Handyman Guide > Removal of Ashes, Coal Stokers and Oil Burners

If ashes are left to accumulate in the ash pit, they will not only cut down the flow of air to the fire but will also cause the fire grates to burn out. Taking the fine ashes out of the pit is an unpleasant task unless they are sprinkled with water to keep down the dust.


A short length of garden hose can be attached to a nearby faucet and kept on hand for this purpose. Ashes should always be placed in a metal container and never in cardboard or wood.

Make it a practice to keep the basement as free of ashes as possible. They collect very rapidly and you will soon have a collection that requires several hours to remove.

It is a good plan to remove ashes daily, or at least every other day.

COAL STOKERS

In recent years, several manufacturers have produced automatic coal stokers designed for the home furnace. These stokers bring fuel to the fire and remove the ashes by dumping them in containers. The only attention required is to remove the ash cans from the basement when they become full and to see that there is a proper supply of coal on hand. Some stokers have a small hopper that must be filled every day or so, while others are attached to a large bin and therefore do not require frequent refilling. Automatic stokers are equipped with blowers, and a special grate is used in the furnace so that the small coal can be burned.

The design, and consequently the maintenance, of these stokers varies with the make, and the homeowner buying a coal stoker should get full operating and maintenance instructions from the manufacturer or dealer.

Each stoker is equipped with either a sheer pin or a similar device, such as a clutch, so that the machine will not become badly dam aged if the mechanism is jammed by too large a piece of coal. Be sure that you are familiar with the procedure for removing any obstruction in the stoker, and how to reset the clutch or replace the sheer pin.

Use the size of coal specified by the manufacturer, and it is wise to equip the hopper or bin with a wiremesh screen to keep out any oversize coal, as well as any other material that might cause a malfunction in the stoker.

OIL BURNERS

Oil is very efficient fuel for heating the home. A modern oil burner is fully automatic and capable of delivering the required amount of heat in a very short time. It works equally well in hot air, hot water, and steam furnaces.

Like any other type of heating equipment, an oil burner is made to deliver a definite amount of heat. If the burner is too small for the house, it will not prove satisfactory, especially in very cold weather. Another point to remember is that a modern oil burner will work better in a furnace designed for it.



Continue to Oil Burners and Kerosene Oil Heaters



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