Essential multi fuel stove to heat your home

We fitted a multi fuel stove into our existing fireplace in 2006. It is an Esse Furnesse 2, we have not looked back. It is suitable for heating our 3 bedroomed house and works very well with any or a combination of fuels. We have used smokeless coal and that has enabled us to keep the stove going overnight and by feeding it more in the morning, it just keeps burning.

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What is the benefit of a multi fuel stove?

Multi-fuel stoves are versatile heating stoves designed to burn various types of fuel, such as wood, coal, peat, and sometimes even smokeless fuels. They offer flexibility and efficiency for heating your home and some have a hot plate to cook or boil water. Some bigger stoves have small back boilers for storing hot water. They cut down on your bills but, you do have to be organised if you are burning wood.

Using smokeless coal in a multi fuel stove.

We burn mainly wood but use the Excel brand of smokeless coal to keep the fire going through the night. We turn the fire vent closed, stack the fire, and it goes all through the night, keeping the house at an even temperature.

Smokeless coal is basically coal that emits little or no smoke when burned. Perfect for the built up areas which fall under the no smoke regulations.
The base of smokeless coal is composed of Anthracite. This means that it contains fewer volatile compounds and has a higher carbon density.
Smokeless coal is made, by mixing Anthracite and other natural binding agents into a very fine powder.
We then place the mixture into specially designed moulds and press the mixture at very high pressures. These become the nuggets or brickets that we can burn. They are quite hard and thus, take time to burn through giving us more heat, over a longer time.

How does a multi fuel stove work?

Fuel Combustion

- Fuel Types: Multi-fuel stoves can burn different types of fuel, which are typically loaded into a combustion chamber.
- Air Supply: Air is supplied to the combustion chamber through adjustable vents, which control the intensity of the fire and the efficiency of the burn.

Air Control

- Primary Air: This air supply feeds the fuel from below, helping to ignite and sustain the combustion. Ours has a round hole that can be opened and closed in the lower section at the grate level. This lets the air in and controls the burn rate.
- Secondary Air: Introduced above the fuel, this air helps to burn off any remaining gases and particulates, ensuring a cleaner burn and reducing emissions. The Esse Furness 2 has vents on the top of the stove as well as down the upper half of the side.

Grate System

- Fixed Grates: Some models use fixed grates for burning wood. The Esse Furness 2 has a fixed grate with an ash tray underneath. We poke the coal and riddle the coals to allow the ash to fall through.
- Adjustable Grates: Multi-fuel stoves often feature adjustable grates that can be moved to allow ash to fall through, which is particularly useful for burning coal and other solid fuels.

Flue and Chimney

- Ventilation: The stove’s flue system channels smoke and gases outside through a chimney. Proper ventilation is crucial for efficient operation and safety. Putting a cowl of sorts on the top of the chimney stops birds and other animals who climb onto the roof from falling down the flue.

Heat Distribution

- Radiation: The stove radiates heat directly into the room.
- Convection: Some models also use convection to distribute warm air more evenly throughout the space. We have a stove fan which is designed to circulate the warm air from your stove around your room. They typically work by creating their own electricity via a thermoelectric module, using only the heat from your stove to generate their power. Ours sits on our mantle over the fire place and as the mantle gets hot the fan starts to turn.

Keeping your multi fuel stove clean and in good condition

If you are using your chimney without a flue liner, then have it swept each year. The black and wood bits stick to the sides. If you allow this to build up over time it can catch alight in the chimney.
Check the rope which goes around the door is in good condition. It helps the door seal properly. You can purchase replacement rope at any fireplace store.
The glass always goes dirty brown but with a good cleaning you can keep it clear. Nice to watch the flames.
Empty the ash tray regularly and when not in use give it a quick wipe and vacuum all the loose ash around the outside of it.

Collecting wood to burn in your multi fuel stove.

This is an on going task which is all year long. It is amazing how much wood one can burn in just one evening. You never seem to have enough in the Winter but always have tons in the Summer.

Collect wood that can be cut to size for your stoves grate.
Pallet wood is always good, but can be difficult to break into good sized pieces if you don’t have the right tools.
Large branches are good to cut up as the pieces can be smaller or larger depending on the size of your burner.
Logs and fallen or chopped trees are a vey good source of firewood. Cutting these up may take time, but will give you a good lot of heat in the Winter months. You need to dry they out before burning them.

Storing Wood is paramount if you have a multi fuel stove.

Collecting all the wood during the year poses one problem , storage. All wood needs to dry out before it burns well. We use large wheelie bins to store our wood in. By propping a small piece of wood to hold the lid ajar, air can ventilate it as it dries. We collect broken bits of wooden fences, pallet wood as well as logs and trees. We have also had bits of doors and cupboards from family and friends to use as firewood. Be aware that wood with paint and other coatings can cause strong smells, and they sometimes don’t burn that well. Choose your wood to suit.

Installing a multi-fuel stove in your existing fireplace can enhance your home’s heating efficiency, provide flexibility with fuel choices, and offer significant cost savings. By understanding how these stoves work and considering the benefits, you can make an informed decision and enjoy a warm, comfortable winter.