burning smokless fuel and wood

beanrua

Am def getting 4 to 4.5 hours warm steady burning from small bucket of ecobrite i.e. 14.00-18.00 and now 18.00 to 22.30. This is heating 9 radiators, warm steady heat. Think I'll weigh empty bucket and then full bucket and I should be able to work out what I use per day i.e. 4 buckets per 16 hour day plus a few logs if needed, not used to-day yet. Suppose it might be useful to have a room thermometer but it def is warm and cosy.My stove is multi fuel and I used the grate open for coal and closed for wood but I tried it closed with coal when it was burning steadily and it def prolongs burning time with no adverse effects. Got the house insulated 6 months ago and it makes such a difference, wish I had done it years ago, best money i ever spent.

beanrua

Suki - I am in dungannon - so perhaps we share husbands????? lol

suki1964

beanrua wrote: »

Am def getting 4 to 4.5 hours warm steady burning from small bucket of ecobrite i.e. 14.00-18.00 and now 18.00 to 22.30. This is heating 9 radiators, warm steady heat. Think I'll weigh empty bucket and then full bucket and I should be able to work out what I use per day i.e. 4 buckets per 16 hour day plus a few logs if needed, not used to-day yet. Suppose it might be useful to have a room thermometer but it def is warm and cosy.My stove is multi fuel and I used the grate open for coal and closed for wood but I tried it closed with coal when it was burning steadily and it def prolongs burning time with no adverse effects. Got the house insulated 6 months ago and it makes such a difference, wish I had done it years ago, best money i ever spent.

I keep the vents closed as soon as I get a red burn on 90% of the fuel, really makes them last. I only open them when I want to up the temp

So right now stove has been lit 12 hours and I still have coal in the bucket and have used just one log and my rooms are toasty enough that my bedroom window is still open and Im only in a tee shirt and chefs trousers

suki1964

beanrua wrote: »

Suki - I am in dungannon - so perhaps we share husbands????? lol

Oooer , hes from Armagh so there really is a possibility :eek:


esp as hes not here most weeks......................................

beanrua

At long last ~I am getting into harmony with my stove. It's been installed 10 months and it's only now i can say that I really understand it. I think I have got it working to it's greatest potential. Long may it last.

beanrua

Lined small bucket with plastic bag and filled it with ecobrite and then lifted it out and weighed it = 4 kgs. so by my reckoning, each bucket lasts 4-5 hours ie 4kgs so in 16 hour day that would be 3-4 buckets = 12 -16kgs approx per day. So 1x 50k bag would last 3-4 days. This is before eking it out with logs etc. Does this seem about average?

anotherbaldrick

I have to say the little Ecofan is brill' the logburner made the lounge far more comfortable but the fan spreads the heat evenly all around the room so that all your extremities get the benefit . Also because the heat is so even you do not have to get the fire stoked right up to get the radiated heat thrown out, thus the overall effect is the air in the room is far more breathable and pleasant.
We have settled down to burning logs at the back of the fire and a hot bed of smokeless nuts in front. Find this makes the fire easier to control and once it has all brewed to a red hot mass will continue to chuck out heat for hours . 2 large logs and a Kg of smokeless together with a newspaper log do us for the evening.

beanrua

Will try that to-night, anotherbaldrick. Have to say that I have really hot water and 9 rads running off it but I am still looking for ways to economise without losing comfort. Getting there.

welda

suki1964 wrote: »

I swear it would make you ill sitting in there its so hot. Ive got her into putting a dish of water on top of the stove to get some moisture in the room which makes it a tad more bearable,just hope the fan will distribute the heat a lot better

Stick a kettle on top, mum will get a double whammy, moisture to room and, hot water for a wee cheeky cup o tea :T

:beer:

beanrua

suki1964 wrote: »

"I load enough to fill the grate - about quarter a bucket and leave the vents open to get it all burning, when all red and flames, I shut all the vents and leave it".

Suki - just want to say thanks so much for this info. Call me stupid but I had been leaving the bottom vent open which meant my fire was burning up the chimney far too quickly. I had been doing this all wrong for 10 months - anyway my stove is now working perfectly - just the way it should be, so a really, really big thank you.