Is it possible to use coal in today's wood stoves? I have an antique wood cook stove that can use wood or coal-. If the answer is 'no', why?
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coal in wood?
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Yes, the answer is no, almost all modern EPA wood stoves are wood only. I believe the main reason is that the air supply has been optimized for wood burning. Coal requires air supplied under the coal and most woodstoves supply air via the airwash to the base of the fire instead. Also, coal requires heavier grates that can stand up to the intense heat and are easier to shake out the klinkers. There have been combi stoves, but only a few.
perhaps most importantly to your wallet, if the stove has a catylist, you will destroy it within a few minutes due to the minerals in coal fly ash. in addition as was mentioned, coal will burn poorly if at all due to a lack of underfire air.
It would seem that manufacturers would have come up with something! Yes, I know a cat stove would not be able to do coal- they can barely do wood!
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