By: steevesj On: Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:33 pm
This is my first winter burning coal. I have a propane hot water heater that I was using prior to coal but I doubt I will go back to that. I am liking my propane guage now since the hot water heater it is unplugged. I only use propane for my dryer and cooking so the guage doesn't move as fast to zero. We have 5 people in our family so we use a lot of hot water. I prefer to keep the boiler going all year long to cut down on corrosion since my basement is very wet. My house was built on rock ledge and I can't keep water from seeping in. I will either use coal or oil this summer. I will have to see which ends up costing less. I am sure I know which will be best. I have a full tank of oil and a credit at the oil company for another $450 so I don't mind burning some oil. I don't know how much oil a day I would go through to heat the hot water. The flue pipe gets very hot running oil though and don't want to heat up the house. With coal I can hold my hand on it. It runs around 150-175. My draft is running around -2. I probably will try both and see what's best.
Jon
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you -
ask what you can do for your country.
- John F. Kennedy
Burning buckwheat coal in a Keystoker Ka-6 stoker boiler with oil burner option