Which Open Fire Fuel Is Best
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- 07-07-2022
Which open fire fuel is best? We look at the best fuel to use for open fires. Find out more about the pros and cons of each fuel type.
Best Fuel To Use For Open Fires?
Selecting the correct fuel for your fireplace or open fire can be tricky, and your choice will impact the cost-effectiveness and sense of enjoyment with your fire.
Firstly, you should consider the expected heat and smoke output, as these levels can vary drastically depending on the amount of moisture retained in the fuel you select. Take special care when working with firewood as it has substantial water retention abilities and must thoroughly dry out before being used as fuel.
Other important considerations include; how quickly the fuel burns and the volume of acrid smoke released into the room.
As the name suggests, Hardwood refers to the high-density wood available, for example, Oak, Elm and Beech. Dense wood generally burns for much longer, although mediumly dense wood burns hotter, and is easier to ignite.
Some lower-density firewoods include Lime, Horse Chestnut and Wilow; these options are considered a poor fuel choice as they produce less heat and often spit embers, which can be a high fire risk in homes. The best fuel would be medium-density logs for an even burn.
For moisture to properly evaporate from firewood, it is left to dry out for an entire season before use. The Seasoned wood provides a more effective burn when used for your fireplace or opens a fire.
Be aware that less dense wood requires longer seasoning periods, even more so when covered in sticky resin.
Storing and Drying your wood
Before stacking firewood for storage, the wood should be cut or split to expose a greater surface area of each log, thus speeding up the drying process.
Cutting or Splitting the wood can be done by yourself most effectively when the wood is fresh or through a trusted company.
Do not dump your firewood into a big, messy pile unless you want damp and ineffective fuel. A log store with good ventilation, open sides and a sturdy roof provides the perfect conditions for storing wood.
When staking firewood, ensure that plenty of air can circulate through the logs, allowing them to effectively dry out and reduce the moisture content to become higher-quality fuel.
Moisture content is the main factor influencing wood quality as a fuel, so consider this before purchasing firewood.
To test the moisture content of the firewood, you can use a moisture meter. Simply split the log and test on a split surface. Firewood logs stored correctly should achieve a moisture content of 20%, or less, in six to twelve months.
Best Coal For An Open Fire
There are various advantages to using wood or coal as fuel on an open fire, and choosing the best option for your fire can be difficult. Although we only discuss the different kinds of coal available for fuel during this post, there's plenty more information available on our site!
Getting the most out of your coal refers to maximum heat output, ash content and fire lifespan. Unlike wood, coal doesn't need to be seasoned or air-dried, so its moisture build-up isn't the main concern. Generally, open fires using coal produce almost no Creosote- a dark brown oil, and they retain next to no moisture.
Coal has many advantages; namely, it improves the lifespan and quality of your fire over time compared to other fuels.
Three key factors to consider before purchasing coal for your fire include heat output, ash content and fire life.
When deciding between coal or wood as fire fuel, consider the heat output of each material. Coal burns steadier and requires a higher temperature for ignition than wood, although heat output levels will vary per the type of coal used. To reach higher heat output levels, look for some of the following kinds of coal; Homefire Smokeless Fuel, Colombian Group 2 Coal, or Glolite Smokeless Fuel.
The density of coal enables the fuel to burn for longer at a steady rate, thus keeping the fire going for extended periods with less engagement. Select coals can further help maintain heat output over a prolonged time and continue burning overnight.
Ash is a compound left behind after material is burnt, whether coal or wood. Coal ash is generally easily cleaned up, although some options are available that produce fine residual ash reducing cleaning times.
What is Smokeless Fuel?
As expected, Smokeless Fuel produces very small amounts of smoke when burning. The main types of smokeless fuel include; smokeless coal and bioethanol, research into these options to choose the best for your fire!
Why should I use Smokeless Fuels?
Smokeless fuel not only enhances the enjoyment of your fire, but it is also safer and healthier, especially compared to damp wood. A range of toxic gases and particles are produced from wood-burning open fires, endangering the health of closeby people and wildlife.
Fireplace smoke can be increasingly dangerous for people with chronic illnesses and weaker immune systems.
Do you have a period fireplace which needs repair or restoration? If you live in the Hastings and East Sussex area, our expert antique fireplace restoration services can help.