Ready to Switch to a COAL Boiler! Am I Crazy?!

traderfjp · Post by **traderfjp** » Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 7:19 pm

You're talking big bucks. 6k for a boiler plus copper, fittings, piping for the radiant heat, baseboard heat, permits, etc. and that is without buying any coal. I would think 8-9k. Also, I would be worried if you only had coal heat and wanted to sell the house. I'm not sure how the bank would handle that. You're going to go for a lung. You only have a 1200 sq. ft. house to heat. I would put in a coal stove 2-3k total costs or less if u buy used in the summer and save the money. We heat a 2k sq. ft. house and we can re-create tahiti, in our house, on the coldest days if we want. Just an opinion we all have them. Good luck.

Flyer5 · Post by **Flyer5** » Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 9:39 pm

I have radiant floor heat for the last 5 yrs . Love it nice warm floors house is a toasty 69-70 degrees . I don't have any insulation between the joists it also keeps my basement warm as well sometimes a little to well . I use it as a workshop it has 10' ceilings . I may do every other joist this year with the foil bubble insulation,if I get time . The nice thing is when you open a door the cold air comes in , as soon as the door is closed its warm again . I am surprised how warm it keeps the basement floor from 11'ft away . I don't have tubing in the concrete but I do have plastic + 2" insulation under it . You will love it if you decide to go with it . FYI ,It also makes it a lot easier to install the tubing when its warm less chance of kinking . Dave

cantman · Post by **cantman** » Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 9:58 pm

I'm really looking for an alternative to our current set-up. I really don't think I want a free standing or insert stove
for heat as we don't really have the extra space for a free standing and don't want the fireplace taken up with a insert.
Oh well, I'm in the planning stage and all ideas are always welcome.

Thanks for the great info!

traderfjp · Post by **traderfjp** » Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 10:06 pm

You can put it in the basement and install a custom coil. My coil heats my basement and would do your floors. You could pipe it into your existing hot air system.

cantman · Post by **cantman** » Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 10:55 pm

You can put it in the basement and install a custom coil. My coil heats my basement and would do your floors. You could pipe it into your existing hot air system

Interesting......very interesting....hmmmm....

So a coil would have the capability and output enough hot water to supply radiant floor heat plus a water to air exchanger system? This also sounds like
a great idea!

Thanks, this forum is great and the help has been stellar!

traderfjp · Post by **traderfjp** » Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 11:01 pm

Reading sells an oversized stove with a 250 lb hopper that may do what you want. Leisure LIne sells one too. Good luck and weigh all your options. Just getting a boiler into your basement will be a task.

LsFarm · Post by **LsFarm** » Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 11:55 pm

No, you will not get enough heat out of a stoker stove with a hot water coil to heat radiant floor and baseboard.. look at the surface area for a coil to absorb heat from the coal fire in a stove.. just the surface area of a 1" tube about 3-4' long.. Then look at the heated surface area in a boiler.. there is no comparrison.

A coil can augment hot water heaters, and in some limited ways act like a boiler.. but in limited ways.. you cannot make a stove into a boiler..

If you can find a used stove to use this year, it will pay for itself.. then as you explore all your options for 'the ultimate central heating system' you can sell the stove at a later date..

Take care,, Greg L

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