Alternative fuel burning fireplaces

After wood there are a number of alternative fuels that offer a broad range of advantages and some disadvantages over typical wooden logs.

Pellets

Pros

  • Pellets are inexpensive to purchase
  • Fuel is very clean and easy to use, no bugs to worry about.
  • Fuel is easy to store and doesn't take much space compared to wood.
  • Fuel is more efficient then wood burning at about 80% efficiency.
  • Pellet stoves can be placed closer to walls then similar wood stoves.

Cons

  • Pellet burning fireplaces offer a flame in most cases but it is not the same ambiance as a crackling fire from a wood fireplace.
  • Pellet burning fireplaces need to be refilled often depending on the amount of heat needed and the size of the hopper inside the unit.

Corn

Pros

  • Strong renewable source of heat.
  • Environmentaly friendly.

Cons

  • Corn as a fuel is very expensive.
  • Fuel has the potential to attrack rodents.
  • Handling the fuel can be tricky and takes longer to learn to use then wood or pellets.

Examples - Corn and Pellet stoves are very similar in looks and operation.

Coal

Pros

  • Much cleaner to manage then wood.
  • Great for large rooms or openspaces - Coal gives off A LOT of heat, 1/3 more then wood.
  • Anthracite Coal, hard coal (most common type used in coal stoves) is very clean burning and efficient compared to bituminous (soft coal) which is the usual black messy coal.
  • Coal sustains a very long burn time.
  • Coal can be stored outdoors and exposed to elements and still work without trouble.

Cons

  • Coal is not as easy to find for purchase as most other fuels.
  • Coal is dirtier to handle then pellets or gas.
  • Coal is harder to start then pellets or wood.

Examples - Coal Stoves