A Guide to Home Heating with Solid Fuel Stoves
The constant increased in fuel prices such as gas, electric and oil has resulted in people looking for alternative methods to heat their homes. Solid fuel has become a low cost alternative compared to other fuels. You may ask what is meant by Solid fuel and the answer is products such as coal, coke and wood are the most popular solid fuels While you can also place peat and fuel tablets into this class as well. Solid fuel home heating can come in two main classes boiler and non-boiler heating.
Non-boiler Heating
Non-boiler heating can be as simple as an open fire; older homes will normally have an open fire some of these may have been blocked up but normally you can restore the fireplace to a working condition. You will need to make sure that the substance can exit the room appropriately and have it all checked out by a qualified individual. One of the most popular selections is the wood burner these are becoming ever more the option for people wanting a solid fuel heater tank. Non-boiler heating will not provide hot water or supply your central heating power so if this is your choice then you will have to have an alternative source for your central heating and hot water provides.
Solid Fuel Boiler Stove Heating
Solid fuel boiler heating will normally be provided by the fire in the main dwelling room or a range in the kitchen. In recent years the Aga kitchen stove has seen resurgence these stoves provide hot water and heating as well as being used for cooking. The solid fuel fire in the main dwelling room can also have a boiler attached and provide hot water and central heating. One of the biggest issues with working with solid fuel heating as the source for your hot water is unlike gas, electric or oil heating where you have a constant provide of fuel; you are the supplier of the fuel. This means if you do not feed the fire then you will not have a constant provide of hot water and heating. However one of the largest bonuses of solid fuel heating is the cost of running it which is much lower than the other fuel types.
Solid Fuel
The solid fuel heater comes in three main categories firstly you have the traditional coal burning tank on which you can use all the different variants of coal and coke. The wood burning unit as the name suggests uses wood to provide the fuel for the fire and heating, you should not use coal or coke on a Wood burning heating unit without checking with the manufacturer or instructions for the unit. The last tank is the multi-fuel tank and although these items cost more than the other two they are well worth it as you can use all the different types of solid fuel on this sort of device.
prior to deciding on changing to solid fuel heating you need to make sure your residence can easily be converted as this may significantly add to the cost of putting in solid fuel heating stove. You need to check on the prices of solid fuel and how easy it is to find or have delivered. Unlike gas, electric and oil where you have a constant provide it is you will be delivering and supplying the fuel so if it runs out it is your fault.
