Chimney inspection / Boiler advise

Recently picked up my AHS130 coal stoker. That was quite a drive from Saylorsburg PA. I've been learning as much as possible from this site (thanks to those who helped me choose the AHS). Haven't had a chance to install the unit - I have an old Buderus wood/coal boiler still hooked up in line with my oil burning Weil Mclain. Once I remove the beast, the AHS will go in.

Had some questions about the install and the chimney:

The old system has piping to and from the Weil Mclain with large shut off valves on both ends. The original owner used the valves to completely separate the unit during the summer months. There is only one circulator that was used for both the Weil McClain boiler and the old Buderus. Can I get away with just one circulator for the AHS and just hook up where the Buderus was disconnected? I can send pics if that would help....

Also had a chance to inspect the chimney which is brick (with clay lining). The flue will only be used for the coal burning system. I'm no professional, but it appears that the top 2-3 sections of the clay lining as well as the outside of the clay flue are scaling/peeling away. I was able to pull very thin long sections off of the clay flue from the inside. The lining appears to have a lot of meat left to it but the flaking/peeeling of the top 2-3 sections concerns me. The rest of the flue appears solid with no flaking. Does the clay lining need to be replaced? If so, how painful in the pocket is it going to be? The remaining 3 flues show no evidence of scaling/flaking. The wood/coal buderus may have been the cause but i'm not sure.

Any help advise aprreciated.

Was what flaked off the lining perhaps hardened creosote from the woodstove? Or is the lining itself obviously eroded away? I'm not a chimney man, but clay is clay.... I'd take an ice pick and chip away a bit at the lining. If it's soft and chalky I'd replace it. If it's eroded some, but still has good thickness and it's not soft, I'd use it.

It wouls seem to me that you could use the valves from the old system. More or less you're removing a wood boiler and replacing it with a coal boiler? Just swap it out. We always love pictures!

The tiles are about $18-20 for a 8" X 8" X 1.5' piece at the brickyard. I can't remember what they use there, mortar/cement/something, but I think it is specific. You need to break the old tiles out, a hand sledge and hefty steel bar.

coaledsweat wrote:You need to break the old tiles out, a hand sledge and hefty steel bar.

Or you can use a steel ball on the end of wire rope chucked to a hefty electric drill. Beats the old tiles to a pulp.

Thanks for the advise. Is there anything out there that will fill in clay liner damage?? Hate the idea of having to remove sections - whatever that's going to cost.

If most of the tile liner is still there, I'd just live with it and inspect it each year.. The damage is probably from water soaking into the surface of the tile and freezing. Sometimes the clay liners are not waterproof..

You could mix up some mortar or concrete and trowel it on.. maybe some of the fine-ground stuff meant for repairing cracks in concrete floors??

Can you take a photo and post it ??

Greg L