Multi fuel stoves..

nightrider1470

nightrider1470

nightrider1470

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25 May 2011
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I have a multi fuel one that can do coal and wood.

Is all coal the same or does certain types last longer?

I seem to be putting new coal on every 30 mins or so then throwing the odd log on.

Looking for some advice :)

Have just bought a load of strong paper takeaway bags and plan to fill with coal and tie with string so I can just throw bags in rather than having to carefully shuvle
 
This'll be better of in home..

To answer your question, there are different types of coal suited for different applications, we tended to use the smokeless coal when I had a proper fireplace (not entirely smokeless, but significantly less. If your coal is burning that fast, it might be worth playing around with the amount of air intake to stop it burning as much.
 
You are meant to close all the grill gaps when burning coal and have them all open when burning logs.
 
I hope you're burning smokeless like Homefire or something similar and not ordinary house coal. House coal will tar up your flue quickly due to it's high bituminous content, it's only suitable for open fires with free access to lots of air not a closed environment like a stove.
Also mixing wood and coal isn't recommended as that too produces more tar.
 
Buy your coal/coke from a proper marchant like CPL for example. Don't just buy whatever rubbish the garage forecourt or B&Q are stocking this week.

When I still had a Parkray I tried all different names and types and they all had different qualities.
 
As above the stuff from the garage B&Q is poor stuff.

Go to a merchant and pick up a sack of Home-fire or Coalite. If you can get coalite ovals go for them bit more pricey but they last ages. I can make a fire at the weekend in the morning and its still burning like a trooper 6 hrs laters
 
For smokeless close the top vent and control with the bottom vent. For wood it's the opposite way round, close the bottom completely and control the amount of air entering with the top vent.
 
Gayjin said:
This may well depend on the model as this certainly isn't the case with my stoves.
Click to expand...

Same here, if i open both vents when burning wood (tend to only burn wood as its abundant and free!) then the fire would rage almost out of control.
 
Greebo said:
You are meant to close all the grill gaps when burning coal and have them all open when burning logs.
Click to expand...

I would have though this is the other way round? Coal burns from the bottom, wood burns from the top.

Multi-fuel stove come with a grate to keep the coals up and feed air from the bottom, if burning wood this grate can normally be removed.
 
For coal,

Close the top open the bottom.

For wood

Close the bottom open the top.

Leave both open to get it raging :)
 
My stove fitter explained it thus:

Wood comes from above ground, so needs air to burn from above - open top vent, close bottom.

Coals comes from below ground, so needs air from below - close top vent, open bottom.

My stove also has a closable grate. I have it closed as I burn wood. If I were burning coal, I'd open it.
 
Totally agree with Badmojo

Close grate for wood and open for coal:)

Always burn wood on wood ash-- clean out ash pan each time for coal.
 
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