How to Use Smokeless Fuel in Multi-Fuel Stoves, Log Burners, Wood Burners, and Open Fires

smokeless fuel in a log burner
4 February 2025
How to Use Smokeless Fuel in Multi-Fuel Stoves, Log Burners, Wood Burners, and Open Fires

Finding the right solid fuel for your home can depend on where you live, what fire appliance you have installed, your budget, and your preference, among other things. Everybody with a fireplace or heating appliance at home should know how effective smokeless fuel is.

 

We want to show you how to use smokeless coal in varying fire settings so you understand where smokeless can be used, what needs to be done, and everything else you'll require.

 

Can You Use Smokeless Coal in a Multi-Fuel Stove?

 

Yes, smokeless coal is ideal for a multi-fuel stove because the appliance is designed to operate at the high temperatures that smokeless coal can reach. If you have a multi-fuel stove installed in your home, you're fortunate enough to use either smokeless fuel or kiln-dried wood in the appliance.

 

You will have been given instructions regarding how your multi-fuel stove operates, but most models work similarly. Ensure your appliance's combustion area is clean first and the ash pan is empty. Then you can place a couple of firelighters and plenty of kindling into the area, setting the firelighters aflame and waiting for the kindling to catch before pouring a generous amount of smokeless coal onto the area, spread evenly so oxygen can move between the briquettes.

 

If your fire dwindles, move the briquettes around with a long-handled poker or add more. Please wait for the fire to die out entirely and let the multi-fuel stove cool down before attempting to clean it.

 

Can You Use Smokeless Coal in a Log Burner or Wood Burner?

 

You must never use smokeless coal as your solid fuel choice if you own a log burner. Log-burning appliances were only designed to facilitate wooden logs, so any other fuel source is ill-advised.

 

Wood burners cannot cope with the heat that coal produces, as coal burns to a higher temperature than wood. Besides, log burners don't usually have internal ash pans, so there would be nowhere to collect the remnants of your coal.

 

Can You Use Smokeless Coal on an Open Fire?

 

Smokeless fuel works wonderfully on open fires to heat your home or outdoor setting. You can use smokeless coal to heat your home if you have a fully functional fireplace and chimney. 

 

Similarly to a multi-fuel stove, you should make sure your fireplace is as clean as possible from the most recent fire you had before using it. Then, you can build the firelighters and kindling in the same way, lighting the firelighters to get the fire going before carefully adding the smokeless coal briquettes on top and evenly across the area.

 

The exact maintenance tips apply to the multi-fuel stove: move the briquettes around or add more if required. Don't attempt to touch the fireplace to clean out the leftovers of the fire until the area has dropped in temperature.


Coals2U has all the best smokeless coal options available to purchase online.

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