Coal fires! (& smokeless fuel)
Coal fires! (& smokeless fuel)
Author
Discussion

Merlot

Original Poster:

4,121 posts

225 months

Saturday 20th February 2010
quotequote all
I've recently started using coal in our open fire. I am enjoying it a lot more than wood. Harder to start, but hotter when burning.

As we are not in a designated smoke control area, I am using ordinary house coal. This seems to burn very well but it does produce more black smoke than wood. Although we don't have that many fires (1, perhaps 2 a week for 3/4 months) I am concerned at this extra smoke and the possibility of chimney fires.

I've seen smokeless coal in my local merchants. Depending on where I look/who I speak to it is either rubbish or much better than normal housecoal.

I am assuming that a 'smokeless' fuel is likely to leave much less deposits on the inside of a chimney and therefore reduce the risk of chimney fires?

rovermorris999

5,299 posts

206 months

Saturday 20th February 2010
quotequote all
Just sweep your chimney now and then once a year, unless you burn wood, then twice a year. Ordinary house coal should be cheaper then smokeless fuel and you get a nice flame too. If you think coal is hard to light, just try smokeless fuel!

paddy27

1,742 posts

251 months

Saturday 20th February 2010
quotequote all
R
rovermorris999 said:
Just sweep your chimney now and then once a year, unless you burn wood, then twice a year. Ordinary house coal should be cheaper then smokeless fuel and you get a nice flame too. If you think coal is hard to light, just try smokeless fuel!
+1
We have a coal fire 3+ times a week over the winter. Just sweep your chimney once a year.
Normal coal is far cheaper than smokeless.
We use lionheart doubles coal here. About $4,50 for 25 kilo bag.

Wheelrepairit

2,998 posts

221 months

Saturday 20th February 2010
quotequote all
What perfect timing this thread is.

I have a coal fire on the go as I type, just normal housecoal, nothing fancy.

The wife and I were just talking about what makes the flames blue.

We had no idea, over to you folks.

Gareth79

8,488 posts

263 months

Saturday 20th February 2010
quotequote all
rovermorris999 said:
If you think coal is hard to light, just try smokeless fuel!
My parents had a Parkray always used a gas poker - definitely the easiest way to do it!

MrV

2,748 posts

245 months

Saturday 20th February 2010
quotequote all
Wheelrepairit said:
What perfect timing this thread is.

I have a coal fire on the go as I type, just normal housecoal, nothing fancy.

The wife and I were just talking about what makes the flames blue.

We had no idea, over to you folks.
Its the bitumen in the coal that gives a blue flame