Anthracite Coal -- Prepping?

[Rastus]

I'm thinking about getting a pile of coal for future heating needs.  Do any of you have experience with coal burning? 

Wood I have in abundance, but cutting and splitting not so much, as I'm now an old guy.   So I have been thinking for some time of getting a coal burning stove for standby heat.   From what I've read I won't have to add to a coal burner as often as a wood burner and there is a lot less ash.  Plus a pile of coal won't rot or harbor rattlesnakes like a stacked supply of wood.

[MikeBjerum]

We had a corn burner that would also burn coal, if you broke it down to a size the feed auger could handle.  A neighbor burnt coal in his, and said the process for coal and corn was the same.

The key is that you need to burn it on a grate, so you have air flow up through the burning coal.  Look at how coal forges are built.  Draft controls burn rate and temperature.  Unlike wood, coal forms clinkers that will plug up the grate and cut off air flow.

[tombogan03884]

I'm thinking about getting a pile of coal for future heating needs.  Do any of you have experience with coal burning? 

Wood I have in abundance, but cutting and splitting not so much, as I'm now an old guy.   So I have been thinking for some time of getting a coal burning stove for standby heat.   From what I've read I won't have to add to a coal burner as often as a wood burner and there is a lot less ash.  Plus a pile of coal won't rot or harbor rattlesnakes like a stacked supply of wood.

Coal throws good heat, but why spend money when wood is free for the cutting ?
Also, coal smells .

[Rastus]

<snip> cutting and splitting not so much, as I'm now an old guy.   <snip>

[tombogan03884]

We had a corn burner that would also burn coal, if you broke it down to a size the feed auger could handle.

Wood pellets work the same way.

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

Wood pellets work the same way.

True, but very expensive.

[tombogan03884]

But you can monitor it on your smart watch. 
Including adjusting draft settings .


WTF WOULD YOU WANT A REMOTE CONTROL OFF GRID HEAT SOURCE ? !?

[Rastus]

The coal I can dump outside and no one will be the wiser.  It won't rot...which I think is an advantage.

[tombogan03884]

The coal I can dump outside and no one will be the wiser.  It won't rot...which I think is an advantage.

Just shoot any one you see with a bucket after dark .       

Get your stack up off the ground and covered it will last as long as you will.
Probably longer since your old.   

[billt]

......Also, coal smells.....

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I remember after my mother and father split up, my mom and I moved into an apartment in the city. It had a coal burning boiler. I never got used to that smell. Most all of the apartments were heated with coal back then, (early 60's), and when there was was no wind, you could smell that burning coal all over the city. And the ash would settle everywhere. Little black and grey specks.