What to Look For When Buying Coal

Points to watch during use

1. Take a sample and test it in your boiler before you buy, and test again whenever the batch changes.
2. Ask the supplier in writing for the calorific value, moisture content and ash content; high moisture lowers efficiency and high ash shortens cleaning intervals.
3. Coal with a very high calorific value can damage the cast pot, grates and steel surfaces; stay within the range recommended for your boiler series.
4. Do not use coal dust, wet coal or coke.
5. On stoker-fired boilers the grain size must pass through the hopper screen without jamming the auger (nut coal, pea coal).
6. Foreign objects in the coal such as stones, bolts and wire damage the stoker mechanism; choose clean, screened fuel.
7. Store fuel dry, under cover and off the ground; coal that gets wet loses efficiency and bridges in the hopper.
8. With alternative fuels such as olive pomace, pellets, hazelnut shell and olive stone, moisture content must stay below 15%.
9. Buy your winter fuel before the service team comes to commission the boiler.

Fuel

The quality of your fuel has a direct effect on boiler efficiency, combustion quality, ash volume, cleaning intervals and how much fuel you burn. The fuels suited to your boiler series are listed in the technical table on each product page.