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Smokeless ovals Woodbridge – coal v wood fires

It’s a long-standing debate – should you be burning coal or wood inside (or outside) your home? Lumberjacks, who stock both smokeless coal and seasoned firewood for sale at our Ipswich base, say it depends on many different factors.

 

The Location

If you are burning it on an open fire or fireplace, one of the things to bear in mind is the amount of soot, in the form of creosote, it will produce, as this will need regular cleaning otherwise there is an increased risk of a chimney fire.

Wood will generally produce less soot than any form of coal, unless it’s wet or hasn’t been dried properly, then it will create hard deposits of creosote which can be difficult to remove.

Note – commercial sales of wet wood (i.e. with a moisture content of over 20%), like those of house coal, have been banned in the UK as part of the Government’s Clean Air Strategy. Wood which has been properly dried out shouldn’t create too many deposits on your chimney lining and you should be able to remove them with a brush.

Smokeless coal will produce far fewer deposits than house coal (sales of which have now been banned in the UK anyway) and what residue is left can usually be brushed away, as with dried wood. Smokeless coal can also be used in a multi-fuel stove (but not one which is specifically labelled wood-burning, as it won’t be able to cope with the extra heat generated by the coal). If you burn it outside, the lack of smoke means you won’t be bothering the neighbours.

Whatever fuel you use for your fire, you should still have your chimney swept regularly anyway.

 

Concern for the Environment

Wood is the obvious choice as it’s a renewable source of fuel. This particularly applies if you get yours from a local forest. However, it isn’t as clear-cut a choice as it used to be. Although extracting it and processing it is still energy-intensive (and carbon-producing) the smokeless varieties which we supply at Lumberjacks produce less smoke and other harmful substances than other varieties of wood.

 

The Durability (and Storage)

Coal burns for far longer than wood, and at a steadier more predictable rate; it also produces higher temperatures. As a result, you need less coal to achieve the same effect as wood – this can be an important factor if you have a small property or one with limited suitable storage space.

 

The Heat it Produces

Here a coal fire is better as it burns at at a much higher temperature. The average household wood fire burns at around 600C. Whereas, generally, the combustion of coal takes place between 800C and 1200C. Therefore, if you have larger rooms, or draughts, then a coal fire will be better. However, bear in mind that it can take longer for a coal fire to get ‘up to speed’ unless you use a firelighter.

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 The Aesthetics

One final factor which is often hard to beat is the look of a real fire, and many people prefer to have a ‘roaring’ fire which only wood can produce.

So there isn’t really one simple answer, but At Lumberjacks we have all the bases covered, whether you want a fire in an open fire or fireplace, or a stove (wood-burning or multi-fuel).

We stock hardwood logs and sundries such as firelighters and kindling, so you shouldn’t have any problem getting your fire started. Our hardwood logs, pictured above, can also be used outdoors in firepits and chimineas as well as on any interior fires.

And, our smokeless coal ovals, which we sell to customers in Woodbridge, Needham Market and Stowmarket as well as Ipswich, can be used in either fireplaces, open fires or multi-fuel stoves. Whether you opt for our brazier or home fire variety, it will last longer and produce much less smoke than conventional house coal.

Lastly, we are also Calor gas bottle suppliers, covering the Ipswich area - so if you need it for indoor or outdoor heating, camping or a barbeque, follow this link.