Coal Boiler

Totally new to this whole thing...any rough estimates on how much a coal boiler w/install will run me?

$500-$12000 give or take a couple of bucks.

I bought a used hand fired for $500 and installed it about 15 years ago. It cost me about $100 to install it. I just found a used Axeman-Anderson stoker to replace it. Want to bet I can get $600 for the old one when I take it out?

It really depends on the deal you get, the choice in appliance and install issues, chimney?/plumbing/etc. New will obviously cost more but don't shy from a good deal on a used piece. These things are very rugged and will outlive their owners handily.

A new Keystoker boiler will be around 5,000-6000, the AA and AHS boilers 7,500-8,500,EMF 10,000

Steel and shipping prices are rising the costs

Insall could be anywhere from 2,000 - 5,000 depending on your system

If you're looking for new most companies are flat out until next year unless you can find a dealer who pre ordered extra boilers. Coaledsweat is rite, look for a good used boiler or even a stove to get you through the winter and place your order for a new boiler for next year, you'll be able to sell the used one next year.

Dave

Steel and shipping prices are rising the costs.....
Steel is a small part of the cost, it it doesn't cost $100 a pound, more like $1 a pound.
It's called greed. Or what will the market bare.
I talked to the owner of a saw mill mfg., he said steel was the least of his cost, but a factor.

My only piece of advice is to remember the cost of the pipe. the stoker will cost you X amount but don't forget that some copper pipe and a few valves are PRICEY. I am doing my install myself so I have no labor cost but the fittings and PIPE are pricey. I was Way off in my estimates prior to starting. I am almost double at this point what I had thought. Good luck.

I just spent $5700 on a Keystoker KA-6 Direct Vent with Direct Hot Water. I am plumbing mine in series with my propane boiler. Copper has really gone up driving plumbing cost high as well as electrical wire cost. I have spent about $600 on pipe, fittings, expansion tank, armor flex cable, sheet metal screws, electrical boxes, wood for a coal bin, and miscellaneous items. I am looking at finsihing up with the final purchase of 316 grade Stainless Steel vent pipe at around $400. I will get my coal at $234/ton and $20 delivery for a total of $956 for 4 ton. and will have a total of about $7700 to heat my houseand hot water for the year. With the price of propane I should recover total cost by Christmas 2009 or sooner depending on how cold it is this winter.

refurbished AA260 delivered from PA 4750
coal 24 tons delivered from PA 5280
black iron pipe ball valves 800
stove pipe 200
50 hour of sweat equity Free
11,030
Divided by 3 years 3676 about the cost of last year oil.
Three year pay off inital investment and heat.
After three year cost to heat about half of what I payed last year.

This formular is only for consevative republicans with stoker boiler.
Money is saved by planning and investing in longterm solution
BDD

I ordered a KA6 with a few options for $5700. I contracted our local oil company to install it in series with our existing oil boiler (we're hot-water baseboard here) for $3000. A second flue up the chimney was $1700. I also lined up a moving company to help me get this thing from the driveway to the basement as I have no friends- estimated $300. This first year (and I expect later on as well), I'm going with bagged & delivered rice coal for $250/ton.

I'm about to cancel this order for now and just go with an Alaska stove in the living room instead. It won't do as good of a job, but for 1/3 the cost, I can't justify it this year...

Todd

thoule,

when did you order it? If it's going to come in anytime soon, I would either 1 - suck it up and buy it and do it right. or 2 - offer it to a forum member.

Depending on your house and setup it may be tough to get the heat circulating around the house with a stoker stove unless you cut in the proper vents. I had the same issue and then I realized, hey why not buy a boiler and I can also get all my HW from it too all year long... ohhhh yahhhh!

Basically, I can't afford the $10k+ right now for the boiler... My dealer will have DV Alaska stoves in stock in Oct for a whole lot less which I can install myself. I'm sure a boiler would do an excellent job, but we have an open 1st floor and figure the upstairs can be cold. The KA6 was supposed to come in Sept., but I'm told I should expect it in Oct. or Nov. instead. I'm in central CT and perhaps I'll post it to the classifieds instead of just canceling the order.

EDIT: the KA6 was ordered June 15th
Todd

Todd,

Also, You may be able to save some money by having a heating/plumbing contractor come in and do the job $3000 sounds REALLY high to me.
It sounds like your oil company does not want you to switch to oil b/c they will be losing out!
I'm not a contractor, but $1,000 or less sounds more in line with the installation costs of a series hookup.

I would bet if you post the KA-6 in the for sale section on here, it will sell before the weeks over.

Also, I would make sure your dealer is going to actually have an Alaska for you and that they are not all spoken for and Alaska is really going to provide the stoves in the quantity that the dealer ordered.

good luck,
Jeremy