Burning coal?

[ryjen]

So here in NC you don't hear much about burning coal. It isn't as common as it is in the northern states, but I found a local supplier of Red Ash coal, which from what I could find is a bituminous coal. I bought a bag to try it out as my stove is rated for wood and coal (Old Buck). I was curious if anyone has any experience either now or in the past with burning coal. As I understand, it burns longer and hotter than wood. It's definitely more messy than wood, but what are some other drawbacks?
At $12.00 per 50lb bag, it's not something I'm going to do on a regular basis, but I thought it would be worth a try.

 

[Jags]

It's definitely more messy than wood, but what are some other drawbacks?

It is also notorious for stack emissions. Coal contains lots of nasties that go up the stack and out to the surrounding area. The very reason that scrubbers are (now) used on the power plants.

 

[DougA]

This has been discussed a few times on this forum. Besides being full of nasty emissions that go outside, coal will cause corrosion inside your stove.

 

[ryjen]

It is also notorious for stack emissions. Coal contains lots of nasties that go up the stack and out to the surrounding area. The very reason that scrubbers are (now) used on the power plants.

Yeah, the Bituminous coal that the Buck Stove is rated to burn is softer and has more "dirty smoke", but the harder Anthracite coal burns cleaner. It definitely smells like crap when burning compared to wood. I threw in a few chunks last night but didn't see much of a difference other than the smell.

Doug, I didn't see any mention of stove corrosion in the threads I read when I searched the topic this morning. What causes it?

 

[Jags]

but didn't see much of a difference other than the smell.

I'll give you one guess what you are smelling.....

 

[05ramctd]

Grew up burning coal. Great heat, long burns... Other than the smell from the burn, the possibility of CO2 from a low burn fire, dust and price I can't think of anything else. But if you try it burn a bucket or two before you make a judgement. the heat is amazing. Coal is plentifull here around $180.00 a ton.

 

[DougA]

This was the thread:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...es-to-wood-stove-firebox.136253/#post-1827899

I do not know if your stove is rated to burn coal, if so, maybe it's not a problem if not mixed with wood.

 

[ryjen]

I can't comment on a ton price as all I can get is 50lb bags. I do know there has to be a coal yard somewhere in the area. When I went to pick up my bags yesterday, there was a worker shoveling the coal out of the bed of a pick-up truck into the bags. My mother-in-law lives in WVa, and there are coal mines EVERYWHERE. I think there are 5 within a 3 mile radius of her. Not sure if I can buy directly from the mine, but I would be interested in doing that if I was burning only coal in a coal stove.
What I'm really wanting to do is reduce the wood that I use for overnight burns. The buck is a wood hog. Even with the damper shut down, she'll need to be loaded at least once in the middle of the night. If I could dump a small bucket of coal on those super cold nights and keep her rolling over night, I would be a happy camper. But having a ton of coal in the back yard, for supplementing? Seems a bit much.

 

[ryjen]

This was the thread:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...es-to-wood-stove-firebox.136253/#post-1827899

I do not know if your stove is rated to burn coal, if so, maybe it's not a problem if not mixed with wood.

Thanks for the link!
I have a Buck Stove 26000. it's rated for bituminous coal. Maybe the Anthracite burns too hot?

 

[spirilis]

It's the sulfur in the ash and fly ash that causes sulfuric acid, bad smell, and corrosion of the metals inside your stove and chimney.

 

[ryjen]

so those with coal stoves have to replace their liners/stove pipes often?
That seems like and expensive drawback to a otherwise cheaper fuel source.

 

[spirilis]

Pretty much. Maybe wash the inside with washing soda or baking soda while you sweep it? Some folks put a 100W light bulb inside the stove all summer long to prevent condensation, thus keeping the sulfur from turning into sulfuric acid...

 

[spirilis]

I'm also not 100% sure about this, but I wouldn't think anthracite would burn "hotter" than bituminous. Anthracite's supposedly a bear to start, whereas bituminous has volatiles (smoke, like wood) which produce flames, and when those volatiles are gone there is "coke", the coal equivalent to charcoal, which is more porous & likely to burn faster than anthracite.

I say give it a try, and after experimentation, spray the inside of the firebox with washing soda + water ;-)