Best type of fuel for a small open fire?

GustyGardenGalaxy

Have just started to use the small open fire in my lounge after not using it for about 8 years (thankfully I had the chimney swept first - it was FULL of twigs courtesy of the Jackdaws in the area!).

I'm currently using bog standard coal (starting it with firelighters and a bit of kindling). It's great at first, but even though the coal burns fairly well I can never seem to get a consistent, really banked up, nice hot glow.

Either I'm doing something wrong or it's the coal!

So should I be using a different type of fuel? If so, what?

I'm not in any kind of smoke free area so it doesn't have to be a smokeless fuel.

Ta.

shegar

Im glad you had the chimney swept first, at least you know its not blocked by nests etc.......

I start my open fire with kindling and then I burn large lumps house coal , it burns good and hot, and very economical , mind you I always make sure I have a bed of ashes for the fire go on..........As I always say "dont poke the guts out of it".........It will burn nicely with a bed of ash glowing red.....

Others would probaly give you different ideas, but this way suits me well......

Dippypud

GustyGardenGalaxy wrote: »

Have just started to use the small open fire in my lounge after not using it for about 8 years (thankfully I had the chimney swept first - it was FULL of twigs courtesy of the Jackdaws in the area!).

I'm currently using bog standard coal (starting it with firelighters and a bit of kindling). It's great at first, but even though the coal burns fairly well I can never seem to get a consistent, really banked up, nice hot glow.

Either I'm doing something wrong or it's the coal!

So should I be using a different type of fuel? If so, what?

I'm not in any kind of smoke free area so it doesn't have to be a smokeless fuel.

Ta.

http://www.fireplacemall.com/Article_Library/How_to_Make_a_Good_Fire_in_You/how_to_make_a_good_fire_in_you.html

http://artofmanliness.com/2010/11/23/how-to-start-a-cozy-fireplace-fire/

very informative ... and fun

A._Badger

Stick with good quality housecoal and develop a technique that works with your grate and chimney, experimenting as you go.

Don't be tempted by wood (burns too cool, prone to spitting and isn't suited to small domestic grates) nor by smokeless (the devil to light, some types wholly unsuited to open fires, very expensive).

It usually takes a while to get the hang of a grate but follow the excellent advice others have given and you'll soon have a warm, living fire!

GustyGardenGalaxy

Thanks for the advice folks, will look into the links provided, etc.

Chimney_Sweep_3

And get a bird guard fitted if not already done beacause they will be back next year.

ash28

A._Badger wrote: »

Stick with good quality housecoal and develop a technique that works with your grate and chimney, experimenting as you go.

Don't be tempted by wood (burns too cool, prone to spitting and isn't suited to small domestic grates) nor by smokeless (the devil to light, some types wholly unsuited to open fires, very expensive).

It usually takes a while to get the hang of a grate but follow the excellent advice others have given and you'll soon have a warm, living fire!

Got to disagree with this......

We burn coal and logs on our fire - not all wood is unsuitable for a domestic fire - far from it.

There is a technique to getting logs to burn hot - you start your fire off normally, for us that is newpaper, kindling and coal and then when you have a bed of glowing embers you put on your logs. We put a bit of coal on a couple of times throughout the evening to make sure the logs have a bed of embers to sit and burn on.

Some woods burn hotter than others and some woods spit and others don't.

We burn ash logs - ash doesn't spit at all and burns really hot, we also burn oak another good wood if well seasoned.

We have never burnt softwoods.

An couple of old rhymes will stand you in good stead -

Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year
Chestnut only good they say
If for long it's laid away
Make a fire of elder tree
Death within your house will be
But ash new or ash old
Is fit for a Queen with a crown of gold

Birch and Fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last
It is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread
Elmwood burns like churchyard mould
Even the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a Queen with a golden crown
Poplar gives a bitter smoke
Fills your eyes and makes you choke
Apple wood will scent your room
With an incense-like perfume
Oaken logs, if dry and old
Keep away the winters cold
But ash wet or ash dry
A king shall warm his slippers by.