Q&A Coal stove - Overnight Fire

Question:

What is the best way to "bank" a fire for an overnight burn?Also what is the best chimney for use with a coal stove. The present chimney is a 3 wall galv. that runs outside the house.



Answer:

It's best to make certain that you have a lot of room to add new coal before an overnight burn. This gives you the maximum amount of fuel to burn. Usually- you simply pile up he coal on top of the glowing bed..if it;s soft coal- you probably want slope or pile it so that some of the glowing coal bed below is visible..this will help the coal ignite and burn better.Generally speaking- a metal chimney will draft better than a masonry one. However- some coal contains high levels of sulfur- which can corrode the liner of a metal chimney. Most corrosion happens during the "off" season- so make certain you clean the chimney well in the spring. Some sweeps suggest pouring a "base" like baking soda down into the chimney and brushing it around to neutralize the acid.