Advantages of a Multi-Fuel Stove

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by: Lorenzo Fireplace
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Word Count: 521
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 Time: 12:16 AM

If you are looking for a stove to heat the rooms of your home, then go for a multi-fuel stove. With these stoves you will have the option of using a wide range of fuel sources. This will reduce or eliminate your dependency on gas and electricity.

There was a time when the majority of people depended on wood to light up the stoves to warm their rooms. But with scientific advancements, stoves that could be run with electricity and natural or LP gas were invented. These stoves were easy to use and were better to maintain the cleanliness of the rooms. Moreover, fuels that are non-renewable are becoming more expensive day by day. You should look for alternatives to such fuels, so therefore multi-fuel stoves are useful.

Nowadays you have a wide choice for fuel options available like wood pellets, corn, bio-diesel and others. And all these can run a multi-fuel stove. These stoves are also called solid fuel stoves or coal stoves. They are usually made of steel or cast iron and come with other features. These metals have their own properties. For instance, steel heats up and cools down quite fast. The cast iron on the other hand takes a long time to get heated up but can retain the heat for longer. To have cast iron stove you should have sufficient space to allow circulation of air.

There have been many developments of multi-fuel stoves in recent years. They have increased in efficiency and are increasingly easier to clean and maintain. For example, these stoves come with a grate to allow circulation of air underneath. Some of them have a pan at the bottom to collect the ash. Some of the stoves come with grates so that you can shake off the ash. Some of the models have arrangement of external air supply. This will make the stove very efficient and as a result there will be minimal emission through the chimney. Some stoves are available with an airwash, which keeps the glass door of the fireplace clean.

Now if you already have a multi-fuel stove, then you should know which fuel is to be used. Remember each fuel has its own characteristics, wood for instance when burned gives out carbon. Seasoned wood is a very effective fuel as it will not emit as much smoke. But to get seasoned wood you need to keep it for over two years and hardwoods will take longer to season.
Smokeless coal can also be used as a fuel for a multi-fuel stove. It produces a higher temperature if required. Its slow burning rate makes it ideal to be used for overnight burning. Besides this there are other fuels for these stoves like corn pellets, waste paper pellets, cherry pits, hulled wheat, and many more.

If you use wood to create a small fire it can burn for 2 - 4 hours. The better the seasoning, the longer the wood will burn. Smokeless fuel can burn for 6 - 12 hours. Multi-fuel stoves are available in variety of sizes and shapes

About the Author

Lorenzo Argentieri is the author of this article on Electric Fireplaces. Find more information about Fireplace Accessories here.

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