Smokeless Fuel Tips

awbcollier

I have recently moved to a thatched cottage which has a combi-burner. We are in a smokeless coal area (and with the thatch) will only be burning smokeless.

I am wondering how much is an average use in kg of smokeless fuel per week? We have recently installed central heating that runs off a on-demand LPG Combi-boiler; so all our hot water and radiators will be heated by that.

Which will be cheaper to use? The LPG gas central heating or a combination with the smokeless coal fire?

I am happy just to use the coal fireplace to have a nice crackling fire in the evenings if that is what will be best.

Also on fuels, I have bought bags (I know its not cheapest but we dont have a store for loose coal) and have bought a bag of each Ecoal, Homefire and Homefire Ovals to test each out. Does anyone have experience with these and know which is best/hottest/lasts the longest.

Any help/advice greatly appreciated as my past experience is all in wood burning stoves.

crphillips

Hmm.....the LPG will probably be cheaper as open fires are very inefficient. If it was a closed appliance then the smokeless fuel would be the cheaper to run but i shouldn't imagine there would be much in it.

As for the fuels you mentioned.......they're all pretty much the same fuel with different brand names. All of the fuels you mentioned create quite a lot of ash. We buy mixed coke from a local supplier and it leaves very little ash and creates a good amount of heat and burns for a long time. It's also cheaper than the brands you mentioned.

A._Badger

In all seriousness, buy a coal bunker. They are quite cheap and don't have to dominate your garden. Buying pre-packed fuel (especially from filling stations) is a mug's game.

It's a shame you're in a smokeless area, an open hearth begs a flame.

I'm inclined to agree with crphillips - if you can get good quality coke, it might be a way to go. My local coal merchant's summer prices (expect the inevitable rise this autumn - so order in quantity now) shows Homefire Ovoids at a whopping £20.90 per bag, while coke is selling for £18.60.

As to how much you will use, it's impossible to guess.

awbcollier

Hello,

Thanks for your responses. We do have a solid fuel stove which is closed; but we do have a very large hearth that it sits in. I guess then we will use the LPG for main heating and just use the fireplace in the evenings.

Am I right to think that the smokless fuel does not burn with a flame?

In regards to price, we bought our Smokless branded coke in 25kg bags for about £12/25kg. Is this very expensive? - we live in the South Oxfordshire area.

Any estimations on use of fuel for casual evening use would be appreciated as I really have no idea how long a 25kg bag will last.

A._Badger

awbcollier wrote: »

Hello,

Thanks for your responses. We do have a solid fuel stove which is closed; but we do have a very large hearth that it sits in. I guess then we will use the LPG for main heating and just use the fireplace in the evenings.

Am I right to think that the smokless fuel does not burn with a flame?

In regards to price, we bought our Smokless branded coke in 25kg bags for about £12/25kg. Is this very expensive? - we live in the South Oxfordshire area.

Any estimations on use of fuel for casual evening use would be appreciated as I really have no idea how long a 25kg bag will last.

As a partial answer to your question, the 'per bag' prices I quoted earlier were for 50kg bags. So, yes, £12 for 25kg is an awful price. This is why I suggested you invest in a coal bunker.

Some smokeless fuels do burn with a small flame and you need to experiement to find the one that works best with your appliance.

jayne59

awbcollier
With regard how much homefire fuel you are likely to use, then I can give you an approximation of what I use if that is ok.

In the cold evenings, I light my fire around 5.30 to 6 pm ish. I light it with kindling and when fully going I fill up the fire basket and let it get on with it. (my fire basket is a 16inch). I then re fill after a little poke around approx 8.30 pm and that is it. Occasionally when I get up in the morning there are still some glowing embers so cn be re filled if required. A 25k bag of Homefire used in this manner lasts me around 7 days if I light a fire like this every day. I also live in Oxon and I got my first lot of Homefire from CPL but was expensive I have since found out so will not be using them again. I am currently undergoing an installation of a solid fuel Rayburn which will be used for cooking, heating and DHW so obviously have been trawling the internet for the best prices. I have found Fuels4u and Fergussons the best prices. (usually around £10.20 to £10.49 a 25k bag at winter prices delivered free) Although I found Fergussons are not very poilte in my experience when you speak to them asking for advice, but their fuel is much cheaper so I couldn't care less about them being polite to be honest. All in all I ordered 6 bags of Homefire from CPL last September and I know I dont need to light the fire every night as not too cold right now, but I still have a full bag left.

What I find is people keep topping up their fire with fuel even when it really doesnt need it. All I do is fill up, bank it down and leave it burn at it's own slow rate. If you keep rooting and poking around with it, your fuel just burns faster for no real reason.

Hope this is of some use to you regards how much fuel approx

Jayne

A._Badger

jayne59 wrote: »

awbcollier
What I find is people keep topping up their fire with fuel even when it really doesnt need it. All I do is fill up, bank it down and leave it burn at it's own slow rate. If you keep rooting and poking around with it, your fuel just burns faster for no real reason.

Hope this is of some use to you regards how much fuel approx Jayne

Another suggestion would be to experiment with the different smokeless fuels on the market. The temptation is to stick with a brand you know but different set-ups suit different fuels and you can save quite a bit over a season by moving to a less expensive brand.

suki1964

jayne59 wrote: »

awbcollier
With regard how much homefire fuel you are likely to use, then I can give you an approximation of what I use if that is ok.

In the cold evenings, I light my fire around 5.30 to 6 pm ish. I light it with kindling and when fully going I fill up the fire basket and let it get on with it. (my fire basket is a 16inch). I then re fill after a little poke around approx 8.30 pm and that is it. Occasionally when I get up in the morning there are still some glowing embers so cn be re filled if required. A 25k bag of Homefire used in this manner lasts me around 7 days if I light a fire like this every day.

What I find is people keep topping up their fire with fuel even when it really doesnt need it. All I do is fill up, bank it down and leave it burn at it's own slow rate. If you keep rooting and poking around with it, your fuel just burns faster for no real reason.

Hope this is of some use to you regards how much fuel approx

Jayne

I find I light my stove in the morning - say 10ish and its still burning well at 10pm and a 25kg bag of Hi Lites last me a week easy

Now when DH is home and messing with the darn thing, we get through twice as much :rotfl:

welda

suki1964 wrote: »

I find I light my stove in the morning - say 10ish and its still burning well at 10pm and a 25kg bag of Hi Lites last me a week easy

Geezooo, 25kg lasts a week:T and they say us Jocks are tight :rotfl:

:beer:

suki1964

welda wrote: »

Geezooo, 25kg lasts a week:T and they say us Jocks are tight :rotfl:

:beer:

I positively SQUEAK as I walk :rotfl::rotfl:

diamondoll

I have just had an Aarrow 4 Multi installed. We are in a smokeless area, but I have been playing around with logs etc. For winter I want to buy a bunker and smokeless fuel. Coals2u are offering a 500kg bunker with 500kg ecoal, taybrite or homefire fuel for £310. Is this a good price? Which of the fuels is the best for my little stove?
Thanks