How to get the most out of your stove

kerryted

Hi there
just wondering has any one any tips on getting the most out of a stove, I have tried a few different things like i burn turf during the day and trow in a bucket of coal in evening and top it up with a few blocks of timber after that , or is it better to mix the fuels like put in some coal and turf together . I am starting to think that turf and timber are a waste of money and burn all coal, as coal seems to be the only think that can really heat the rads, how much coal do you use a week.

jimjimt

If you want heat all day don't spare the coal all day. If the stove is able for coal. A bit of timber and turf now again to keep a flame going.

Also are you controlling the air dampers on the stove so it does not burn too quickly.

demanufactured

Get a good hot coal fire going with smokeless coal. ..then out a few blocks on and slow down the burn...the logs will burn nice and slow and the coals will glow red hot underneath.

Lucena

jimjimt wrote: »

Also are you controlling the air dampers on the stove so it does not burn too quickly.

The guy who sold me my stove explained that it's best to leave the air dampers open fully, as higher oxygen intake means the fuel is burned more efficiently i.e. more heat per kilo of fuel burned.
Mine is a wood stove though so it might be different. I've also insulated the bejaysus out of the house so the extra heat produced mostly stays in the house.

jimjimt

A kilo of fuel will only have a certain amount of energy.By controlling the air damper you can choose to release the energy slow or fast the choice is yours.

If you have the air open to full you will have more smoke on the burn.

If you have the air dampener controlled little or no smoke.

Which I wonder is more efficient the control air or the fully open and uncontrolled air.

Lucena

Yes, a kilo of fuel contains a certain amount of energy. However higher oxygen levels increase combustion efficiency (fuel isn't burned at 100% efficiency) getting more of the energy out.
Also when the stove is burning well, there is no visible smoke from the chimney, as the gases released from the wood are burned in secondary combustion.

jimjimt

Now your talking.

If you notice on the more advanced stoves that come with a auto air control and thermostat. When the stove heats up it starts to control the air by closing it down and down giving a cleaner burn and making the fuel last longer and not leaving it open it full.

Unless of course stove manufactures have got it wrong ?

dathi

wood 4.1 kwh per kilo coal 7.5 kwh/kg anthracite 9kwh/kg heating oil 11.8 kwh/kg so if your stove was rated 6kw and 80% efficient you would have to throw 2 kilos of wood on it per hour to get max output. its something people who buy large stoves with boilers don't seem to realize . that to get the output quoted and heat the rads they have to burn large amounts of fuel.;)

TopTec

dathi wrote: »

...... that to get the output quoted and heat the rads they have to burn large amounts of fuel.;)

Thats a key point. I have a Superstar and to burn it at full wack, (which I couldnt as it would over heat the kitchen), it consumes a large basket of wood and a large bag of turf in a couple of hours.

I personally find a turf/wood mix fine for 8 rads and hot water at a medium setting and regular reduction to low for a while. Sure we would all like to burn coal but who has the cash for that?

TT

paddy147

kerryted wrote: »

Hi there
just wondering has any one any tips on getting the most out of a stove, I have tried a few different things like i burn turf during the day and trow in a bucket of coal in evening and top it up with a few blocks of timber after that , or is it better to mix the fuels like put in some coal and turf together . I am starting to think that turf and timber are a waste of money and burn all coal, as coal seems to be the only think that can really heat the rads, how much coal do you use a week.

Some Black Diamond Gems smokeless coal (safe for stove use) and then some briquettes on the bed of hot burning coal in the evenings/night...close the airflow down to about 50%...job done.:D

kerryted

Thanks guys for ye reply's its been very helpful .