I always burn Blaschak anthracite. You have to get it from a dealer.
They come bagged and dumped. I get the dumped nut size. I don't pay $300 per ton. I trade, and get it much cheaper. However, anthrocite is very expensive because it's very clean and very high btu. I used to use bit coal for years. Anth is about 4:1 the BTU and very little clean up. Bit coal has a lot of clinkers and impurities, and a lot of cleaning to do weekly.
Depending on what you are looking for; my set up works for me, because I can longer cut 20-30 cords a year, dry and season, and stack all that wood. Not to mention the chainsaw, the time, truck etc. I love to cut wood, but not that much anymore. Physically it's too much now. So, I spend $600 on coal a year, and cut 3 cords, but that ensures hassle free heat 6 months. If I don't have time to cut more, I just burn coal, no worries. Plus I am out of town sometimes, and with my coal set up, I can leave for 48-55 hrs, no problems. I do have an oversized coal boiler for our house. You really only want to burn coal in a coal fireplace or boiler. Otherwise, it's just not going to work very well. Wood burns with air going around it, to the top of it, etc. For coal to burn, air has to go through the coal bed, or you get an incomplete burn and you'll be throwing out a lot of your coal. So, unless you have a boiler made for coal, I would not waste my time. Also, I don't like to burn bit coal. It has too much Sulfur and smells really bed. Anth has a sweet smell. Adding logs to it, it really smells pretty good.
I have a NCB-250 COAL unit. I posted before about as well. Same as art; I load mine 1x every 1-2 days. Two logs on the side and a small in the middle. Than thick layer of coal evenly spread out. You have to shake it every 12-24 hrs, but don't shake it too much. Also, set the diff to as tight as possible; 5 is the best. Mine set at 175F 5dif. Coal will over shoot and you get 182F and lower 170F with those settings.
I never turn the fan off. I don't think I've ever done it. I just empty the ash pan 2-3x per week.
I usually use 3 cords of wood and 4-5 Ton coal on a extremely cold winter for 4500sqft.
This year, it's more like 1.5 cord and 2 ton at most. We do keep the house at 74+F
Hey, Thanks guys.Art you were the guy I remember posting burning coal in your outdoor unit. Ill pass it on. Thanks.
What type of coal are you burning? Do you have any specs or test info from it? The only coal I have been able to get so far is bituminous canal coal. Tractor supply does sell anthracite but I don't want to pay $300 per ton.