Are you wondering which is the best choice between multi fuel stoves vs wood burning stoves?
Are you not sure what sort of stove you should get for your home?
With all the different types of stoves available we wanted to shed some light on the difference between multi fuel stoves and wood burning stoves.
What types of fuel can you burn in a multi fuel stove?
Although wood is the typical fuel people think of to burn in a stove, you can also burn other fuels in a multi-fuel stove – such as coal and turf.
A wood burning stove can be a lovely focal point in a living room, and wood logs create a traditional feel which is why people love them so much!
Some people refer to multi-fuel stoves as mineral-fuel stoves. They can burn wood, smokeless fuel and coal. There are differences in the way these fuels burn, and not all multi-fuel stoves are optimised for burning all compatible fuels with equal efficiency.
How does a multi fuel and wood burning stove generate heat?
Each fuel type will burn differently and therefore requires a different set up for optimising efficiency. Coal needs air to reach it from below so multi-fuel stoves have a grate for the fuel to sit on, making them ideal for coal. Some also have a riddling plate that allows you to remove any ash that’s built up, letting more air through from underneath. Wood, on the other hand, burns best when sitting on a bed of ash, with air circulating from the top.
Because of these differences, a multi-fuel stove may not be optimised for burning both types of fuel. Ideally, it’s best to work out what type of fuel you want to burn and what you have access to first, and then base your buying decision on that.
If wood is in short supply and you feel you might need to burn coal then a multi-fuel stove is a good option. Multi-fuel stoves may not be optimised for burning both types of fuel so look out for a multi-fuel stove that has primary and secondary (sometimes called airwash) air vents. These allow you to control whether more air circulates from above or below, depending on the type of fuel.
Another handy tip when deciding between multi fuel stoves vs wood burning stoves is checking to see if you can remove the grate, so wood can be burnt on the base of the stove, instead of the grate.
Can a multi fuel stove use smokeless fuel?
If you live in a townland that ha a smoke controlled area, you will only be able to burn smokeless fuel, such as anthracite coal, on a multi-fuel stove an, you will need a DEFRA-approved stove to burn wood.
We hope this has cleared up some of the differences between multi fuel stoves and wood burning stoves and helped you to make an informed decision when choosing your next stove from TheStoveStore.ie