"Clinkers'. Is this the stuff they used to spread on City of Toronto schoolyards?"
QUOTE Mustapha.
As I understand it, clinkers were what were removed from the furnace pre sifting, with cinders being the much smaller
remains after coke removal and being broken-down again as for use below:
Cinders were used on running tracks at schools, during the winter on sidewalks, and in the manufacture of "cinder blocks",
they having a rather dark cast due to the cinder aggregate therein.
"I haven't seen a fuel oil truck in years."
QUOTE Mustapha.
The oil delivery industy is a shadow of it's former self due to the demise of "Home Heating Oil" but some delivery continues.
The present mainstay of the business remains with commercial delivery to the refrigerated trucking industry, on site fuel tanks,
and suprise suprise, the emergency generator - delivering uninteruptable electrical power for buildings.
To my mind, there were/are number of major differences between gravity hot air and a forced air heating system:
1A) Gravity heating (with coal) was a silent, deep heat, one that would allow even the most severe cold to "rapidly leave the bones".
2A) The concept, although somewhat labour intensive with it's morning/evening refueling chores and adding water to it's tray, was
one of quiet dignity.
3A) Any and all that was fire consumable could be burned in the furnace, adding to house warmth and reducing the heating cost.
4A) Dirty, dirty, dirty. The coal delivery man during and after loading his truck was coverd from head to foot in black coal residue,
as was any child who would venture forth into the coal bin. (Large bags of coal were delivered on the back of the driver to the
"coal window", beside the house.)
1B) Oil is oil, is oil; not quite. With oil,(and gas) the burner is either "ON" or "OFF". when it is ON, the house is warm, when OFF, it cools
down; the regulation is not "steady state". The latter also includes "The Wind".
2B) Minimal labour involved. There is really nothing that you are able to do (licensing required) other than change the air filter and
maybe, just maybe, change the oil filter and beat upon the now somewhat "high teck" water humidor. (Meet your new Furnace Repairman!)
3B) Unless you have bought a dual fuel system, eg oil/wood, you cannot burn anything other than it's permitted design.
4B) Clean, clean, clean, especially with gas, however they both require an annual inspection with an oil burning rig needing a clean-out.
(Also see 2B.)
Don't get me started on Steam!
(Which I love.)
Regards,
J T