Coal Fireplace with Back-boiler - Help :)

Manxcottageonthehill

@meritaten - Thank you! I don't think we will know how big the back boiler is untill we move in, and even then will probably take a winter to figure out if its working . Oh I can just feel toasty warm socks!!

mardatha

I've always had a coal fire, wouldn't swap it for anything. You need to get a coalman and a sweep, sweep the chimney before the winter.
We can have 3 baths a night if we want, and the washing dries overnight on the airer in the livingroom.

dumpy

I'm wondering why you can't find a coal bunker - is there any evidence that coal/fuel has been stored anywhere?

If not, why not? - does the back boiler work? Does it leak? Is all the plumbing in place? Is the chimney clear? Is the flue sound? All are expensive to fix.

Have you asked the seller when they last used the system?


Check you have an air brick/incoming ventilation somewhere in the room. You need an airbrick to allow air into the room to replace the air that flows up the chimney with the heat.

These sometimes get plastered over/covered up espceically if the fire isn't used as they breate a draught through the room. Essential when burning fuel in the room.


You mention a terrace and close neighbours. Bear in mind that if the previous owner has not regularly been burning coal then when you start, it may annoy the neighbours. I burn coal and there can be a very strong smell of smoke outside especially on still days but my nearest neighbour is a long way away so I don't bother them (or their washing).

Get a metal ash bin for hot ashes, don't melt a plastic bin and make sure you store the ashes somewhere safe, outside, until they are cool.

mardatha

My neighbour burns peat and that's worse! lol