for 40 more

I learned that if you have your coal and oil boiler plumbed together and you don't plan to fire the oil burner, you should remove the flue pipe from the oil burner to prevent untold amounts of heat from escaping up the oil burner chimney. DUH!

I learned that instead of burning up my logs, I could have a guy come over and bandsaw them into 1" thick boards and sell them for an absurd amount of money. Also cut the slab wood into firewood which was sold for enough profit to buy enough coal to heat my house and hot water. Just gotta luv that cherry and oak. Man!!!! This coal is some pretty cool stuff! Scott

i learned some much here. thanks to all the great guys and Richard for having this site. learned my stove is a permenit fixture in the livingroom for many years to come. I know my speling sucks. I shut down couple weeks ago , no coal. I miss taking care of her. feels like I lost a relationship.

I learned it is time to buy a SECOND coal stove so I will never hear my oil furnace kick on again!

And I would have had a very tough time making purchase and setup decisions if not for the collective wisdom here.

I learned how to start a hand-fed coal stove, how to set the baro, and the do's and don'ts of shaking down a coal fire.

I have learned that even scumbag lawyer types that always have to have the last word burn coal also. I always thought that coal burnin was for the not so smart country hick type.

I learned how to rebuild a TriBurner stoker stove, how to light it, and that Coalberner was right about the deep-mined coal being the best there is.
Thanks to all who participate in this forum, even the Democrats.