K-6 Fired up Tonight

vtec350 · Post by **vtec350** » Thu. Jul. 31, 2008 10:27 pm

Got the Keystoker fired up tonight, still some finishing touchs left on the oil boiler and power vent, installer should finish up on Monday. I'll let it run through the weekend for hot water but won't be using it until the cold weather comes, I don't use enough DHW to run it through the summer.

Dave

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Fri. Aug. 01, 2008 6:21 am

Hey, Hey, Hey! Lookin' good! Congrats on being ready for the heatig season. One more smarter than average bear goes online with the rock that rocks!

coalkirk · Post by **coalkirk** » Fri. Aug. 01, 2008 6:51 am

Nice job. That's exactly the way my boilers are set up right down to the Grunfos pump circulating between the boilers. It's good to have that Well-Mclane boiler for backup or if you go away in winter but other than that you won't need. Your off the oil mans Christmas card list.

George-NJ · Post by **George-NJ** » Fri. Aug. 01, 2008 8:13 am

Fantastic boiler, my only concern would be the use of the black iron pipe instead of copper. That stuff rusts out alot faster than you think it does. A few years back I bought a commercial building where the previous owner replaced the steam mains throught the building with black iron, it leaked like it was raining when the boiler fired up. It was only five years old or so. I replaced it all with copper about five years ago before the price of copper went crazy. Maybe with a closed loop h/w system it would last alittle longer, than it did with vented steam?

chabbo · Post by **chabbo** » Fri. Aug. 01, 2008 8:48 am

Dave:

Are you using boiler water conditioner with the black pipe? Might help with rust/corrosion issues. Do you have it wired to manually switch to the coal or does it automatically switch over when needed for heat or hot water?

Looks like a great set-up.

Manny

sterling40man · Post by **sterling40man** » Fri. Aug. 01, 2008 10:02 am

Very nice setup! I'm jealous.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Fri. Aug. 01, 2008 10:20 am

My parents house has black iron pipe that is over 50 yrs old.

Sting · Post by **Sting** » Fri. Aug. 01, 2008 7:11 pm

and mine is over 100

Black is fine for a wet system

this isn't steam!!!!!

vtec350 · Post by **vtec350** » Fri. Aug. 01, 2008 7:48 pm

coalkirk wrote:Your off the oil mans Christmas card list.

I think I might send him a x-mass card of me and the Ms. in our shorts and t shirts, Oh yeah, I'll make sure the t-stat. is reading a balmy 74*

The unit seems to be running good now,the fire was dying out and I had to make a few feed and air adjustments.I've got the aqua stat set at 140/160 for now, I'm open to any suggestions as this is my first time burning coal.

Freddy, when's that AA going to make its way up to Maine, or are you just hoarding all that coal to resell in the dead of winter for a fat profit

Dave

coalboy · Post by **coalboy** » Sun. Aug. 03, 2008 11:42 am

Hey vetec 350, Nice plumbing job.could you post a picture of the coal boiler on the side where the exspansion tank is hanging. thanks coalboy

vtec350 · Post by **vtec350** » Sun. Aug. 03, 2008 12:05 pm

Thanks coalboy, I wish I could take credit for the plumbing job but I wouldn't know where to begin. The installer did a great job and I have been making adjustments to the feed and aquastat this weekend and have it burning perfect rite now. Temp. is holding rite around 160* for summer use, if you need any other pics. let me know.When's your KA-6 due in....

Dave

coalboy · Post by **coalboy** » Sun. Aug. 03, 2008 1:30 pm

K-6 should arive, in about two weeks One more picture of the back would be great. coalboy

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Sun. Aug. 03, 2008 1:34 pm

The pics show no baro damper, galv pipe and thimble to pipe not sealed. Has this been fixed?

stovepipemike · Post by **stovepipemike** » Sun. Aug. 03, 2008 1:46 pm

vtec 350 ~ Do I have it right that the feed from the oil goes into the feed [top] of the coal? It looks to me like there is a line going from the feed of the coal back to hte return of the oil? I can't see how the return from the coal is piped to the oil. Please describe the layout since I am confused by the overlapping piping in the pictures.Then again maybe my vitamins haven't kicked in yet! Thanks, Mike

Post by **Richard S.** » Sun. Aug. 03, 2008 3:24 pm

vtec350 wrote:I don't use enough DHW to run it through the summer.

When considering running it in the summer for DHW of course the cost of the coal is an issue because of where you live. It may not be as cheap as simply using electric or whatever means you have. Roughly speaking you're going to use an additional ton in the warm weather months if you want to keep it lit all year.

There are some other considerations other than simply running it for DHW:

Your flue pipe will last a whole lot longer, to the best of my knowledge the flue pipe we have now is the same one installed 25 years ago.
You will extend the life of the furnace itself, corrosion is greatly increased if its not lit.
Is there any gaskets on that like one for the hot water coil? Boilers that are turned off for the summer have more of a tendency to begin leaking around these gaskets after a few years.

K-6 Fired up Tonight

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