Coal stoker furnace (company, new furnace, hardware)

[thecoalman]

You can use it anywhere assuming you are using anthracite. I can spit on my neighbors house and that is no exaggeration. One neighbor who moved in was surprised to learn we burned coal a year later. Neighbors are not concern unless you're power venting it at ground level and generally speaking there is only a few stoker you can do that with and it's not really an ideal setup anyway.

Anthracite burns cleanly so there is no visible smoke, no soot and you won't smell it (outside) unless all the stars align. You need a very humid warm morning and you might get a whiff of sulfur. If you semll it inside you have problem that must be addressed as gases should not be in your home.

I've delivered coal to people that lived in quite expensive homes, this may sound absurd but most of my customers when I was in business were very well off. Most of my forum members are too. At one point when I first started in the business I delivered to the old Nesbitt mansion on Lake Catalpa. As another example if you're going north on the Cross Valley heading towards the back mountain I delivered to one of those very large homes you see on top of the mountain. Only people in the Wyoming Valley would understand those places but they are very expensive upscale homes.

[dogdrvr]

live here near butler pa. looking into an alternative heat source. We have oil now, but dont use it. I installed two propane heaters, and they do the trick. But am spending about three hundred a month in winter to heat the house to 60-65 degrees. What would you recomend.?

[franie]

we've had a coalstoker for 3 years know. within the past two weeks we've been having problem with the fire backing up into the box. it's already melted one motor know we have to buy another motor. are draft is good and we just had our chinmey cleaned two weeks ago and he said everything looked good and my husband was doing everything right. if someone could please help

[Stickywicket]

Originally Posted by kettlepot

A question about a coal stoker furnace. What would you do if you went away on a trip during the winter? You need to leave the heat on at 55 so the pipes won't burst, but if you are gone too long you'll need to empty the ash from the furnace but won't be home to do it. What would be the solution to this problem?

That's one of the problems with anthracite coal stokers, You have to ensure someone either keeps the worm covered and takes out the full ash pan and replaces it with an empty one. Or else it goes out. Still, with the cost of conventional oil, gas, electric, etc. coal is more economical. In hand stoked stoves coal can be regulated and the fire will hold over night. With all of modern technology, its still dirty.

[Stickywicket]

What kind of stoker is it?

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by franie

we've had a coalstoker for 3 years know. within the past two weeks we've been having problem with the fire backing up into the box.

Franie i wish I had seen yhis post earlier, There are some specific problems with at least one stoker. I'd suggest posting on my forum and you'll get an answer if you have not already figured it out:

Anthracite & Bituminous Coal Forum

I'd help you myself but my stoker is special type and I know you don't have that model, you're better off getting advice from someone that owns he unit.

You have to ensure someone either keeps the worm covered and takes out the full ash pan and replaces it with an empty one.

True however if you plan ahead you can eliminate the coal part. Build a coal bin that is hopper itself. You need a high basement to do that or have the bin outside. The ash removal can also be eliminated but not without som planning and addtional expense. Both of these are most suitable for alarge home that is going to use a lot of coal with a central boiler.

As far as the dirt and dust goes I won't lie you can't prevent it but you can do many things to minimize it. If you have the stove/furnace in an unfinsdhed part of your basement it's really a non issue as all the dirt and dust is contained there if you have the room sealed up properly.


If you need to move the coal for example to a stove in the living space you can use a small garden sprayer with hose to dampen it before moving it. You can also purchase coal from some dealers that has a light coating of vegetable oil. Either of these options will practically eliminate the dust from the coal. You can also get a 5 gallon bucket with a lid and funnel which will also help with the dust.

That leaves the ashes and for that you have to be careful and make sure to keep the area around and inside where the ashes are clean. One of my forum members came up with a really good dea after he realized the ash pans were the same size as standard cake pan.... he got cake pans with lids. He slides the lid onto the pan before moving it.

There's plenty of ideas and ways to eliminate dust and dirt. You just have to implement them.

In the end it's still about the cost savings, even with the drstic decrease in the cost of oil and other fules coal is still cheaper. Oil would have to go down to about $0.90 per gallon to compete.

[GeorgiePorgie]

Coal heat, when your coal supplier is reasonable, is the least expensive form of heat, using coal stoker stoves is a wonderful idea if you have the room for a coal stove, and a storage area for the rice coal, a properly sealed stove, will not produce any smell in the house, you do have to refill the hopper every day or so, and empty the ashes out, in comparison to wood burning, coal produces much higher quantity of ashes.

[thecoalman]

Yep the one thing coal does not have over wood or pellets is it produces more ashes however if you're in NEPA you'll find a way to dispose of them. The borough I live in picks them up. I beleive they mix them with the rock salt for anti skid so they are actually making out. Ashes FYI is possibly the very best anti skid you'll find.

If the town/city where you live does not have such a service check with whomever you are employing for refuse pickup. Most will provide this service for an additional yearly fee. If you're in a rural area it can be used for fill and makes an excellent material for raod beds once its been crushed enough... or you can take it step further and mix it with a very little bit of portland to firm it up even more. They do this with dirt, search for "dirtcrete". It will produce a very hard surface suitable for driveway or other are you might want to firm up. Also be are if your mixing concrete it makes an excellent replacement for rock/sand...

[kingcoal]

where can i find ash pans for efm 520?

[thecoalman]

They are standard galvanized tubs that you can get or order from probably any hardware store.