Just How Dirty Is Burning Coal?

 
53AC
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Post by 53AC » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 6:19 am

I'm all ready to buy a coal stove, but my wife is concerned about the dirt associated with burning coal? Just how dirty is burning coal and what is the best way to keep the dirt to a minimum? Is there any difference in the dirt factor with a stoker vs. a hand load stove? (I current have an oil hot-water heater in the basement that I would be replacing with the coal burner.)

Thanks.

Bob


 
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Richard S.
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Post by Richard S. » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 6:38 am

The majority if not all the dirt is associated with moving the coal and the ashes. You can eliminate most of it, ideally you want to isolate the stove preferably in the basement but if that is not possible then you there are other things you can do.
  • Firstly you want to get a clean product. The best time of the year to purchase coal is now for a variety of reasons, it's generally cleaner being one of them. A lot of breakers have pockets for cleaning it right before it goes on the truck... You can't do that when the temps drop below freezing at most places because these pockets are exposed to the weather and pipes freeze. there's other resons too, even if the coal is coming right off the pile won't be working on a day to day basis and the chances of getting a load from the middle of the pile where most of the dust and dirt is will be slim.
  • You can also lightly dampen the coal before moving it, if you have to put it in a hopper for example. You don't need to soak it, use a garden type sprayer and lightly dampen the area you are going to shovel. Let it sit a few minutes so the water drains to the bottom.
  • Some dealers offer oiled coal, this is a vegetable based oil so there is no stink associated with it other than maybe a pop-corn type smell. Actually pleasant to some people.
  • The ashes are another story, the only thing you can with them is be careful but if you are careful and only mess with them outside you won't have a problem.
Having said that under normal conditions the dirt and dust is not that great an issue but I guess that depends on your perspective.

Other things to consider. A great deal of dust can be created during delivery if you are getting it delivered into your basement, this is unavoidable but will not be all that great if the coal is damp and/or with smaller sizes like rice coal. Dust is even created by the pieces banging off each other.
  • Makes sure its at least damp on the truck before you let them put it in. You spray it with hose lightly as its going down the chute.
  • Make sure to dampen the inside of your bin especially after the first load. The coal going into the bin will kick up a lot of dust that is already present if you do not wet it.

 
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Post by Devil505 » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 9:20 am

I have mine in a basement family room &, like Richard recommended, the basement is the ideal location. If it is to be located in an upstairs room, you just have to be careful loading & cleaning out the stove. (Any puff-backs can create a big mess too)
That being said, the dust will be very fine & easily removed so don't let it scare your wife away from the nice even heat & $$$ savings that make it very worthwhile!
(The money you'll save will pay for a live-in maid to do the cleaning!! :lol: )

 
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Post by stokin-railroad » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 9:28 am

Hi Bob,i was also concerned with dust problems related to burning coal ,but as Richard posted a few simple simple steps to keep the mess to a minimum.wet or oil the coal I bought oiled bulk last year it was good no dust from coal in .the ash is messy if handled inside,just try not to disturb until outside.ash is the most mess but with a shop vac near and some weekly attention we had no real issue with the mess.the heat comfort and slight attention to a little extra cleaning far out weighs the mess not a real big issue unless you are burning in living room then you may realy notice more dust in basement not a big problem.

 
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Post by gambler » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 9:33 am

I have my stove in my dining room and I have no dirt issues at all. I am very careful when loading the hopper and I make no sudden moves when carrying the ash pan outside. Once outside with the ash pan I dump it into a metal garbage can that I keep about 20 feet from the back door. Once you dump an ash pan you will see why I keep the garbage can 20 feet from the house. The dirt that I make is all outside.

 
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Post by LsFarm » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 9:55 am

NOTE: always stand upwind of the ashpan when dumping it... you won't make this mistake twice !! :D

Greg.

 
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Post by Richard S. » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 10:03 am

Not sure if it was someone else or me said it but the best suggestion I've seen is you have had a closeable hole in the hopper lid (note that this hole should be sealable and should not be left open permanently, the hopper lid is to help prevent a draft from being created into the hopper). Then if you had an enclosed bucket with a funnel that tapered to just a little smaller than the hole you could just stick the end of the funnel into the hole and everything would be sealed off. The dust would remain in the hopper or the bucket for the most part.

The same could be done with the ash pan and just have a garbage can with a lid that has a hole.


 
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Post by gambler » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 11:53 am

LsFarm wrote:NOTE: always stand upwind of the ashpan when dumping it... you won't make this mistake twice !! :D

Greg.
Yes, I always check the wind before dumping the ash! or pissing. :lol:

 
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Post by 53AC » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 12:44 pm

I appreciate all of the good feedback. It seems to me that the dirt factor is manageable and there are a number of ways to keep dirt and dust to a minimum. Thanks for all of the good information. :)

 
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Post by CapeCoaler » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 1:23 pm

Gently mist the ash pan with a small pump sprayer. The damp ashes are less likely to fly about the house.
Metal plate to cover the ash pan while moving through the house.
Place the pan and cover in the ash can, then remove the plate covering the ash pan.
If you dump the ash pan too quickly a volcano of ash erupts!
The 20 foot distance also provides a good fire break.
Careful what you suck up with the shop-vac it may become melted-pile-of-flaming-plastic-vac.
There is an all metal vac that can handle the hot embers better but it costs a few more bucks.
It is not a dirty mess like wood stoves; just a slight fine dust that needs a extra vac every now and then, more often if you a real dust freak.

 
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Post by japar » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 2:59 pm

I have my coal stove in my living room and last year burned Blaschak bagged which comes a little wet. My wife never complained once. But she does complain when I am burning wood because of the smell. I get no smell from burning coal and not very messy just be careful

 
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Post by Devil505 » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 3:49 pm

A couple of common sense things:

If possible, fill your coal hod/bucket outside to avoid dust. (I have my bags of Blaschak just outside my walk-out basement door & always dump from the bags into the hod, outside.

Dump all ash into a metal barrel outside..... Then you can slam the cover on quick to dodge the dust clouds! :D (once the barrel is filled I dump the barrel into a wheel barrel for final dumping in the woods or use as fill)

Vacuum the stove & surrounds with shop vac with a fine filter, daily. (I put in a central vac which is even easier)

 
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Post by Richard S. » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 3:59 pm

Devil5052 wrote:(I have my bags of Blaschak just outside my walk-out basement doo
Couldn't you just put the bag in the hopper and open it with a razor top to bottom? :D

 
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Post by Devil505 » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 4:06 pm

Richard S. wrote: Couldn't you just put the bag in the hopper and open it with a razor top to bottom? :D
Don't have a hopper. My stove is hand fired.....You know.......Manly Man!! :lol:

 
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Post by LsFarm » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 4:32 pm

Actyally you could use the top load feature of your TLC2000 with the bags.. by just slittting open the bag,, but I think you said the coal doesn't go where you want it to?? some gets up against the door or stays on the firebrick??

Greg L


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