can you mix coal and wood in stove ?

alanco15

Hi, i have a new stove AGA Little wenlock classic, just wondering could I start a fire with coal and then top up with wood. or is it one or the other, i know there is an additional grate which is placed inside when burning wood only. what are the rules ,
forgive me its my first stove

smcqis

I have a multifuel but it has a non removalable grate, the only removable ppart is the front vertical grate. I would burn coal then at the end of the night put logs on top as i find this creates the greatest heat

A._Badger

There has been some suggestion that wood and smokeless/coal burned together can lead to the formation of sulphuric acid in the liner which, as you would expect, damages it.

I've asked my installer and my sweep about this (both highly experienced in stove legend and lore - I live in a very stovey area) and they thought it was nonsense.

It would be useful to have a reliable opinion based on some properly conducted research.

suki1964

I would also use logs at the end of an evening on top of smokeless to keep the fire going that bit longer

alanco15

Thank youi for your responses ,, i have found that i have to use wood knidling to get the coal going anyway , having trouble keeping fire going, but seems ok with the mixture of both, any tips on initial lighting of the fire ?

muckybutt

I have - as a sweep used both wood and logs for many years as have my customers and have never had any trouble with liners rotting, in fact as I speak I have a bed of house coal and three pieces of wood sat on top of the fire blazing away.

One thing though...I wouldnt recommend putting wood on last thing ! you could well end up with a slumber burning problem which could lead to a liner geting blocked quite quickly and a chimney getting severley tarred up. I would recommend only using wood till say 9 or 10 pm then bank up with coal or smokeless of some sort if you want it burning over night or daytime for that matter, close the dampers down fully then just turn it back slightly to get a minimal draught going, that should keep fire in all night / day.

muckybutt

alanco15 wrote: »

Hi, i have a new stove AGA Little wenlock classic, just wondering could I start a fire with coal and then top up with wood. or is it one or the other, i know there is an additional grate which is placed inside when burning wood only. what are the rules ,
forgive me its my first stove

Not sure with the Aga but normally when burning wood only the grate area is normally removed because wood is best burnt on a good bed of ash with air flow over the top of the wood, whereas coal needs the grate in as it likes the draught from below and thats also how the ash is emptied.

Best to start coal burning with kindling and coal together, so a fire lighter or two with a good handfull of kindling placed criss cross across the top, then on top of that place a decent amount of coal on top but not too uch or you will smother it and it'll go out, once its got going top up as required or add more wood etc.

Williwoodburner

alanco15 wrote: »

Thank youi for your responses ,, i have found that i have to use wood knidling to get the coal going anyway , having trouble keeping fire going, but seems ok with the mixture of both, any tips on initial lighting of the fire ?

Hi,
no experience of smokeless fuels but when burning wood we do the following -

Last thing at night I always bring enough kindling in and leave it on the hearth to ensure it is warm and dry for lighting the following morning.
When lighting the fire I screw a couple of sheets of newspaper up and light them in the empty stove to warm the flue.
I then place a couple of small split logs into the stove split side up then lightly ball up about six sheets of newspaper and place on top. Then I place a good amount kindling on top in a criss cross manner and light the newspaper.
I leave all air vents fully open and often leave the door slightly ajar for an extra boost.
When kindling really blazing I place a couple of small pieces of wood or small logs on top then close the door.
When the logs have really got going I place more logs into the stove, when really blazing I close bottom air vents.
When refueling I find it best to mix wood types and sizes of logs.
Dont be afraid to fill the firebox, the burn rate should be controlled by the supply of air.
Logs should be placed into the firebox criss cross fashion so leaving gaps for air between, if you put logs parallel they dont burn as well.
I think most problems when burning wood are caused by trying to burn wet/unseasoned wood.

Hope this is of help. :money:
Willie.

Williwoodburner

Before refuelling, poke the embers and spread them about a bit.

:money:

Willie.

suki1964

alanco15 wrote: »

Thank youi for your responses ,, i have found that i have to use wood knidling to get the coal going anyway , having trouble keeping fire going, but seems ok with the mixture of both, any tips on initial lighting of the fire ?

You will need kindling to get the ovoids going - but thats not classed as burning wood and ovoids together

Dont skimp on the kindling. I use a lump of firelighter and a good handful of DRY kindling. Once the kindling takes - throw on a good covering of ovoids then open up all the vents and let it take. You might have to leave the door ajar as well. You need enough kindling for the ovoids to take - and using the smokeless it can take a good 20/30 mins to get burning hot enough to be able to close down the vents - you need them all glowing red

If it goes out then add another firelighter and a lot more kindling on top and go again. You will soon get the hang of it and how much kindling/fuel you need to get your stove going - all trial and error

highrisklowreturn

You can actually build a fire with a small firelighter and one dry stick, you just need to sparsely put the coal around it, normally household coal for a quicker light. Cardboard is also a great lighter.