The cosy attraction of a wood burner is leading more and more of us to install them in our homes, but would some of us be better off with a multi-fuel stove?

They’re just as attractive as woodburning stoves, and can transform your room in the same way as a wood burner. Yet these stoves can burn wood, anthracite, smokeless fuels, and peat or turf briquettes.

Multi-fuel stoves have central grates and ashpans or raised grates, which mean other forms of fuel can be burned efficiently. The grates need to be emptied of ash to make sure they are working to their maximum efficiency. Wood burners allow logs to sit on a bed of ash as they burn.

The attraction of wood burning is that it’s a low carbon way of heating a room or a home and it is a renewable energy source, provided you buy logs from a reputable supplier who makes sure new trees are planted to replace those which were cut down.

However, multi-fuel stoves are convenient. They give you added options, and allow you to buy anthracite or smokeless fuels from your nearest supplier. The heat output is similar, or the same, as a wood-burning stove. They allow you to choose which fuels you will use at different times.

Burning coal also means you don’t have to wait for wood to be seasoned to burn safely, which can take up a great deal of space. It’s worth checking with your local council if there are any building regulations which might impact on your decision.

Most multi-fuel stoves and wood burners operate at between 60% and 80% efficiency rating, according to building regulations, compared with the 23% efficiency of an open fire, and 20% to 50% efficiency of a gas fire.

Tips when choosing a multi-fuel stove.

Don’t burn coal and wood in it at the same time

Sulphuric acid found in coal and high moisture levels in wood can combine to create a solution which will stick to the interior, and erode the stove lining.

Choose smokeless fuel over house coal

Although it can technically be burned, it isn’t advisable. House coal creates a large amount of soot which can clog your stove system. Smokeless fuel is better for the environment. Try Taybrite or Phurnacite, or check with the manufacturer which fuels they recommend.

Wood will burn faster on a multi fuel grate than a wood burner

Logs don’t need the same amount of air coal does, so if they are on a multi fuel grate instead of a flat grate, they will burn faster and you may well need more of them. The flat grate slows the rate of burn by limiting the amount of oxygen around the logs. Coal requires a supply of oxygen from underneath to allow it to burn.

You can see our range of multi-fuel stoves here: http://www.stovesellers.com/our-range/multifuel-stoves/