How to Burn Coal in a Fireplace

Coal creates less smoke than a wood-burning fire and it can burn untended for several hours. Burning coal releases carbon monoxide, which means that burning coal inside your home can create a risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. It is possible to burn coal safely inside your home if you take the right precautions, but due to the risk, it is still a good idea to use coal as an alternative to wood only temporarily and not as a long-term replacement.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Make sure your fireplace is coal-burning. Coal burns hotter than wood, so if your fireplace isn't built for it, it can be a major fire hazard.

2. Get a cast iron grate that has small enough openings that coal won't fall through. Coal needs a constant supply of air underneath it in order to keep burning.

3. Use Lignite coal. Lignite is a brown coal that is easier to burn than Anthracite coal, which is the black coal that is traditionally used in coal stoves.

4. Use dry wood and paper to get the fire started. Keep adding pieces of hardwood pieces one at a time. When you have a whole grate of red embers burning, you can start adding coal.

5. Add only a few pieces of coal at a time. You will need to keep the air flowing in order to ignite the coal. If you put too much coal on the fire at once, it will smother the flame.

Resources

• Fireplace Basics