What to burn in multi fuel stove

SG27

Hello.

I have just moved to a new house which has a massive multi fuel stove in the living room. As it is so big we are planning to use it with the doors open as an open fire. We like the open fire effect too.

The people who renovated the house have left a wood store in the garden packed with wood left over from the renovation. Off cuts of new timber and old beams and things which they have replaced. Is it ok to burn this sort of thing? I've used a few bits and it burns quite quickly.

Also what over things should we use considering the doors will open on the stove? I've seen coal on open fires with logs.

Never had a burner before so any advice would be much welcome thanks.

SEE

SG27 wrote: »

Hello.

I have just moved to a new house which has a massive multi fuel stove in the living room. As it is so big we are planning to use it with the doors open as an open fire. We like the open fire effect too.

The people who renovated the house have left a wood store in the garden packed with wood left over from the renovation. Off cuts of new timber and old beams and things which they have replaced. Is it ok to burn this sort of thing? I've used a few bits and it burns quite quickly.

Also what over things should we use considering the doors will open on the stove? I've seen coal on open fires with logs.

Never had a burner before so any advice would be much welcome thanks.

Multi fuel means just that and you can burn both coal and wood, but having the doors open is a waste of money unless you're wealthy. Your fuel will vanish in minutes with the doors open and depending on draught direction you could either set fire to your chimney, or fill your room with smoke.

SG27

SEE wrote: »

Multi fuel means just that and you can burn both coal and wood, but having the doors open is a waste of money unless you're wealthy. Your fuel will vanish in minutes with the doors open and depending on draught direction you could either set fire to your chimney, or fill your room with smoke.

Surely running it with the doors open is the same as having an open fire in terms of safety and edficiency? Why would it cause a chimney fire.

I read that it was ok. I'm worried now!

suki1964

Presumably the stove is the correct size for the room it's fitted in

As others say, waste of money using it with the doors open. It's not how they work. You wouldn't roast a joint in the oven with the door open would you

I burn smokeless fuel and logs, not together.

My stove works better on smokeless fuels. I prefer to keep logs for spring or autumn when I'm only lighting the stove in the evenings

SG27

suki1964 wrote: »

Presumably the stove is the correct size for the room it's fitted in

As others say, waste of money using it with the doors open. It's not how they work. You wouldn't roast a joint in the oven with the door open would you

I burn smokeless fuel and logs, not together.

My stove works better on smokeless fuels. I prefer to keep logs for spring or autumn when I'm only lighting the stove in the evenings

I wouldn't cook in an open oven but I would use an open fire. To be honest I don't really want to use it with he doors shut for a few reasons. 1, I like the ambience an open fire gives 2, it sounds quite complicated to control the heat, there's no glass on the doors. And lastly the few times I have shut the doors it has given off a burning smell like burning paint. Which I assume is because it's new or possibly newly painted. But it was quite strong!

Gloomendoom

If it is a Franklin type of stove, it can be run with the doors open. However, don't leave it unattended without shutting the doors or fitting a spark guard, especially if you are burning timber offcuts.

suki1964

But you don't have an open fire, you have a stove which is totally controllable

I'm also pretty sure that burning with the doors open will wreck your flu


If the stove is new or newly painted you don't want roaring fires in it, just small not so hot ones until the paint cures

It may also be cement needing to cure

w50nky

Some solid fuels such as phurnacite/anthracite should never be used with the doors open due to toxic by products of combustion. Your coal merchant will advise which ones can not be used on an open fire and therefore stoves with the doors open.

Gloomendoom

suki1964 wrote: »

But you don't have an open fire, you have a stove which is totally controllable

If it is a Franklin type stove, it is a sort of halfway house between an open fire and a fully sealed stove. They are not fully controllable with the doors shut because there are too many air leaks.

We have one and it is run with the doors open as often as it is with them shut. It's an antique and has been there for donkey's years with no ill effects on the flue.

w50nky

Did they leave you a working CO alarm? If not I would say it is a priority to obtain one ASAP. Chimney/flue swept recently? Make sure your wood is "dry" before you burn it also....enjoy!

SG27

w50nky wrote: »

Did they leave you a working CO alarm? If not I would say it is a priority to obtain one ASAP. Chimney/flue swept recently? Make sure your wood is "dry" before you burn it also....enjoy!

Yes they put up a new carbon monoxide alarm. I'll get one of those damp meters and I plan getting the chimney swept in a few weeks as it should be warmer by then and it won't be used until next winter.