Anybody know about Energy King boilers?

My buddy is getting an energy king hand fed wood/coal boiler, intending to burn anthracite coal in it mostly, wood in warmer weather. He wanted a stoker boiler, but availability is a problem right now. Anyway, he wanted me to see if anybody has heard anything about these, or has one that they're using. The thing weighs 1100 pounds, sound pretty rugged to me.

Has your buddy looked at this boiler:
http://www.newyorkerboiler.com/products ... al_wood/wc

This one is designed to burn coal.. and of course wood, the Energy King boiler is meant to be a wood burner FIRST and a coal burner as an afterthought. The 'V' shaped long narrow firebox is good for wood, poor for coal.. a good coal firebox is deep, and roughly square,, with grates covering the entire bottom of the firebox..

I hope he ordered the shaker grates, otherwise it is a woodburner.

Greg L

The shaker grates are an option on the Energy King. It does have an interesting variable speed draft control too.

Yeah, he's getting both grates so that hey can burn wood in milder weather then switch to coal during the coldest months.

You don't need to switch them, the coal grates will work fine with wood.

The opposite way won't work however.

I just bought an Energy King Model 480EK wood/coal hot air furnace. I haven't used the stove yet, but construction of the stove is extremely solid and well made. Energy King's customer support was also excellent.

I bought mine with the shaker grates and forced air draft

DavidL wrote:I just bought an Energy King Model 480EK wood/coal hot air furnace. I haven't used the stove yet, but construction of the stove is extremely solid and well made. Energy King's customer support was also excellent.

I bought mine with the shaker grates and forced air draft

Unless I missed it, but what type of coal do you burn in the 480EK wood/coal hot air furnace ??

I would recommend nut.

EK customer service recommend nut or larger.

I'm possibly going to purchase the furnace, Those here who have them say they are a great unit, they burn well, and very solid in construction.

DavidL wrote:EK customer service recommend nut or larger.

I wouldn't bother with stove unless it is 0* or below or you plan on melting some steel with it.

Do they every put these things in basements? They weigh 1100 pounds!!

Well you sure don't want it in your living room !!

Yes, it is a chore, and takes some planning and care, and some help. But most boilers and virtually all furnaces go into basements.. a boiler can be put in a garage, or outbuilding and the hot water piped through insulated pipes to the basement.. but a furnace has to be in the basement or in the house, because air is a lousy conductor of heat. water is a very good conductor.

Greg L