House coal v's Smokeless coal

Marc32

I have been looking around to get my coal delivered before winter and the cheapest i have seen is nationalcoal.(if you google them you will find them) they are selling delivered a ton of house coal for £260 or smokeless for £320. Is it worth paying the extra £60 for the smokeless coal? or would an extra £60 of house coal make up the difference between the longer lasting of smokeless fuel?
As i live in a non smoke control area using either is not a problem and house coal burns pretty well in the stove.
Any advice peeps?

PaulF81

I have tried 1 bag of house. Went straight back to eggs. Nowhere near the same heat.

A._Badger

Generally speaking, housecoal isn't recommended for stoves because it produces a lot of soot, which clogs passageways and the liner/chimney. However, if your stove manufacturer says it's OK and you've had good results with it, I would, personally, stick with coal.

It's a serious regret of mine that my own stove only works on wood or smokeless - I'd change like a shot if I could as coal lights much more easily, is more economical and I prefer the flame pattern.

The only thing I would say is make sure you get the sweep in more frequently if you use coal - it really does produce a lot of soot.

muckybutt

A._Badger wrote: »

The only thing I would say is make sure you get the sweep in more frequently if you use coal - it really does produce a lot of soot.

Oh my goodness yes it does !

beat_the_utilities

A._Badger wrote: »

Generally speaking, housecoal isn't recommended for stoves because it produces a lot of soot, which clogs passageways and the liner/chimney. However, if your stove manufacturer says it's OK and you've had good results with it, I would, personally, stick with coal.

It's a serious regret of mine that my own stove only works on wood or smokeless - I'd change like a shot if I could as coal lights much more easily, is more economical and I prefer the flame pattern.

The only thing I would say is make sure you get the sweep in more frequently if you use coal - it really does produce a lot of soot.

Have to agree with all of the above. I can only use manufactured smokeless ovoids, anthracite or wood on my stove, but I'd definitely use housecoal if I could. Basically because it's cheaper and has a better flame picture

By the way, if it turns out you can't use housecoal on your stove, £320 per ton for smokeless seems like a good price to me. Works out at £8 per 25kg bag which is what I'm paying in North Notts and I haven't found anywhere cheaper than my local merchant. His prices will go up after the end of August (as will everyone else's, so probably best to stock up now if you can).

highrisklowreturn

Watch with housecoal - not only will you get more coal, but the raised flame, in my experience, can more easily ignite the soot and make your stove pipe glow. My advice is to go 50/50 and light with housecoal, then add smokeless later on, or some wood as the fire settles.

I have seen the fire rope - or soot on the fire rope - turn to red embers above my stove with the housecoal, so be careful.

muckybutt

highrisklowreturn wrote: »

I have seen the fire rope - or soot on the fire rope - turn to red embers above my stove with the housecoal, so be careful.

:eek: So thats why you were asking about fire extinguishers suitable for use on stoves

[Deleted User]

I just swept my twinwall flue a couple of weeks ago after burning mostly smokless eggs and I was very surprised just how much soot came out. Way more than burning wood. Don't think I'd ever make house coal my main fuel after seeing this. I still have a bunker of eggs but buying in lots of logs now i have found a good local supplier :-)

Igol

I was all geared up to get more expensive smokeless when I first put in the multifuel stove, my coalman asked me why the change and then told me not to bother.
Yep you have to keep on top of the sweeping but if you mix in wood (75 wood/25 coal) then its a damn site less than a standard open fire and the coal generally only starts getting used come the coldest months in this house.