Multi Fuel aga log burner Burner

A multi fuel log burner is a stove designed to burn not only wood, but also coal and smokeless fuels such as anthracite. They can be used to heat the home, and are usually connected to a central heating unit.

Multi fuel stoves feature an air vent that is located at the front of the firebox to control the amount of air circulating under the grate. This allows the combustion of coal and mineral fuels and also helps reduce emissions.

Fuels that are smokeless

A smokeless fuel is a solid fossil fuel such as coke, anthracite, or anthracite which does not emit smoke when it is burned. This is due to the absence of volatile substances. Volatile matter is what that produces smoke and sulphur dioxide while burning, which is why it is important to look for a fuel with no volatile matter.

Smokeless fuels are usually constructed from anthracite, naturally occurring rock that has high carbon and low impurities content. It is a slow-burning, hard fuel that can be difficult for some people to light. Once lit, it will burn for a long time with a blue flame and a little smoke.

It is often mixed with other fuels to form briquettes that are easier to light and provide longer lasting heat. Briquettes made of this material are known as ovals or smokeless coal. They are made by drying anthracite and breaking it down into a powder after which it is mixed with smokeless binding agents like clay, starch or molasses to make the briquettes that we stock.

These briquettes can be used for multi-fuel stoves, open fireplaces, and room heaters. They also emit more clean flames, with less sulphur dioxide and up to 20 percent less carbon dioxide than regular house coal when burned.

Many of our clients are making the switch from traditional house coal to smokeless fuels, which are not just better for your chimney and flue but as well for the environment. This is especially applicable if you live in a smoke-control zone.

Smokeless fuels are more efficient because they produce less ash than traditional house coal. This could cause your stove to get blocked and damaged. They also burn hotter for longer, so your fuel lasts longer and releases fewer emissions so it is healthier for your health and the environment. Our most popular smokeless fuel is Excel which has been authorised to be used in smoke-controlled areas and approved by HETAS which is the official body endorsed by the government. Excel is a round and easy-to-light briquette, with excellent air flow that can be used for both closed and open appliances.

Coal

People often think that they can use household coal to fuel a 5 kw log burner burner however this is not recommended. Homemade coal can harm the stove, and can be hazardous to your health as it emits carbon monoxide. It is also dirtier than wood, and cannot be used when smoke control is required. If you do decide to burn coal in your stove, it is far better to buy smokeless fuels such as anthracite. These are HETAS or DEFRA approved and are suitable for use in smoke control zones.

If you're using coal, it is essential to create a fire on an unclean grate. Multi fuel stoves have a vented grates that allows air to pass beneath the grate. There is also an ash pan under. It is recommended to build a small tower of kindling at the bottom of your fire that you can build upon as the fire grows. This will stop the coal from burning too quickly and also help to generate heat.

Anthracite coal is more dense than normal house hold coal, and requires an elevated temperature to ignite, but it releases a lot of heat once it is caught on the flame. It also has an extremely high energy content and can burn for longer than other kinds of coal. You should only burn the kiln dried coal that has been treated to remove some of the moisture which could cause it to burn too fast.

It is crucial to keep a layer of kindling or tinder under the coal in order to prevent it from burning too rapidly. Then, slowly add larger coal pieces over the tinder. This will prevent the coal from burning too fast, which can create dangerous fumes.

It is essential to follow the guidelines of the manufacturer for your particular stove, and this includes making sure that all wood is completely dry prior to being used. Ideally it should have been split and dried for a minimum of two years before you begin using it, but in the event that this isn't possible, then kiln drying can be an option.

Briquettes made of peat or turf

Multi fuel log burners allow you to burn different solid fuels, such as turf and peat, in addition to wood or anthracite. These are usually more affordable than traditional firewood and can save you money on heating costs.

Peat briquettes are composed of peat shredded that is then compressed and dried to produce a smokeless, slow-burning and non-smoking domestic fuel. They were invented in Ireland in the 1950s and have largely replaced sods of peat as a fuel used in the domestic market. Peat Briquettes are more efficient than raw peat sods and also produce fewer carbon dioxide emissions.

The first briquettes were referred to as culm bombs, and utilized wet clay as binder. They were difficult to ignite and also had an excessive amount of ash, which could stop air from flowing through a stove grates. The newest briquettes are cut and pressed under pressure to replicate the geological processes that made coal. They are less likely to be blocked and can be lit using only a few pieces of dry peat.

As they burn, briquettes release gases that help create an extremely low smoke flame. They are more easy to light than a traditional wood fire and can be used in an insert for a fireplace or the stove that is designed to hold them.

The majority of DIY and wood stores offer these. They can be stored in a dry place in the garage or shed that is heated but it is best not to stack them because this could increase their moisture content and lower their burning efficiency.

In the past, peat was cut by hand with the help of a knife known as a the slean. The peat was then left to dry in the summer before being burned to warm during autumn and winter. Peat bogs are full of biodiversity, but they disappear faster than they can form. As this happens, they are taking up carbon dioxide and contribute to global warming.

The photo above was taken in 2021 and depicts a peat-covered field bogs near Ballyforan in County Offaly. About 20 percent of Ireland's bogs are still intact. The rest are harvested using excavators or specialized machinery. This is a major shift from the previous practices when peat harvesting operations would make use of long knives to cut turf and moss.

Wood

Multi fuel stoves are designed to burn a variety of different solid fuels. The solid fuels are inserted through an opening into the firebox and the stove is heated by the hot gases produced by combustion. The gasses are pumped through the chimney using a flue system. You can watch the flames through a glass window. There are typically air vents that control the quantity of oxygen that is pumped into the stove.

There are many types of wood which can be used for fuel, but the most suitable wood for log burners is mature, which means that it has been cut and dried for a prolonged period, to reduce the moisture content which makes it less efficient to burn. Seasoned wood also burns more quickly, which means it produces more heat in less time. Unseasoned or kiln dried logs are also available, but they take much longer to burn, and they also produce more smoke.

When lighting a multi fuel bioethanol log burners burner, the grate should be lined with tiny bits of kindling and then the fuel placed on the top. Then you can add a few flames and then logs, coal, or briquettes on top of them. When the firelighters are lit then the remaining fuel can be added to keep them burning.

Keep the grates clean particularly after each use. This will allow the fuel to burn more efficiently, and it will also prevent the accumulation of ash and preventing the flow air. The ash pan beneath the grate of many modern multifuel stoves must be regularly cleaned to prevent it from overflowing.

Anthracite is another excellent fuel to be used in an all-fuel stove. It can be bought at a similar cost as wood, however it burns hotter and produces less smoke. It is available in bags or by the ton depending on the quantity you require. It is also possible to install an adapter kit for woodburning onto some multifuel stoves, which will allow you to burn both coal and wood.