Anyone Burning Coal in a Biasi 3 Wood/Coal

 
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Bob B
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Post by Bob B » Wed. Jan. 09, 2013 12:08 am

Sorry for the delay in answering.
My stove generally keeps the water in my oil boiler at around 170°on average, but it will range from 140° to 195°depending on the outside temp., demand for heat & demand for hot water. I do not pay any attention to the gauges on the boiler or the markings on the knob that adjusts the damper door. The temps that I mention are the temps in the oil burner so it may be higher in the stove. I also have a barometric damper on my flue which steadies out the burn. At 170° my damper door is closed and the stove will maintain that temp. with no demand. Once the heat or hot water comes on and the temp drops the door will open up to let some air in again to fire it up.
I don't like to rake the coals. It seems like every time I do the coals pack together too tightly and choke off the air. Too much poking can have the same results. The coal needs a good flow of air through the bottom and if you choke it off with ash or packed coal the fire will go low and eventually out.
After poking I fill the stove to just above the level of the bottom of the loading door. I'm guessing that thats about 30-40lbs.


 
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Bob B
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Post by Bob B » Wed. Jan. 09, 2013 9:57 am

On second thought, it is probably more like 40-50lbs.

 
Tyguy
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Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Biasi 3-Wood 7

Post by Tyguy » Sun. Oct. 04, 2015 4:11 pm

Hi All, sorry to make a zombie thread.

I have been lurking for a few months as I researched my new, to me, Biasi 3-wood boiler.

The person whom owned it before we moved in only burned wood in it and it looked like it produced creosote like crazy ( which seems to be the trend with these when burning wood). I will be burning nut anthracite, after I get the chimney swept.

Anyways, here is my question, earlier in this post someone mentioned putting in a barometric damper and asked if it was ok to put a 6" one? No one seemed to answer him. Seeing how the Biasi has a 7" output I was wondering if it is ok to reduce the pipe down to 6" and then I can put in a Tee with a barometric damper. The 7" is really hard to find, and It seems like the 6" dampers are easily found and cheap. I suppose I could increase to 8" If I need to.

Thanks for any help you can give! This is my first winter burning coal. I recently moved to Downeast Maine. I am sure I will be back with more questions as I start burning this winter.

 
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l40knocker
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Post by l40knocker » Sun. Oct. 04, 2015 5:05 pm

You should keep the flue at the 7 inch size. They do have dampers that come with a tee that gets cut into the pipe that are not too difficult to cut in. I would do that before reducing to 6 inch. I have been burning this boiler with nut coal for a long time and we love it. If you have any questions you can private message me also.

 
Reiger
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Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Biasi wood and coal

Post by Reiger » Tue. Dec. 18, 2018 8:02 pm

I have had the Biasi wood/coal boiler for 10 years now. It’s been fantastic with no problems except for terrible creosote build up. Sometimes I have to clean it every 2 week. A few years ago I burned some coal and later that night it overheated. Today I tried it again and so far so good. Any suggestion to keep things going good? For instance, once it gets up to temperature after awhile, should I close the airflow down to keep it from getting to hot? Any help is moving ch appreciated.

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Tue. Dec. 18, 2018 8:21 pm

Welcome. What does your Bias have on it to control the temperature? It should cut off the air once the unit is up to temperature, and you should have a dump zone setup to prevent the boiler from overheating.

 
Reiger
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Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Biasi wood and coal

Post by Reiger » Thu. Jan. 31, 2019 8:42 pm

Update. Burning the coal in my Biasi is going good except for when I reload. When I’m home it burns great during the day. In the evening when I reload it goes out. I try not to rake the coals to much to get the ash out. Maybe I’m doing it to much. After I do it it is still glowing though. Should I add less coal? Add a little at a time? Thanks for any help.


 
Reiger
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Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Biasi wood and coal

Post by Reiger » Thu. Jan. 31, 2019 8:49 pm

I do have a chain on the draft door and the knob is set at 70. I leave the flue in the back of the boiler open and close it a little bit once it gets going. My chimney is probably less than 20 ft. I just don’t get that it burns for about 9 hours no problem after I first start it up. I load the coal up all the way to the bottom of the door. When I reload it goes out.

 
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Post by Rob R. » Thu. Jan. 31, 2019 9:11 pm

Try adding some coal before you shake the ashes.

 
Reiger
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Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Biasi wood and coal

Post by Reiger » Thu. Jan. 31, 2019 9:17 pm

Ok I will. Should I wait until the new coal is going good before I shake it? Thanks for the reply.

 
Reiger
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Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Biasi wood and coal

Post by Reiger » Thu. Jan. 31, 2019 9:21 pm

With the Biasi I have to rake the coals to get the ashes out. There is no shaker on this type of boiler.

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Thu. Jan. 31, 2019 9:21 pm

Yes. Do not shake a weak coal fire, and never add more coal than what is already burning well.

 
Reiger
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Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Biasi wood and coal

Post by Reiger » Thu. Jan. 31, 2019 9:31 pm

Ok so add some, let it get hot and then rake it a bit to get the ashes out and add more until the process has allowed me to get the boiler full of coal and is burning hot. Correct? Thanks!

 
Reiger
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Post by Reiger » Thu. Jan. 31, 2019 9:34 pm

Now it makes sense. Thanks for your help. It’s all new to me. After my first post in December I gave up. I’ve been working this past week to try and get the process down. I’m slowly getting it. Thanks again.

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Thu. Jan. 31, 2019 9:34 pm

Reiger wrote:
Thu. Jan. 31, 2019 9:31 pm
Ok so add some, let it get hot and then rake it a bit to get the ashes out and add more until the process has allowed me to get the boiler full of coal and is burning hot. Correct? Thanks!


You got it. Have fun, and stay warm.


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