How to Use Wood in a Coal Stove

It is safe to burn wood in a coal stove.

Wood stoves are inappropriate for burning coal, as most models aren't designed to handle the gases that build up when coal is burned. Coal stoves, however, can accommodate wood with no problems, as long as homeowners take necessary fire-burning precautions. Burning wood in a coal stove uses the same basic techniques as burning wood in a typical wood stove.

Things You'll Need

• Spark screen
• Newspaper

Instructions

1. Remove the stovepipe and clean out soot to prevent fire risk and save fuel. Clean the stovepipe again halfway through the season.

2. Season chopped, mature hardwood for six months to a year before using it in the coal stove. Young wood, softwood or wet, unseasoned wood burns poorly and emits excessive soot.

3. Open the door of the fireplace. Add crumpled black-and-white newspaper and tent kindling over the newspaper. Light the pile to start a small fire.

4. Open the stovepipe damper to raise the fire's temperature, and leave the fireplace door slightly open.

5. Add small seasoned logs to the fire once it starts burning. Close the door and wait 10 minutes to half an hour before closing the damper.

6. Add larger logs if there is enough space and you want more heat. Open the damper whenever you add more logs, and close it after 10 to 30 minutes. Check the chimney before adding more wood each time -- it should have little or no smoke coming out. If there is excessive smoke, do not add more logs.

References

• Michigan State University Extension; Wood Stoves; June 2003
• Hearth; Burning Wood Better; L. Walker
• Enviro: How to Start a Fire