Coal, summer prices

[blackrose]

I'm thinking about ordering a tonne of coal to get a summer discount. Homefire is offering the following brands with "Homefire Smokeless" being their top of the range followed by "Homefire Ovals"

 

They have quite a wide range of smokeless fuels, most of which I've never tried. So which would you go for? 

 

 

[GUMPY]

ECoal

Nice smell and burns cleanly.

 

Grab a 10kg bag of ECoal from Wickes and see if you like it.

Oh as a bonus it comes in 10kg bags easier to lift for us olduns🤭

[blackrose]

Yes I hate having to lift 25kg bags these days...

 

ECoal ? Ok. I'd mistakenly assumed that must be an eco-friendly type where they'd replaced the dirty part with something they didn't burn. 

Edited June 3, 2025 by blackrose

[Jen-in-Wellies]

8 minutes ago, blackrose said:

Yes I hate having to lift 25kg bags these days...

 

ECoal ? Ok. I'd mistakenly assumed that must be an eco-friendly type where they'd replaced the dirty part with something they didn't burn. 

Otherwise known as safety coal. Completely impossible to set on fire.

[GUMPY]

Used it for my last few winters on board and in the cottage.

It's a mix of olive stones and other stuff. Even in my hobbit stove it burned well.

[JoeC]

ECoal and Brazier you may be able to find in B&M or hardware store so get a couple of bags and burn it now to see how you get on. Every stove, chimney, weather etc. can make a difference to how it burns so get what is best for you.

[magnetman]

Phurnacite is good stuff. I don't burn much coal these days as it is mostly wood but do like a bit of Phurnacite. 

 

Have you looked at other suppliers?

 

A product called Red I think it is Oxbow who make it comes up at a good price and gets a lot of positive reviews. 

 

It may be choice supportive bias at work. 

 

If you do get a tonne try to store it out of the sun ... you probably know about the bags degrading anyway. 

[frangar]

Look at houseful. Sadly now part of CPL but better pricing. 

[matty40s]

We use Homefire Ovals in the deepest, darkest months as it turns well, stays in for a long time, and isnt too ashy.

It doesnt stay in well when using sparingly, or just ticking over in Sept/Oct, mar/Apr, so we did use excel up to this year,  but not any more after a recipe change has made it very ashy and has damaged a brass chimbly 

[b00ke23]

It's very difficult to recommend coal as everyone's Stove setup is different and what works well for one might not work well for another. 

 

I'd say just buy what's cheapest EXCEPT Brazier as it seems universally rubbish. Most other Oxbow and CPL types are ok (and other brands too) in my experience, but some might be better than others in your particular stove.  

Edited June 3, 2025 by booke23

[junior]

Never had any issues with Supertherm, Excel or 'Red'. New boat came with a few sacks of Homefire Ovals, which I liked as they were not as big as the others and the firebox on my back cabin range is small. 

 

Tried Ecoal50 (I assume it's the same stuff these days) about 12 years ago when it was first around and I really liked it, but I can't remember why, or why I've not had it since. 

 

I thought Phurnacite, Petcoke, Anthracite etc was only really worth burning in an Aga or on an open fire.

 

I have to admit that at home we still burn House Coal, albeit it's a secret where I get it from!

[alias]

6 hours ago, blackrose said:

Yes I hate having to lift 25kg bags these days...

 

ECoal ? Ok. I'd mistakenly assumed that must be an eco-friendly type where they'd replaced the dirty part with something they didn't burn. 

 

I had some a while back and it burned OK. One of the ingredients is molasses though, so needs to be kept dry to avoid a mess as it washes out, DAMHIK.

[b00ke23]

14 minutes ago, junior said:

I have to admit that at home we still burn House Coal, albeit it's a secret where I get it from!

 

Many coal merchants in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (where house coal is still legal) will still deliver house coal by pallet to England! 

Edited June 3, 2025 by booke23

[mrsmelly]

26 minutes ago, booke23 said:

 

Many coal merchants in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (where house coal is still legal) will still deliver house coal by pallet to England! 

You can also drive any car you want any where in Wales without having your wrist slapped for being a nasty pollutant 

[magnetman]

40 minutes ago, booke23 said:

 

Many coal merchants in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (where house coal is still legal) will still deliver house coal by pallet to England! 

I love Columbian doubles ! 

 

No storage or land address in my life so I can't get jt delivered in bulk and do not particularly need it due to the firewood but I do like a bit of Columbian coal. Its to die for! 

 

The scent is like a time machine to a better place. 

 

 

Edited June 3, 2025 by magnetman

[NB Alnwick]

Real Welsh Anthracite is still available - we use ‘Stove Nuts’ - sometimes sold as ‘Small Nuts’ - from Aberpergwm which is the UKs last working coal mine. It is available in 20 Kg bags from most farm and country stores.

[b00ke23]

2 hours ago, NB Alnwick said:

Real Welsh Anthracite is still available - we use ‘Stove Nuts’ - sometimes sold as ‘Small Nuts’ - from Aberpergwm which is the UKs last working coal mine. It is available in 20 Kg bags from most farm and country stores.

 

I love Welsh anthracite. Clean to handle and burn and excellent heat output.and very low ash. Unfortunately my stove doesn't get on well with it....it can only burn it flat out so it does tend to get a bit warm in the room!

[blackrose]

23 hours ago, magnetman said:

Have you looked at other suppliers?

 

 

Yes the last few years I've been buying from a dealer called Housefuel. They're cheaper but the best quality stuff I bought from them is very ashy 

22 hours ago, frangar said:

Look at houseful. Sadly now part of CPL but better pricing. 

 

Yes I've been using them for the last few years. Just not sure about the quality of their fuel.

[Bramangie]

Just ordered a tonne pallet load (50X 20kg bags) of NewHeat from Ace Fuels based in Halifax for £505 delivered. This is the 6th year we used their product and it never fails to keep us warm. Their summer price has just appeared on their website . 

[magnetman]

Fuel name	Newheat briquettes
Manufacturer	Oxbow Coal B.V. at Newfield works, Bishop Auckland, County Durham
(a)	comprise petroleum coke (as to approximately 60 to 65% of the total weight) and anthracite (as to approximately 30 to 35% of the total weight) together with a cold setting resin binder, hardener and low temperature stabiliser (as to the remaining weight)

 

 

https://smokecontrol.defra.gov.uk/fuels/newheat-briquettes-52/

[frangar]

3 minutes ago, magnetman said:

Fuel name	Newheat briquettes
Manufacturer	Oxbow Coal B.V. at Newfield works, Bishop Auckland, County Durham
(a)	comprise petroleum coke (as to approximately 60 to 65% of the total weight) and anthracite (as to approximately 30 to 35% of the total weight) together with a cold setting resin binder, hardener and low temperature stabiliser (as to the remaining weight)

 

 

https://smokecontrol.defra.gov.uk/fuels/newheat-briquettes-52/

I’m not keen on too much petcoke. It has a habit of burning the riddle plate bars out on my squirrel. 

[b00ke23]

1 hour ago, frangar said:

I’m not keen on too much petcoke. It has a habit of burning the riddle plate bars out on my squirrel. 

 

Me too. I find it dirtys the glass more and it will run away spectacularly if you forget to close the vent after putting a shovel of it on. 

 

On the plus side it is cheap and coal that has high petrocoke content does seem to perform quite well generally.

Edited June 7, 2025 by booke23

[magnetman]

Excel is a petcoke type as well. I have never used it but it does seem very popular. 

 

[Derek R.]

It's headed: 'Summer Coal Prices' - but not a price in sight!

 

Being South Shropshire based, we used to get a ton(ne) of coal in open 50kg sacks, tipped into the bunker. Each sack cost £37.50. (£750 a ton).

This year, we have been buying from Cambers (local agricultural and general supplies) in Harley. They have been stocking 25kg sealed bags of 'Burnwell Blend' of brickettes for £16.95. Good stuff. We burn it on a Coalbrookdale 'Villager', 4.9Kw (rated) multi-fuel closed stove, and occasionally in Winter, in the open fireplace in the back room. In both places it burns easily, is long lasting, but also use wood. (We are well outside smokeless zones).

 

 

Tried rotating that, but won't perform.

 

Best price so far:

https://www.qualitygardensupplies.co.uk/products/firewood-suppliers-coal/coal-smokeless-fuels/Burnwell-Blend-PLUS-40-x-25kg-Bags-p160442649/

[blackrose]

29 minutes ago, Derek R. said:

It's headed: 'Summer Coal Prices' - but not a price in sight!

 

That's right. Homefire don't publish their prices on the leaflet I took a picture of because it varies depending on the time of year. You have to call them or visit their website. But it's now summer so their summer prices are in effect until the end of June.

Edited June 21, 2025 by blackrose