Lighting, replenishing and getting heat from smokeless fuel

suki1964

michaelgordon wrote: »

bit more advice please, would i be better getting 150kg of smokeless or 100kg smokeless & 50kg Anthracite going to contact the coal man tomorrow to order

I'm in the fortunate position of having two bunkers. I order 2 smokeless to 1 anthracite.


We have two stoves here. Mine is a cheapo Chinese tiger, my mums is a Stanley ( which is also Chinese produced , just assembled in the uk or Ireland, can't mind which )

Now both stoves will work different. My tiger is great on the smokeless to get going, then ticks over beautifully on anthracite, so that stove is 1 to 1. Me mums works better on the smokeless with a log or two. Hers would be 2 to 1

Neither stove works well on just logs, but then we both have fixed grates


If this is your first season burning I'd suggest just not buying bulk anything. Take this season to learn your stove. Took me at least 2 years to learn mine, now I'm learning me mums



Just to illustrate , I'm just home and both stoves have been left to die out. I've put along on the downstairs one ( the Stanley) and it's taken enough for me to bed it down for the night with anthracite, however mine is struggling and I think for sure it won't still be income the morning



You know I sometimes really miss the mains gas

michaelgordon

Thanks Badger & Suki. Think i will get the two 50kg bags of smokeless and see if i can get some smaller bags of anthracite. This is my second year burning mostlu logs i tried with smokeless last year but didnt really get on with it. After reading this thread tried again on sat and maybe as i had the fire really hot from logs it seemed to light and stay warn for the resof the day and know i know its cleaner im going to see about running it again ontop of logs now that the acid thing seems a bit of a misleading statement.

I dont miss the gas at all, my heating bill has roughly halved from when i had gas central heating and its so much warmer and nicer yes its a pain to clean and cut logs but i enjoy it quite theraputic.

mardatha

We're the same Suki, have 2 coal bunkers, one for anthracite and one for smokeless eggs. Michaelgordon we found that a shovelful of anthracite on top of the eggs, last thing at night, keeps the fire stable and stops it roaring up the chimney in high winds.

michaelgordon

Just like to say thanks again for the advice i have been using coal ontop of my heatlogs all week and have seen improved, not as intense heat and the heat in the room lasting a lot longer. Did about a 3 shovel full which is about 40 is pieces maybe 50 put on about 5:30 pm and its still warm now and there is still a slight glow. Much better than wood for the continual heat

mardatha

Yaaay that's great! Maybe see if you have a local coalman? I don't know if you get them where you are, but if you can find one then get coal delivered- it works out cheaper that way.
Using the open fire is a great way of paying as you go and cutting down on DDs to energy companies. Our stove is on 24/7 most of the year apart from midsummer, but it gives me very hot water whenever I need it, heats the house, and dries my washing. My elect DD is only £14 a month but I'm still in £90 of credit.