Pea Vs. Rice Size Coal Advantages, Disadvantages?

I've narrowed my decision down to an EFM 520 or a AA130 because of the auger feed. EFM's use rice size coal and Axman Anderson's use pea. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of the 2 coal sizes. I live in central PA near Lock Haven. Which is less expensive to buy? Are they both readily available? I've read that rice is a little more dusty and the pea size is more noisy in a AA auger tube. Opinions please.

Where you live and accessability to coal is the only difference.. I doubt there is any noticable difference in dust between the two sizes, this is more a product of how many times and how thoroughly they wash the coal.. The UAE breaker is a dry breaker,, they don't wash the coal,, so it has lots of dust and fines.. Most other breakers wash their coal.

The choice you have to make is with the boiler, boiler design, upkeep and availability. Both the EFM and AA boilers are very good boilers.. There is some noise from the hollow auger with the AA boiler.. But there is noise associated with both boilers when the fans run, it depends on your home and where the boiler will be located if the noise will be annoying or not.

Greg L

What Greg said....and.... I just ordered an Axeman Anderson. It uses pea of course. I'm buying a truckload of coal from Superior and was told that rice is an extra $5 a ton. No big deal, but you asked! When I ordered my AA I didn't know much about the EFM. I do think I'd have gotten the AA even if I'd reseasrched the EFM more. I like the idea of how the AA extracts the fly ash and is "self cleaning". I don't think the EFM has that feature. Someone correct me if EFM is self cleaning also? But... the EFM does have the underfeed coal mechanism which seems real nice. I think either one is the cat's meow of boilers. I've decided when the AA wears out I'll buy an EFM and try it. I'll write a report after the EFM is worn out, so keep your eye out here in about 90 years.

The pea should be the easiest size to get, it is the least used size in my neck of the woods. The A-A and I believe the AHS both burn it, these are the only stokers that burn pea. Most of your hand fired users will be using nut so it gets used by neither type a lot.

As far as the noise it becomes music to your ears in the middle of the winter. Ours is is almost right below the TV area and you can barely hear it. It's a low hum and the occasional crunch of coal. It brief so really no big deal.

Freddy wrote:What Greg said....and.... I just ordered an Axeman Anderson. It uses pea of course. I'm buying a truckload of coal from Superior and was told that rice is an extra $5 a ton. No big deal, but you asked! When I ordered my AA I didn't know much about the EFM. I do think I'd have gotten the AA even if I'd reseasrched the EFM more. I like the idea of how the AA extracts the fly ash and is "self cleaning". I don't think the EFM has that feature. Someone correct me if EFM is self cleaning also? But... the EFM does have the underfeed coal mechanism which seems real nice. I think either one is the cat's meow of boilers. I've decided when the AA wears out I'll buy an EFM and try it. I'll write a report after the EFM is worn out, so keep your eye out here in about 90 years.

Fred I do not know who told you that the Rice is a Extra $5 more a ton All of The Superior coal is the same Price Per Ton
Except The Barley it is 10.00 less a ton 130.00 a ton All other Sizes are 140.00 A ton Rice Buck PEA Nut Stove until 8/1/08 then it will be 150.00 a ton I am at Superior once a week

LsFarm wrote:Where you live and accessability to coal is the only difference.. I doubt there is any noticable difference in dust between the two sizes, this is more a product of how many times and how thoroughly they wash the coal.. The UAE breaker is a dry breaker,, they don't wash the coal,, so it has lots of dust and fines.. Most other breakers wash their coal.

The choice you have to make is with the boiler, boiler design, upkeep and availability. Both the EFM and AA boilers are very good boilers.. There is some noise from the hollow auger with the AA boiler.. But there is noise associated with both boilers when the fans run, it depends on your home and where the boiler will be located if the noise will be annoying or not.

Greg L

The Blower Fan on the EFM's are no where near as loud as the AA if it is loud then it needs a cleaning The only noise that you should hear is the feed paw moving over the teeth and the motor humming Music to the ear

The $5 pride difference... I was told by Superior, I think his name was Jeff. Maybe that's only if buying 22 ton at once?

Does the EFM have a centrifigul fly ash remover similar to the AA? Does the EFM firebox operate in a vaccum while stoking and pressureize the chimney similar to the AA? Just curious!

No, the efm does not have the slight vacuum on the ashpan area nor does it have a forced exhaust. The inlet for the combustion air for an EFM is around the fan shaft near where the motor mounts to the stoker unit.. So the 'intake vacuum' is from the room.. This combustion air MAY for a second or two reduce the standard EFM's flue draft when the stoker first starts,, but I doubt if it drops it by more than a fraction of the standard .04-,05"wc. Once the added heat gets into the flue and chimney, the draft will be higher if anything.. then the barometric damper will 'work' to control the draft .

With the AA boilers,, the fan is integral with the boiler, so the combustion air is pulled out of the boiler base, from under the ashpan doors.. there is about a 1" gap under the doors.. this air is pulled through the coal bed, raising the coal fire temperatures, the hot combustion gasses are then forced through the heat exchanger and fly ash separator then up and out the flue.. My draft gauge/Manometer shows about .02-.03"wc when the boiler is not running, the draft drops to about .01" when the fans starts, the returns quickly to .03-.04" the forced flow and heat up the chimney quickly makes for more draft.. I only see pressure in the flue during the first few seconds of the fan starting..

Greg L

The Blower Fan on the EFM's are no where near as loud as the AA if it is loud then it needs a cleaning The only noise that you should hear is the feed paw moving over the teeth and the motor humming Music to the ear

I would say that the EFM runs basically silent. It makes less noise than a gas furnace when running as the coal burns quietly not like a jet turbine.

Less noise than a gas furnace? It must be as quiet as a church after the nuns are pregnant announcement!

Freddy wrote:The $5 pride difference... I was told by Superior, I think his name was Jeff. Maybe that's only if buying 22 ton at once?

Does the EFM have a centrifigul fly ash remover similar to the AA? Does the EFM firebox operate in a vaccum while stoking and pressureize the chimney similar to the AA? Just curious!

There is no Jeff at Superior coal so I do not know who you called but it was not Superior coal all coal is the same price per ton 140.00 a ton except Barley ut is 130.00 a ton
if you buy 20 or more tons it would be 137.00 a ton check the Number and dial again Mon & friday it would be Roger
Tuesday wensday thursday it would be Lori

I'm assuming you're talking pick-up price,what's the approximate delivery charge for 20 tons?About 125 to 150 miles from Tamaqua.RichB

bustedwing wrote:I'm assuming you're talking pick-up price,what's the approximate delivery charge for 20 tons?About 125 to 150 miles from Tamaqua.RichB

Call the Breakers they will tell you how much for delivery The first five are the ones I would buy from They are the most Cocsistent in Qaulity

Deep mine coal

Deep mine coal

Deep mine coal

Good Surface mine coal

Good Sufrace mine coal

These are Surface mininig coal breaker below Qaulity will be inconsistent