Price of coal

nilrem_2

I normally buy my house coal from here http://www.coaldelivery.co.uk/acatalog/housecoal_open_fires_multifuel_stoves.html but reading the low prices some here are getting I thought I would try my local coal merchant, the cheapest I could find for House coal was £6.80 per 20kg sack delivered (min 10 bags) or £6.30 per bag collecting, having coal delivered in 50Kg sack was £16 but I would need a bunker to store it. Buying from Fergussons (link above) on a pallet of 50 x 20kg prepacked bags it works out at £5.82 per bag.

I would prefer to buy locally but I am not paying £49 extra per tonne for the privilege.

Ada3050

Ok, update on the coal I bought.

Starting using the wildfire bag first, and compared to the standard house coal I had it seems to be a lot better. It gives out more heat and burns for longer and burns to almost nothing.

The house coal always seems to go out and leaves a good chunk afterwards.

Nothing scientific just a first go on a small open grate in one room, but for the moment a good purchase so far, used with the kiln dried hardwood a nice cosy room so far!

suki1964

spinningsheep wrote: »

I have tried peat briquettes and I can honestly say I wasn't all that impressed, didn't give a good flame or much heat.

Sat here in a tee shirt with a fire made with a shovel of smokeless and 3 peats - its minus 1 outside so very toastie

These are real peats in their natural glory from the moss - rather then those compressed thingies sold in supermarkets

You do need a good bed of glowing coals to make the best from peats - use them instead of logs

spinningsheep

Ive just been to my local coal merchants and bought:

2 25kg bags of Blaze smokeless
1 25kg bag of housecoal premium trebles
1 net of sticks and 1 bundle of peat briquettes

all came to £31 which I didn't think was too shabby. Have also found a log supplier on ebay that is actually down the lane opposite my house! Never knew they were there, and they are delivering me 10 nets of seasoned logs with 10 logs to a net for £20 later tonight, so I think we're sorted for the next wave of cold weather! Will turn the heating down to 13 degrees I think!

hamaradam

I was looking on the internet to find out what would be the price of a bag of coal as I am using my coal fire again now, and I came across this interesting article....

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk.localnews/Cowboy-coal-merchants-on-the-rise

take a look. I think its a good guide.

NB I have found that my huge store of wood, leftover from much diy work, old flooring etc, and stored in large builders bags what sand come in, is now very damp and smells like fusty mushrooms and won't burn, (coupled with HUGE spiders nesting in it! the dry corners of it..!:eek:)......however with coal burning below it, hopefully it will burn and I'll soon be rid of it....

hamaradam

oops that link wont work, wait...

hamaradam

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/localnews/Cowboy-coal-merchants-on-rise.6013736.jp


here it is, sorry for the delay...

Optimisticpair

Sandrock wrote: »

However, I suspect buying 10kg bags from a DIY store would work out quite expensive. I've looked online and I can get 25kg bags delivered for £11.50.

Not having anything to compare it to, does this sound expensive or about right (seems fine to me). I don't have a huge space to store it but could store 100-150kg at a time.

Thanks :beer:

It's £4.99 here for 10kgs from supermarket and the coal merchant 2 miles away charges 50p extra per 25kg bag for delivery. Our local shop charges most.

We get 25kg bags at £5.99 we collect from our nearest garage. Our local woodsman fetches either a £35 load or a £100 load of split seasoned hardwood. We have about a quarter of last years £100 load left.

My advice is shop around for the best deal.

raymondellis

Inverness-doubles(burn away quickly) £12.50/50kg, best housecoal £14.50/50kg. Having tried smokeless coals Phurnicite £19.50/50kg and surefire £14.50 I am convinced the housecoal is the best value for money.

Of course in a country area like this local log delivery available. Got large trailer load of dry, seasoned split softwood logs for 50quid,lasted months

A._Badger

Housecoal is undoubtedly cheaper, but it's problematical with multifuel stoves, though, of course, it's great on an open fire.

Some stove manufacturers say it's OK to use it, some don't. Either way it produces so much soot that you need to pay special attention to the flues to make sure they don't becme clogged. You also need to sweep the chimney regularly - in my case twice a year before I just gave up and switched back to smokeless and wood.