EFM Coal Boiler Start-Up

[@RIDDLERSGAL]

Thanks for the video. Growing up in our house in Pennsylvania (1969 - 1975) we had a EFM coal stoker, but it was a little different than this one. I always lived in fear of the fire going out because it was just me and mom, and neither of us knew how to relight it, so we'd have to call our "coal guy". In 2013 I went back to visit my home town and stay with the folks who bought my house after mom passed away. THAT EFM stoker is STILL THERE and still works great! wish I could attack photos here!! Elaine

[@HealthInfo]

Great explanation and overview. In virginia i service oil and gas boilers and heat pumps. Never seen a coal boiler. Did have a coal boiler in my house in North Carolina long ago when i was a boy, but it was changed to oil when I was still very young.

[@kmcwhq]

Coal boilers are COOL! And warm too.

[@TimTools99]

Yes they are! Chugga Chugga

[@johnhoyle6390]

impressive coal fired residential boiler.

[@raymondmiloshIII]

Thank you so much for making this vid I have a 1938 motor stoker and I had no idea how to adjust the worm speed and finding any info for it is hard. The set up is similar but at least now I can count the teeth and know where to put it back to if im wrong

[@TimTools99]

+Dr. Strangeglove You are welcome. Good luck

[@davidhardin9156]

Chad if your fire goes out when your not calling for heat then it could be your timer or a number other factors but check the timer is working with a properly maintained furnace and good coal timer should be set at 2 minutes every hr

[@TimTools99]

+David Hardin Good point David. Thanks.

[@vitaliyzakharov6708]

Awesome video. I'm lucky to have natural gas mod con boiler, but I would love to fire a coal boiler at least few times in my life. Seems almost therapeutic..

[@rodofiron5957]

May I ask what the primary purpose of the barometric damper is with a blower to support combustion? Is it primarily for “idle” or. no heat demand? (I understand the stack needs to present a fixed draft with varying atmospheric conditions thus the damper). In other words, barometric dampers make more sense with a natural draft stove than with a “power” burner. Very interested to know this. Thanks

[@TimTools99]

Well, I am not sure but all I know is when my original damper broke and wouldn't open, the fire kept going out. That damper is important in this system.

[@hubster4477]

Nice system. But I have a feeling if something happens to you, nobody else will be able to run that thing.

[@TimTools99]

That is true. The average person would not want to deal with this boiler. I would like to live a while longer .... then it can be someone else problem.

[@jamesshanks2614]

I was watching a informative video by Stoker Don about the correct rotation of an EFM stoker and noticed yours is going when looking at the gearbox backwards. You need to reverse the connections on the motor to reverse the direction it starts up. When looking at the gearbox/fan blower assembly the gearbox should rotate counter clockwise. Yours is going clockwise, it will still deliver air to the pot just not enough air as it is designed to. No matter which way the blower assembly is turning it will not affect the direction of the stoker itself. By getting the blower turning in the proper direction it should improve the efficiency of the burner as it will have more air to burn the coal. By making this change it will give the burner a higher fire using less coal because there will be a lot more air flowing into the burner pot. My neighbor who also runs an EFM 520 when I saw the video about correct motor rotation by Stoker Don we discovered his was turning the wrong way his still had the original motor which has a reverse switch making it very easy to reverse the rotation of the motor. When he opened the firebox door he was astounded by how much higher the flame was and how much more air was flowing into the burner pot and stated he is using less fuel. Easy way to find out I'm correct is shut of the boiler and watch the motor shaft so just before it stops you can determine the way the motor is turning. Looking at the blower housing from the gearbox the shaft should be turning counter clockwise. If it turns clockwise as yours is it needs to be corrected as it wasn't designed to run that way. Check out the video Stoker Don did on the correct rotation of the motor. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGnFe52KrraAeaM Just an FYI

[@TimTools99]

Wow! I thank you so much for this information. I have run it this way for several years. I haven't started it up yet this year but I am going to check this out. Thanks again.

[@stokerdon1020]

It depends on which gearbox your stoker has. Most of these have the big old rectangular gearbox that EFM used up until about 1979. The output shaft on these spins counterclockwise when running correctly. Later EFM's have a smaller square gearbox like the one in this video. These spin clockwise. There is some variety in these later square gearboxes, EFM sourced them from different manufacturers so it's possible that some spin counterclockwise. The main thing to check is that the fan is spinning the right way. If it isn't, the fire will become very lazy even with a high air setting.

[@jamesshanks2614]

Thank you Stoker Don I stand corrected, didn't know they used two different gearboxes but after almost 100 years of production it makes sense that the same supplier would quit for whatever reason. Just curious if your feeding your stoker with a barrel has anyone tried using sawdust as a fuel? If you have a source of sawdust for free it might be interesting to try out as there is a gentleman in Canada heating his homestead with sunflower hulls after processing.

[@TimTools99]

Thank you for the reply so quickly. I will check my fan before I start up this season.I never really knew how that firebox should look when burning correctly. Seems like I have a lot of ash but of course I am used to burning wood in my other furnace.

[@stokerdon1020]

If you have been running it for years and have not installed a new motor, it is spinning the correct way. If it wasn't, the fire would eventually go out. Coal does create a lot more ash than wood, no getting around that! To check your fire; From the EFM manual, the fire should have a 1" to 2" ash ring during a long heat call (at least 30 minutes). The feed rate should be set to match your heat load ( usually 4 or 5 teeth will do it). Use the air setting to get the ash ring right. If you have a large heat load, you can push these up to 6, 7 or even 8 teeth. Each tooth of drum gear engagement equals 2.5 pounds per hour of Rice coal. At 5 teeth this is 12.5 pounds per hour or about 135,000 BTUH gross burner output. Below 4 teeth and above 7 teeth should only be used in very unusual conditions when either the coal burns to fast or has a lot of foreign material in it.

[@jamesshanks2614]

If anyone reading this has ever had the kitchen sink drain slow way down or get plugged up the hot water mixer valve is to blame. I'm 66 and anyone around my age remembers how you had to be careful not to burn yourself when using hot water in the kitchen or bathroom. Since the " oh we need mixer valves to prevent people from burning themselves " idiots as how did we ever survive before these people had to " protect us " One advantage of not having a mixer valve on your hot water was all the grease your mom and dad dumped down the drain was melted and flowed into the sewer ot septic tank and the drain line rarely plugged up. My kitchen sink drain has always been trouble since I moved in 20+ years ago. 4 months ago talking with a plumber over coffee he reminded me why his business is so good. When I got home I raised the mixer valve to its highest setting allowing only hot water with no cold water added. In two weeks my slow drain in the kitchen went back to like a new drain works. If you do this post a reminder above each sink that the hot water will be really hot for your wife and any visitor using the facilities. If modern technology is so nice then why are we using a coal stoker designed in 1922? Just an FYI for any tired of slow kitchen drain pipes. Complex solutions to simple problems seem to be the norm now yet when we were kids simple solutions to complex problems were allowed until the " oh we must protect the public people came along" and created a aggravating problem that didn't exist prior to wholesale installation of hot water mixer valves. Long live the EFM coal boiler and no I don't work for them I'm retired and probably think too much. Stay safe and warm the old fashioned way by keeping Americans working.

[@devinlansberry4201]

What do you have your timer set at for the on/off time of the feeder and air supply?

[@taylorfranklin6411]

I need your help!! I’m in dire need! I have almost the same unit and mine had a deeeeeep hole in the coal bin and it also smelled like sulfur when I walked in the house. Now my unit isn’t pulling coal into the coal pale. I need help! Please! I’m in Pennsylvania and we had a snow storm yesterday!

[@SumJerzeyPride]

I have an efm as well.I don’t see your steam drainage to release the hot steam water.I have a small copper pipe that connects to the top of the furnace to a steam pipe.Just curious if you have the same design as mine.

[@TimTools99]

Hello. My system is hot water system. do they make one for steam? I don't know.

[@bobl78]

Oh my good..this was old Technology even back in 1940

[@johngnipper1454]

Good source of heat though

[@tommybewick]

Hey Tim, I grew up in Tonawanda and my brother lives in Chaffee, just outside of Arcade, He has a wood furnace in his basement and uses it all winter. I'm in the Albany NY area now and using oil. I will have to look into a coal one, cheaper, I believe, isnt it?

[@TimTools99]

Hi Tom. We don't have natural gas here in our little village so over the years I have heated with oil, propane, wood and coal. Forget Oil and Propane! Currently, I still have my Brunco wood furnace in the basement which does a beautiful job. I got the EFM Boiler so that maybe I could cut down on the amount of wood I had to handle ( I'm not getting any younger!) and it heats the house and my shop. My first load of coal 10 yrs ago cost $136/ton. It had remained pretty steady for years. Then the next year it went up to $180 then 200 the 225. Now it is around $300 I think. Just my luck! When the price hit $225 I decided to buy in bulk. I buy 23 tons at a time direct from the mine in PA. and save $80 a ton. So to answer your question in another way ..... Nothing is chap anymore. Move South! LOL

[@TimTools99]

***** P.S. EFM company makes a Coal Stoker Furnace too. I think if I had to do it over again, I would buy the furnace. Boilers are a pain!

[@ad356]

+TimTools99 i have natural gas and i dont care for it. i dont want to pay for something after i already have used it. i HATE HATE utlitily companies with all of their stupid fees, charges, and surcharges. i was burning pellets but the price has gotten out of control so i bought a keystoker 90K. i bought my bulk coal at $240 per ton i bought 4 tons so i should be about $1,000 to heat this drafty old house

[@TimTools99]

Hi Tom k2bew. I put this coal boiler in when coal was relatively cheap. I still burn wood in a furnace in my basement too. I can get wood pretty cheap where I live so it is still my best heating option but after 40 years of cutting, splitting and stacking wood, it's nice to supplement with the coal so at least I don't have to burn so much wood. I see you are a ham radio operator. My call is N2RGT.

[@putheflamesou]

A man of my heart.. I also have to live next door to cousil person that even gets his grass seeded by the city, New drive, sidewalk. THEN they tack a 5% franchise fee on our electric bill...subjct to go higher I'm sure. I burned pellets which reduced ins 50$ at that time vs wood heat. Then Nationwide quit insuring pellets stoves. I told a few manufactures so they may be getiing with them to work something out I hope. I believe other countries have better stoves and skills with fireplaces and hydronic heat. Also A HUGE problem is our forced inefficiency. I could have sold my big house to a family but I had to build same size home in a town of 200 people!!!! There needs to be incentives for families to get into homes and free us old guys. All they can think about is their taxes yet wondering why rural communities are dieing.

[@andrewseamans3566]

Curious if you use the coal year round? Looks like maybe there is a spot for an oil gun there for the warmer months.

[@TimTools99]

I friend of mine has one of these boilers and he runs it all year. I thought I would to heat my domestic hot water but I decided not to. I have a port for an oil burner but never installed it.

[@brianmorrison9066]

I soak those hard wood chips in k1 for my leisure line stoker.

[@andrewseamans1419]

Which model Leisure Line do you have?

[@danc4335]

How many tons do you think you burn in this coal boiler ?

[@TimTools99]

I have a big house and I also heat my shop with this same boiler. I probably burn 15 ton per year.

[@danc4335]

@@TimTools99 thanks for the reply ! That seems like a huge amount .... I'm new to coal as I only burn part time coal rest wood in my hand fed Harman boiler. I seem to go through a ton in 4 weeks heating 2000sq/ft house and 32x40 garage

[@gregorymalchuk272]

What kind of oil did you use on the blower motor?

[@TimTools99]

I think it is 10W30 in my oil can. I put one drop on the oil port on the motor at the beginning of each season.

[@jlo7230]

@@TimTools99 Your motor should have an oil cup for both bearings.

[@shnobi24]

Excellent video

[@TimTools99]

Thanks!

[@timboltz7421]

can you burn wood in that coal stove

[@TimTools99]

No.... rice coal only

[@offthegridwithbert924]

Why is your pipework not lagged? Loosing a lot of heat there!

[@TimTools99]

Help me out here. Tell me about it. KZbin is all about helping one another.

[@offthegridwithbert924]

TimTools99 your supply and return copper lines would benefit from insulation lagging, every meter of exposed pipe is loosing you heat meaning you will be burning that little bit extra coal which adds up over a winter, here in Australia where I live we lag all pipework that carries hot or chilled water, it’s all about saving energy and money right?

[@TimTools99]

oh i follow you. I just never heard of the terminology "Lagged." In my case, the heat that come off the boiler heats my shop. It keeps the shop 50 degrees all winter just with the heat off the boiler so I do not want to insulate those pipes and then have to pump water to heat my shop.

[@spencerwilton5831]

Charles Of Lebanon Exactly. A friend of mine spent days lifting his floorboards and beautifully lagging all his central heating pipes. Mitred corners, every seam taped etc. When I told him why it was a pointless exercise his face was a picture- you could see the exact moment the penny dropped!

[@MrMawnster]

I don't like how it's electricity Dependant.

[@TimTools99]

I have a back-up generator.

[@carlosalbertopachecoalbert2385]

Abraço pra você. Do. Brasil. Brasuca 🙏👏👍👍👍👍🙏. música boa. Sensacional 👏👏👏👏👍👍❤️👍👍👍👍 fica com Deus aí neste momento 🙏. Que. Deus abençoe sempre sua vida e toda sua família 🙏

[@carlosalbertopachecoalbert2385]

@@TimTools99 Carlos. Magaiver 🙏🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷👍😀🤣

[@erics.629]

I'm sorry but have ever cleaned your kitchen sink? Because it looked like the sides of an outhouse! God, with the money your supposedly saving using coal hire a cleaning company once in a while!

[@TimTools99]

Eric, you seem stressed out. That sink is in my shop and is used to clean all sorts of greasy nasty stuff. I scrub it out when I think of it. Maybe every 5 or 10 years. Ha! FYI burning coal is not necessarily a money saver. It's one alternative because we do not have natural gas availability where I live. Now, find something positive to do. Maybe consider Yoga ... Life is too short to be negative.

[@timidater4803]

@@TimTools99 good reply Tim!!!Wow the clean police must of got a hold of this guy!!!!LOL!!!!

[@TimTools99]

Ahhhh he was just rattling my chain. Hahahaa. Seems like a bad hobby though.

[@timidater4803]

@@TimTools99 I here that!! Plenty of trolls on the Tube!!!!!!!

[@TimTools99]

@@timidater4803 i couldn't think ogf that term. "Trolls." Yes plenty of those on here.