I have an open fireplace - what fuel to use?

[Doingnothingtoday]

Not a very summery question I realise but it’s chilly and miserable here so I fancied lighting a fire.

i’ve only recently moved to a house that has an open fire in a small living room at the back. I had an open fire years ago and used Group A coal. A quick google suggests this is now effectively cancelled for use in smokeless areas (ie where I live).

I’ve never managed to light log fires, they just seem to die out. I’ve tried various briquette type things but they are rubbish.

i know it’s a boring question, but any advice very welcome, thank you!

If you’ve only recently moved in are you sure the chimney doesn’t need sweeping?
tbf open fires or log burners are awful for fine particulate matter, which cause damage to lungs & can be harmful to health, it’s not something I’d be lighting in my home.

Very well seasoned wood. Coal is practically impossible in most areas now.

We have an open fire and use ecoal from Homefire. It's smokeless coal made from crushed olive stones apparently and we've found it pretty good.

Check what the rules are in your area Smokeless ? Other?

And check when the chimney was swept. You don't want a chimney fire. Is the chimney open? capped?

You could use eco logs or seasoned dry wood.

However, if you intend to use solid fuel as a regular source of heat, installing a log burner will maximise the heat you retain, and not send up the chimney.

We use wood but thats in a log burner. Wood shouldnt be difficult but I wonder if the openness of the fire makes it difficult to stay alight? I think from memory when we've had fires in holiday cottages, we used coal to light it then wood thereafter.

Do you know how to pile up the kindling to get it going, then keep feeding it, use a combination of briquettes and logs.

I’ve had the chimney swept recently so all good on that score.

thank you for the suggestions. I only have the open fire in one small room, it’s not my main source of heating but more something I like to light when I’m stuck indoors in bad weather and like the cosy feeling and light it gives.

I’ll double check the regs in this area - given by smoke I see coming from some chimneys I do wonder!

You shouldn’t use wood as fuel in an open fire in a smokeless zone, only smokeless fuel.