Why can’t you burn coal on a wood-burner? Coal burns much hotter than wood, so coal-based products can damage a wood stove. Wood stoves are not designed to burn as hot as multi-fuel stoves (ones which can burn either wood or coal).
Can I use coal in my wood stove?
Coal cannot be burnt inside a wood burning stove. Coal needs a source of air from below the fire to burn efficiently, and so there needs to be a grate at the bottom of the stove which wood burning stoves won’t have. Multi fuel stoves have a grate and so allow you to burn coal.
Is a coal fire hotter than a wood fire?
Coal ignites at a temperature more than 100 degrees higher than wood, and it requires a hot bed of wood coals to get it started.
Does burning coal create creosote?
Creosote is a chemical byproduct of the distillation of tar. Burning wood (which contains tar) effectively distills the tar releasing it in the smoke. There are different types of creosote-burning coal creates a specific type of creosote, as do oil and peat.
Can I burn coal in my fireplace?
You can’t burn coal in just any fireplace; coal requires more careful handling and more exacting ventilation than wood. If you have a working Rumford-style coal fireplace and the right fixtures, you’re set. Otherwise, check with an expert to ensure your fireplace is coal-compatible.
