Burning coal

[Bocephous]

We are in process of building a retirement cottage. It's only 600 sq ft. We bought a 'parlor stove' to burn coal for our main heat when it drops below 40 degrees. Anyone have a guess about how much I would burn a day? I was planning on getting Anthracite chunks in 50lb sacks.

The answer to your question is probably somewhere here: Anthracite & Bituminous Coal Forum - Residential & Commercial Heating | Coalpail.com Forum

I'm too new at coal burning to give you a really good answer, but I wouldn't want to go through the hassle of getting a coal fire going periodically. I've got it going now, and it will probably keep burning, God-willing, til sometime in April.

We had mild temps yesterday through last night and I idled my Harman Mark III down after filling it yesterday around 2:30PM, and shook it down and refilled it around 7:45AM. I probably used 25lbs when I refilled it yesterday, and it could have gone a little while longer before I refilled it today.

 

[LouNY]

The answer to your question is probably somewhere here: Anthracite & Bituminous Coal Forum - Residential & Commercial Heating | Coalpail.com Forum

I'm too new at coal burning to give you a really good answer, but I wouldn't want to go through the hassle of getting a coal fire going periodically. I've got it going now, and it will probably keep burning, God-willing, til sometime in April.

We had mild temps yesterday through last night and I idled my Harman Mark III down after filling it yesterday around 2:30PM, and shook it down and refilled it around 7:45AM. I probably used 25lbs when I refilled it yesterday, and it could have gone a little while longer before I refilled it today.

I would agree with that forum suggestion.
I don't know if I could throttle my stove low enough for that small of a cabin, depending of course on the construction and insulation and anticipated temps.

 

[tcreeley]

I burned coal for three years in an old coal hot water heater someone gave me. I still have it - put away. The walls are 1/2" cast iron. For every bucket of coal I put in, I took out a bucket of ash - every day. I used wood to start the fire if it was out. The stove would heat up slowly - hard to regulate even with a flue damper and a draft control. About 2 am the temp would get up to 90 and the walls of the stove would glow red with the lights off. I liked the coal, but wood was easier to manage.

 

[Pawatch]

I get rid of most of my ashes to a local feed mill. Dump them in a 55 gallon drum and when it's full I load the drum in his truck and he leaves me another drum.
I have one other person who picks up a few 5 gallon buckets a couple times a winter.

 

[ArlyA]

I worked in the coal industry for a few years. Actually in the energy business in general, but part of that was coal mines. With that background, we're not looking into coal heating systems....

 

[Bocephous]

I worked in the coal industry for a few years. Actually in the energy business in general, but part of that was coal mines. With that background, we're not looking into coal heating systems....

You're just gonna leave us with that cliffhanger?

 

[ArlyA]

How about it stinks and its a mess..... I smelled it enough.

You're just gonna leave us with that cliffhanger?

 

[LouNY]

I do have one regret in regards to burning coal.
I installed my Hitzer fireplace insert a half dozen years ago, and use between 3 an 4 tons a year.
When I installed my new boiler 20 years ago I went with oil, I should have gone with a coal stroker boiler.
I notice very little smell a bit outside when the stove is throttled way down and it makes a minimal mess.
Most definitely less then wood would. The smell is not as pleasant a good wood fire, but also no chimney fire worry with coal.

 

[Oaktree]

I burned coal for three years in an old coal hot water heater someone gave me. I still have it - put away. The walls are 1/2" cast iron. For every bucket of coal I put in, I took out a bucket of ash - every day. I used wood to start the fire if it was out. The stove would heat up slowly - hard to regulate even with a flue damper and a draft control. About 2 am the temp would get up to 90 and the walls of the stove would glow red with the lights off. I liked the coal, but wood was easier to manage.

I've only ever known one person who heated with coal, and that was 30-odd years ago. His experiences were similar to yours. Not unusual to drive past his house on a 20° day and see the windows open.

I get rid of most of my ashes to a local feed mill. Dump them in a 55 gallon drum and when it's full I load the drum in his truck and he leaves me another drum.
I have one other person who picks up a few 5 gallon buckets a couple times a winter.

What would a mill that makes feed want with coal ashes? I've read that they're quite toxic...might be OK to spread them on your driveway when it's icy, but that would be about it.

Not a common method of heating here. Just for grins I googled "coal dealers near me" and got 3 hits, 2 of which were 2+ hours away. This compared with 9 for fuel oil, all of which were within 25 mi. or so. Maybe it would be different in/near coal country.
What about cost? Is the price comparable to oil or pellets?

 

[HEC]

Just got 2 ton delivered @ 220 ton.
What does everyone do with their ashes?

I put them in a pile outside the cellar walk in door . In the spring I spread them on top of gravel driveway . We have an ice storm once in awhile so I can spread some on the driveway . I use the rice coal so the ashes are quite fine .

 

[LouNY]

Not a common method of heating here. Just for grins I googled "coal dealers near me" and got 3 hits, 2 of which were 2+ hours away. This compared with 9 for fuel oil, all of which were within 25 mi. or so. Maybe it would be different in/near coal country.
What about cost? Is the price comparable to oil or pellets?

You would be surprised at the number of coal dealers in NH, they can be a bit difficult to locate.

I have attached an energy calculator link, Fuel Comparison Calculator for Home Heating | Coalpail.com

And if this will enlarge to be readable a clip from that calculator, the price is better then pellets and much better then oil.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The smell is not as pleasant a good wood fire, but also no chimney fire worry with coal.

WHY would you be worried about a chimney fire?

Did you have a habit of burning wood that wasn't dried properly?? That's what causes creosote build up in the first place!

I've been heating my house with wood for MANY years, no chimney fires here, and the once a year when I clean my chimney, I get a very small amount of burnt ash out of it...

SR

 

[Pawatch]

What would a mill that makes feed want with coal ashes? I've read that they're quite toxic...might be OK to spread them on your driveway when it's icy, but that would be about it.

Yep...they spread them in their parking lot and the owner of the place has about a mile road to get to his house.

 

[LouNY]

WHY would you be worried about a chimney fire?

Did you have a habit of burning wood that wasn't dried properly?? That's what causes creosote build up in the first place!

I've been heating my house with wood for MANY years, no chimney fires here, and the once a year when I clean my chimney, I get a very small amount of burnt ash out of it...

SR

Or any softwood or pine,
I have never had one either, but MANY people do.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

The answer to your question is probably somewhere here: Anthracite & Bituminous Coal Forum - Residential & Commercial Heating | Coalpail.com Forum

I'm too new at coal burning to give you a really good answer, but I wouldn't want to go through the hassle of getting a coal fire going periodically. I've got it going now, and it will probably keep burning, God-willing, til sometime in April.

We had mild temps yesterday through last night and I idled my Harman Mark III down after filling it yesterday around 2:30PM, and shook it down and refilled it around 7:45AM. I probably used 25lbs when I refilled it yesterday, and it could have gone a little while longer before I refilled it today.

Thanks for the link. Definitely informative site. I will be searching there for specific details for sure.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I would agree with that forum suggestion.
I don't know if I could throttle my stove low enough for that small of a cabin, depending of course on the construction and insulation and anticipated temps.

I purchased one of those reproduction "caboose" stoves. Not real big, but I bet I could "toast us" real quick. We go through cycles of cold temps ranging from highs ranging in the low thirties to forties, but down into the single digits or teens at night. Then the next week could be in the sixties for highs, down to upper twenties. I really would probably only use it for the really colder temps. We have a small heat pump planned for the moderate temps.

Another question: can you burn a few small chunks of hardwood in a coal stove such as mine just to "take the chill out", letting it burn out after a few hours?

 

[dnw64]

I...America would be a much better place everyone had to work on a farm for at least a few years.

AMEN!

(I added the exclamation point because the forum requires a response of at least 5 characters, not because I was trying to draw attention to it...)

 

[dnw64]

I don't think I've spent $1300 to heat for the last 5 years total.

Where are you, Ecuador?

Around here (Vermont) I have spent (normalized to current costs) $800-2000 per year over the last 30 years for relatively modest homes (1100-1700SF), relatively decently insulated with oil (hot air or water).

 

[LouNY]

I purchased one of those reproduction "caboose" stoves. Not real big, but I bet I could "toast us" real quick. We go through cycles of cold temps ranging from highs ranging in the low thirties to forties, but down into the single digits or teens at night. Then the next week could be in the sixties for highs, down to upper twenties. I really would probably only use it for the really colder temps. We have a small heat pump planned for the moderate temps.

Another question: can you burn a few small chunks of hardwood in a coal stove such as mine just to "take the chill out", letting it burn out after a few hours?

Many stoves will not admit to being able to burn wood and coal, the main difference is that coal needs the air to come up thru the coal, your air needs to be below the grates, wood does not do as good with just under fire air. But you can use wood in most coal burners, that is also one of the ways to start a coal fire is using a good wood fire and when it gets to a bed of hot flaming embers add a layer of coal. The easiest way I have found is a bag of match light charcoal, I spread the charcoal out throw the bag in on top to get rid of it and light it up, when the charcoal is going good I add a layer of coal 2-4 inches deep giving it lots of air when the coal is burning good add another layer of coal when its going good repeat. Mine is a hand load stove, once its full off coal I just regulate the air for the desired output, shake the ash down once a day and add coal. I've been burning constantly this fall/winter for almost 30 days, a few of those it got warm in the afternoon and I would have the air almost closed off, open it wide open for about 30 minutes at night to get the fire going good then cut down to the night air opening, found by trial and error. :2cents: long post to say many stoves can handle wood also.

 

[Pawatch]

I purchased one of those reproduction "caboose" stoves. Not real big, but I bet I could "toast us" real quick. We go through cycles of cold temps ranging from highs ranging in the low thirties to forties, but down into the single digits or teens at night. Then the next week could be in the sixties for highs, down to upper twenties. I really would probably only use it for the really colder temps. We have a small heat pump planned for the moderate temps.

Another question: can you burn a few small chunks of hardwood in a coal stove such as mine just to "take the chill out", letting it burn out after a few hours?

15 years ago I had a Harman Mark III wood coal stove you could burn either wood or coal."coal size was chestnut"
Real cold weather I liked burning wood. But coal was a more steady burning and even heat.
Sure that there are a lot of stoves out there that burn multi fuel.