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Housekeeping

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Original poster

how do i light a coal fire?

19 replies

mamamila · 07/01/2010 11:01

please help this is driving me mad! we live in a smokeless zone so we bought a load of excel coals. i've burned 2 boxes of firelighters, a xmas tree, a phonebook and countless boxes but the bloody coal won't burn! it appears non-flammable. what am i doing wrong??

OP posts:

Uriel · 07/01/2010 11:02

Change your firelighters. Some work better than others.

MitchyInge · 07/01/2010 11:04

newspaper, kindling and firelighters

make sure plenty of oxygen can get through and under and round

LaurieFairyCake · 07/01/2010 11:06

You absolutely need some kindling to get it started. I found out to my cost yesterday morning that it wasn't possible to start a coal fire without kindling. Luckily the coal man turned up with kindling so I could do it properly.

To avoid having to do that again today I kept the stove filled with coal all night and came down for the first time to a nice toasty house.

If you have no dry wood then you can get kindling from garages or a little bag (enough to start 2 coal fires) for 99p from Wilko.

GentleOtter · 07/01/2010 11:08

Is it an anthracite type of coal? That stuff works best in a closed stove and burns at a much higher temperature.

If you empty your grate out then put a thin layer of coal on, one firelighter. Light the firelighter and put a few dry kindlers on top. Wait a few minutes for the wood to catch. Feed the small pile with a few small pieces of coal and open the draught as far as possible.

Keep feeding small amounts of coal and the fire should 'take' in about 15 minutes.

Paper chokes a fire.

Original poster

mamamila · 07/01/2010 11:12

ok so kindling is essential? we don't have a car so i was hoping to get by with stuff around the house such as cardboard boxes. there's some wood in back yard but not dry

we have an open fireplace, do you build the fire with firelighters and kindling first and then add coals, and how many at a time? or do you build the whole thing and light it all together?

OP posts:

LaurieFairyCake · 07/01/2010 11:19

My granny had an open fire and it had screwed up paper on the bottom, 3 firelighters, half a dozen bits of kindling and then about 8 bits of coal on the top. And it 'took' after about 20 minutes then you could put more coal on.

GentleOtter · 07/01/2010 11:30

Just add five coals at a time, wait a few minutes until they catch then add a few more until the fire is really going then you can put say half a bucket on.

GentleOtter · 07/01/2010 11:31

Look, I'm going to get shot for saying this but if you are really stuck, plastic wrapping or screwed up carrier bags burn really well.

notasausage · 07/01/2010 11:36

Screwed up paper layer, firelighter in the middle, layer of sticks layer of coal. Vent open 1/2 way - only know baxi type fires. Light paper along front and keep fingers crossed. Keep room door closed. Works about 90% of time. If you don't have kindling lots of firelighters might do it.

Ripeberry · 07/01/2010 11:42

We use 3 balls of screwed up newspapers, put one firelighter in the middle. Pile some kindling on top. Light
After it's been burning for at least 5 mins, put some more kindling on. Wait 5 minutes.
THEN start putting the coal on.
The trick is to get some glowing embers ready at the bottom on which the coal rests and then close the door (if using stove)and open the vent to maximum for 10 mins.
Then close up and it should keep going for almost 3hrs.

cece · 07/01/2010 11:52

At the kindling with a bit of coal stage. Use a couple of sheets of broadsheet newspaper. Open the grill at the bottom. Hold the newspaper across the front of the hole where the fireplace is. This will draw the air up into the fire from below and should get it roaring. Be careful though as the paper quite often sets alite! Hold it there as long as you can to get it going!

FuriousGeorge · 07/01/2010 13:23

GentleOtter-do you use baler twine? My dad always uses it to get his fire going.

GentleOtter · 07/01/2010 14:09

It has not been unknown for some to fall in the fire along with that awful hay mesh that just happens to be there too.

meltedmarsbars · 07/01/2010 14:17

You don't need firelighters if you start with newpaper knots and kindling.

GentleOtter - BURN BALER TWINE!! Sacriledge - that is valuable stuff around here!

inthesticks · 07/01/2010 14:25

Paper and cardboard is no substitute for sticks. I use a layer of screwed up paper in between two small logs.Then a firelighter on top and a pile of small sticks or dry twigs. Another couple of small logs on top and only when it's all going put coal on. The smokeless stuff (called Roomheat I think) is really difficult to light but once going it glows for longer than standard coal.

GentleOtter · 07/01/2010 14:38

There were piles of it left when an old man rented part of the big shed for his cattle and he used to wrap his bales in twine. Seeing as he just left it lying, where it would tangle in the chicken's feet, I made it my life mission to pick it all up and burn. Bit by bit. Poo encluded.

My dh would have had a cow if I used new bailer twine but bailer mesh is ok, nay, encouraged.

MitchyInge · 07/01/2010 21:59

is it evil to use the odd bit of plastic?

I just used an old feed sack but in my defence the logs are all snowy, there is no coal left and the kindling is a bit chunky and am too tired to do anything

at moment care more about freezing environment of house than anything else

Original poster

mamamila · 08/01/2010 08:27

thanks for all tips, i managed a roaring fire yesterday and am rather pleased with myself!

OP posts:

MitchyInge · 08/01/2010 09:18

can't beat it can you?

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