What fuel is best for open fire?

The most traditional fuel for open fires is housecoal. It is available in various sizes e.g. Large Cobbles, Cobbles, Trebles and Doubles.

What fuel can I use in my fireplace?

If you have a closed appliance or multi fuel stove, then of course you can use coal or wood assuming that it is suitable for use in the area where you live (DEFRA approved in a smoke control area). For a smokeless option you should look for brands such as Homefire Ovals, Econotherm, Fireglo, Sunbrite, and Coalite Nuts.

Is smokeless fuel suitable for an open fire?

Can you burn smokeless coal on an open fire? More good news – of course you can. Smokeless coal, like traditional coal, is designed to be used on open fires and will burn very efficiently in a grate or fireplace. For those in smoke control areas, smokeless fuels like smokeless coal may in fact be your only option.

What is the best coal to burn in an open fire?

From a performance and heating standpoint, anthracite is a higher quality coal for domestic, open fire heating. While harder to ignite, anthracite does burn for a longer period of time at a hotter temperature, meaning it is more effective at providing reliable warmth for your household. Both coals are fossil fuels.

Should you use coal on an open fire?

There is a specific problem with the types of fuels burned on open fires in Smoke Control Areas – (smokeless zones). This means that wood or normal “house coal” must not be burned on an open fire.

Which is better, open fire or stove?

What can I burn on my open fire instead of coal?

If you currently burn coal, you should consider switching to an alternative fuel, such as manufactured solid fuels known as briquettes for use on open fires and for stove users you could use smokeless coal known as anthracite or consider manufactured solid fuels but make sure the fuel used is suitable for your ...

Is it better to burn wood or coal in open fire?

First and foremost, coal burns much hotter than the fire logs thus increasing the amount of heat generated. Coal also burns for a longer period of time. So with coal in the fire logs, you do not need to continuously keep on adding logs to the fire.

Is anthracite better than smokeless fuel?

Anthracite has a very high carbon content, sometimes as high as 98%, which means that it contains less volatile materials and therefore does not give of any thick smoke when it is burned. Anthracite is a hard, shiny form of fuel that burns with maximum efficiency and a glowing flame.

Is smokeless coal better than coal?

The Benefits of Smokeless Coal

Heat output - smokeless coal has a fantastic heat output. This is due to the hard, shiny material of the anthracite that is found in smokeless coal. It burns with great efficiency and has a much stronger heat output in comparison to other fuels.

Is anthracite OK for open fires?

Hard fuels such as anthracite will simply not burn on ordinary open fires or on many types of closed stoves. Mineral fuels will not burn at all in flat-bed wood burning stoves with no grate or low-level air supply, such appliances burn wood very effectively, but they will even extinguish burning coal.

What is the best fuel for wood burners?

You can't get a decent wood burner fire going without kindling. Hardwood is a more efficient fuel source, but it's often difficult to ignite. This is why it's best to use softwood to get any fire stared.

Can I buy coal for my fire?

Yes, from May 2023. However, people with open fires can still use it until that date provided they do not live in a Smoke control Area and purchase it from their local Approved Coal Merchant.

Can I burn wood and smokeless fuel together?

Burning smokeless coal and firewood together can be beneficial to your appliance. The extra heat from the solid fuel drives off any moisture in your logs, significantly reducing the build-up of tar and rusting. A fire of both smokeless coal and firewood will also burn hotter for longer.

Will smokeless coal still be allowed?

House Coal and Wet Wood are being banned because they give off high levels of smoke when burnt. Smokeless Coals (including Anthracite) and Kiln Dried Logs are NOT being banned.

Is it cheaper to burn wood or coal?

This is one of the easiest questions to answer. Wood is best for your stove if you have a FREE supply and plenty of room to store it. If you can buy enough wood cheap enough then it's great. But if you have to buy your wood Kiln Dried, by the bag' you are almost certainly better off with coal.

Is smokeless coal being phased out?

In conclusion, 'house coal' and 'wet wood' will be banned by 2023. But Smokeless fuel and dry wood will not be banned.

Can you still buy anthracite?

There is no change to the sale of anthracite as it is a naturally occurring smokeless fuel.

How do you make an open fire more efficient?

Increase the height of your fire basket

By raising the height of the fire basket, you'll be bringing the fire closer to the chimney cavity which will warm the chimney more quickly and improve draw, making the fire burn more efficiently.

Is smokeless fuel better than wood?

Smokeless fuel is a much safer alternative to smoke-producing fuel, particularly wet wood. Wood-burning open fires and stoves produce a range of toxic gases and particulate matter (PM) that can increase a person's risk of developing heart and lung diseases.

Will open fires be banned in UK?

Log burners and open fires are not being banned, but the government says people will have to buy dry wood or manufactured solid fuels which produce less smoke. It says both options are just as easy to source and more efficient to burn, making them much cleaner and more cost effective.

Are briquettes better than logs?

A dry, dense briquette has better burning properties than a traditional log, and the choice available means there's something for everyone. Briquettes also recycle a pure wood waste product, which means less going to landfill. It also means that trees are not having to be felled specifically to make firewood.

Can you mix coal and wood open fire?

Multi-fuel stove rules

The answer is that, even when you are using a multi-fuel stove, you should not burn coal and wood at the same time. While you have the option of burning either fuel on your appliance, this should be done separately and never simultaneously.

What burns hotter logs or coal?

While coal tends to burn hotter, we know enough about various kinds of wood and how to treat them to create hot-burning, consistent logs from the cultured forests grown. Once it is harvested, the wood is cured to remove excess moisture, which allows it to burn hotter and thereby cleaner.

What can I use instead of coal?

As incomes continued to rise, however, coal was slowly replaced with more efficient, convenient, and less polluting fuels such as oil, nuclear energy, natural gas, and, more recently, renewable energy.

Why is it better to burn wood than coal?

Compared with coal, wood fuel cut carbon emissions by 74% to 85% when they took into account the entire life cycle of both fuels, including emissions from production and transportation, and possible land-use shifts.