Multi Fuel log burning stoves Burner

A multi-fuel white electric log burner effect fire burner is a stove that can burn coal, wood, or smokeless fuels like anthracite. They can be used to heat your home, and are typically connected to central heating units.

Multi fuel stoves have a separate air vent located at the front of the firebox to control the amount of air that is supplied under the grate. This allows the combustion of mineral fuels, coal and wood.

Smokeless fuels

A smokeless fuel is a solid fossil fuel such as anthracite, coke or charcoal that does not produce any smoke when burned. The key to this is the absence of volatile materials. When burned volatile matter, it produces smoke and sulfur oxide. It is crucial to choose a fuel with no volatile matter.

Anthracite is a naturally occurring rock with high levels of carbon and few impurities and is used to create smokeless fuels. It is a durable, slow-burning fuel which can be difficult to light but once it has lit will burn for a long time with a blue flame and only a little smoke.

It is often combined with other fuels to form briquettes that are easier to light and provide a longer lasting heat. These briquettes are also known as smokeless coal or ovals. They are produced by drying anthracite, breaking it down into a dust and then mixing in smokeless binding agents such as clay, starch, or molasses to make the briquettes we stock.

Briquettes that are more flexible than anthracite since they can be used in multi-fuel stoves, open fires and room heaters. They also produce an unclean flame, with less sulfur dioxide and as much as 20 percent less carbon dioxide than regular house coal when burned.

A lot of our clients are making a change from traditional house coal to smokeless fuels which is not just better for your chimney and flue, but also for the environment. This is especially true for those who reside in a region that has an area for smoke control.

Smokeless fuels are more efficient because they produce less ash than traditional home coal. This can cause your stove to get blocked and damaged. They also burn hotter and longer, so your fuel will last longer and release fewer emissions. This is better for both you and the environment. Excel is our most well-known smokeless fuel. It has been approved by HETAS - the official government-approved body - to be used in areas of smoke control. It is a rounded and easy-to-light briquette, with excellent air flow that is suitable for both open and closed appliances.

Coal

Many people think they can use the coke from their kitchen in a wood burner however this is not recommended. The use of household coal can cause damage to the stove, and can be dangerous to your health as it produces carbon monoxide. It is also much dirtier than wood and is not employed in smoke control zones. If you choose to burn coal, it is best to use non-smoke fuels such as anthracite that are HETAS and DEFRA approved. They can be used in smoke control areas.

It is essential to use a clean grate while using coal. A multi fuel stove is likely to have a vented grate, which is designed to let air pass underneath the grate, and there will be an ash pan underneath. It is recommended to have a small tower of tinder at the bottom of your fire that you can build on as the fire gets bigger. This will keep the coal from burning too quickly and help it to produce heat.

Anthracite is more dense and requires a higher temperature for ignition. However, it generates a lot of heat when it comes into contact with fire. It also has a high energy content and can burn for longer than other kinds of coal. You should only use kiln dried coal which has been pre-treated to remove some of the moisture that can cause it to burn at a high rate.

If you're burning coal in a multi fuel stove, it is important that you keep a layer of tinder as well as kindling near the bottom of the fire in order to prevent the coal from burning too quickly. Then, gradually add larger pieces of coal over the tinder. This will stop the coal from overheating and burning too quickly which could cause dangerous fumes.

You must always follow the guidelines of the manufacturer for your particular stove and this includes ensuring that the wood is completely dry prior to being used. Ideally, it should have been split and seasoned for two years or more before you start to use it, however if this is not possible then kiln drying could be an option.

Briquettes made from turf or peat

Multi fuel log burners allow you to burn a variety of solid fuels like turf and peat in addition to wood or anthracite. These are usually cheaper than traditional firewood, and can save you a lot on heating expenses.

Peat briquettes are made up of peat shredded that has been pressed and dried into an unburned fuel for domestic use. They were developed in Ireland in the 1950s and have since largely replaced sods of peat as a fuel used in the domestic market. Peat briquettes burn better than peat sods made from raw peat and emit less carbon dioxide.

The first briquettes were referred to as culm bombs and used wet clay as a binder. This could make them difficult to light and were ash-rich, that could hinder the flow of air through the grate of a stove. The newest briquettes are mechanically cut and pressed under pressure to mimic the processes of geology that produced coal. They are less susceptible to blockage and can be lit with only a few small pieces of dry peat.

As they burn, briquettes emit gases that help form a low smoke flame. They are more easy to light than a traditional wood fire and can be utilized in a fireplace insert or in a stove which is designed to hold them.

They are readily available from retailers of timber and DIY stores. They can be stored in garages or sheds that are heated in a dry location. Avoid stacking the logs as this can increase their moisture content, which will reduce their efficiency in burning.

In the past the peat was cut using a knife slean. The peat was dried during the summer, and then burned to provide warmth during the autumn and winter. Peat bogs are rich in biodiversity, but they are depleted more quickly than they are formed. As they degrade, they absorb carbon dioxide and contribute to global warming.

The image above was taken in 2021 and shows a field of peat bogs near Ballyforan in County Offaly. Around 20 percent of Ireland's peatlands remain intact. The rest are harvested with excavators or special equipment. This is a significant change from the old practices when peat harvesting operations would employ long knives to cut through the turf and moss.

Wood

Multi fuel stoves are designed to burn a range of solid fuels. The fuels are loaded into a firebox through an opening and the stove is heated by the hot gas that is produced during the combustion of the solid fuels. The gases are drawn through the chimney using the 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.

Many kinds of wood can be used as fuel. However, the most suitable wood to use in the log burner is seasoned. This means that it has been cut and dried, then seasoned for a prolonged time. This reduces the amount of moisture and prevents the wood from burning efficiently. Seasoned wood will also burn much faster, so it produces more heat in less time. Logs that are not seasoned or kiln dried can also be used, but they take much longer to burn, and they produce more smoke.

When lighting a multi fuel log burner, the grate should be lined with small pieces of kindling, and then the fuel placed on the top. Then, add a few firelighters, and then coal, logs or briquettes on top of them. The firelighters can be lit by themselves and, once they're burning consistently the rest of the fuel is added to keep them burning.

A good way to maintain the fire in a multi-fuel stove is to keep the grate spotless, particularly after every use. This will help the fuel burn more effectively and will stop the accumulation of ash and blocking the air flow. The ash pan beneath the grate on most modern multifuel stoves should be emptied regularly to prevent it from overflowing.

Anthracite is another excellent fuel to use in a multi-fuel stove. It is available at a price similar to wood, but it burns more hot and produces less smoke. It is available in tons or bags, dependent on the quantity you require. You can also install a woodburning kit on multifuel stoves, allowing you to burn wood and coal.