Fuel Guide
- Supply you with the most suitable fuel for your appliance
- Supply the best quality Fuels
- Offer fair pricing
- Educate customers on Safety requirements when using Solid Fuels
- Deliver the Best Service
We get lots of questions about which types of fuels are best suited to certain fires, so we've put together this page to help as a guide.
We have also added some information you may find useful including some important safety guidance.
Please contact us if there's anything else you'd like to know before or after making a purchase, we are always happy to help.
Types of Appliances
Multi Fuel Stove & Log Burners
There are now a vast range of Multi fuel stoves & Log Burners available on the market.
Some are supplied ready for burning both coal & logs, others need a multi fuel kit fitted (usually a simple, removable grate) installed before burning coal.
Log burners are only suitable for burning firewood products only as they do not have a grate to allow burning of coal.
Some models have a back boiler, designed to supply heat to your central heating and hot water. Most models can burn a vast range of different fuels but please check your manual or with the stove manufacturer if unsure.
Suitable Coal Products:
Suitable Firewood Products:
Roomheaters
These stoves are designed to supply heat to your central heating and hot water system, whilst also adding the warmth of a real fire to your home. Usually designed to run on Smokeless fuels. Typical types are Parkray, Rayburn and trianco.
Suitable Coal Products:
Suitable Firewood Products (if appliance suitable):
Cookers
Solid Fuel Cookers provide can provide three functions: Central heating, hot water as well as Cooking and added warmth to the kitchen. Designed to burn a range of Coal products and Firewood. Popular manufacturers are Raybyrn, AGA & Wamsler.
** N.B. TOP LOADING COAL AGA’S ARE DESIGNED TO BURN ANTHRACITE LARGE NUTS ONLY **
Suitable Coal Products:
Suitable Firewood Products (if appliance suitable):
Open Fires
Usually open grates with no doors, Open Fires are used for the purpose of heating the room in which the fireplace sits, some models incorporate a back boiler models to supply heat to your central heating / hot water system.
Suitable Coal Products:
Suitable Firewood Products:
Gravity Feed Boilers
As the name implies this self feeding boiler is specifically designed to supply heat to your central heating and hot water.
Trianco are the main manufacturer and these boilers burn only two types of Fuel – Anthracite Grains / Beans.
Suitable Coal Products:
Different Coal Burning Characteristics
Many people are surprised by how many different types of coal there is and they all have different properties.
With a new stove it is often best to try the different types of coal in small quantities first as all stoves are have different characteristics and will burn certain types of coal better than others. Chimney design can also be a factor.
Briquettes (Newburn/Multiheat)
These are a manufactured Smokeless Fuel (also known as ovoids) made mainly from Anthracite. They will burn easily overnight on almost all Multi-Fuel stoves and burn completley to a powder-like ash.
- Ease of Lighting: 3/5
- Burn Time: 5/5
- Overnight Burning: Yes
- Heat: 4/5
- Ash Content: Low
Welsh Anthracite Small/Large Nuts
Traditional mined coal
- Small nuts are apprx. 1 – 2” size and more suitable for smaller fires (less than 6Kw)
- Large Nuts are apprx. 2 - 3” and more suitable for larger stoves.
More suited to a deeper fire grate, Anthracite is a very clean burning coal and has a Low ash content. Slow burning with a low flame. The best choice if you need to keep your fire in for prolonged periods due to the clean burn and low ash content.
- Ease of Lighting: 2/5
- Burn Time: 4/5
- Overnight Burning: Yes
- Heat: 3/5
- Ash Content: Low
Premium House Coal
Traditional mined coal
We stock mainly Trebles (Large Lumps 2 - 5" approx). Our house coal is free burning and provides an excellent heat with a large flame and low ash. Burns lively. Not suitable for overnight burning.
- Ease of Lighting: 5/5
- Burn Time: 2/5
- Overnight Burning: No
- Heat: 5/5
- Ash Content: Low
Welsh Anthracite Grains/ Beans
Traditional mined coal
- Grains are approx. 10 – 15 mm
- Beans are approx. 15 – 25 mm
Suitable only for Gravity Feed Boilers. Anthracite is a very clean burning coal and has a Low ash content. Slow burning with a low flame.
- Ease of Lighting: 2/5
- Burn Time: 5/5
- Overnight Burning: Yes
- Heat: 3/5
- Ash Content: Low
Different Firewood Burning Characteristics
Please click here for all the information you require on different types of firewood and their burning characteristics.
Safety
Carbon Monoxide
We strongly recommend that you have a Carbon Monoxide alarm fitted if you burn Solid Fuels. Don't place it too near to your appliance - it should be in a place where it will wake you up if asleep.
Chimney Sweeping
To ensure Safety and Maximum performance from your appliance you need to have your chimney swept regularly (At least once per year - more frequent for some appliances.)
If you live local to the Swansea area – please visit our Chimney sweep / stove installation page for recommended tradesmen or click to contact us.
Fire Hazards
Avoid storing any flammable materials, especially kindling, fire lighters and newspaper too close to your fireplace.
In the event of a fire/chimney fire:
- Call the fire brigade - 999. Close the air inlet control if available
- Move any combustible materials such as furniture away from the stove/fireplace and chimney breast
- If safe to do so, attempt to extinguish the fire
- Retreat to a safe are until Fire Brigade arrives - close doors on the way out of rooms
Additional Information
Authorised Smoke Control Areas
Defra are the government body who deal with Smoke Control Areas and legislation. Further information can be found on the .gov website.
Visit Website
HETAS is the official body recognised by government to approve solid fuel domestic heating appliances, fuels and services.
Visit Website
The Solid Fuel Association is funded by solid fuel producers and distributors and was established to encourage greater awareness of the benefits of domestic solid fuel heating among the general public.
Operating as an advice centre, the Solid Fuel Association welcomes communication on all matters concerning the use of solid fuels both from domestic consumers and professionals such as heating installers and architects.
Visit Website