Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - Victorian Coal fireplaces....H...E...L...P!
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raineexoxo
12-01-08, 10:17 PM
Hi, sorry for the long post, but please help advise if you can....
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I have 4 victorian fireplaces, that use coal. (Two share the same chimney and are placed back to back - one in living room, and one on other side of the wall, in bedroom. Same thing with the other two with one in den and one on the other side, in dining room. I have 2 brick chimneys for these that exit the roof, and according to inspection there are a total 6 flues (SP?).
Just last week I hired a company to come out to inspect, and sweep the chimneys...There are no caps on the chimneys, and the company told us that because the fireplaces had not been used for 50+ years (re: the newspaper dated stuffed inside) that they did not need a cleaning due to the washings of rain water, and said the chimneys were good to use.
In the basement there are large bags of black hard coal, which is hard to burn, and had most likely been there for Years. The company told us that we could use one starter log that you'd buy at a grocery store, and lay a piece of coal on it (no bigger than a softball) - but with all the things I have read about carbon monixide, and chimney fires I am sooooo scared to use the FP's, which now is our main source of heat.
Is it true that we can use a starter log in these fireplaces, and is the coal really dangerous? My hubby tells me to relax cause I'm so nervous constantly watching the things and wishing I had bought oil for the furnance instead. :wall: I can see the smoke being pulled up the fireplaces, so does that mean they are ok? Also, there are covers for the fireplaces, should the cover be put on when burning coal or should it be left uncovered?
PLEASE respond.....thanks!
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I have 4 victorian fireplaces, that use coal. (Two share the same chimney and are placed back to back - one in living room, and one on other side of the wall, in bedroom. Same thing with the other two with one in den and one on the other side, in dining room. I have 2 brick chimneys for these that exit the roof, and according to inspection there are a total 6 flues (SP?).
Just last week I hired a company to come out to inspect, and sweep the chimneys...There are no caps on the chimneys, and the company told us that because the fireplaces had not been used for 50+ years (re: the newspaper dated stuffed inside) that they did not need a cleaning due to the washings of rain water, and said the chimneys were good to use.
In the basement there are large bags of black hard coal, which is hard to burn, and had most likely been there for Years. The company told us that we could use one starter log that you'd buy at a grocery store, and lay a piece of coal on it (no bigger than a softball) - but with all the things I have read about carbon monixide, and chimney fires I am sooooo scared to use the FP's, which now is our main source of heat.
Is it true that we can use a starter log in these fireplaces, and is the coal really dangerous? My hubby tells me to relax cause I'm so nervous constantly watching the things and wishing I had bought oil for the furnance instead. :wall: I can see the smoke being pulled up the fireplaces, so does that mean they are ok? Also, there are covers for the fireplaces, should the cover be put on when burning coal or should it be left uncovered?
PLEASE respond.....thanks!
goldstar
12-02-08, 07:59 AM
I can't offer much help, but the first thing to do is get some CO detectors.
The coal in your basement was probably thousands of years old when it was mined. The few years in your basement is nothing.
The cover will reduce the draft and slow the burning process. It will also prevent sparks from jumping out and starting a fire - especially while you are sleeping.
The coal in your basement was probably thousands of years old when it was mined. The few years in your basement is nothing.
The cover will reduce the draft and slow the burning process. It will also prevent sparks from jumping out and starting a fire - especially while you are sleeping.
BobF
12-04-08, 04:56 PM
Buy the CO detectors (you should have them anyway), then use the coal.
I'd also get some fuel oil. Prices around me have fallen quite a bit - about what it was 4 years ago.
I'd also get some fuel oil. Prices around me have fallen quite a bit - about what it was 4 years ago.
marksr
12-04-08, 05:09 PM
I have 2 wood stoves, 1 in the house and 1 in my shop. Both can burn coal also. If I need to heat my shop for an extended period, I'll often load it up with coal on top of the burning wood. I've never had any issues mixing the two. Most of the coal I use [and I don't use it regularly] is the big chunks that often need to be broke up in order to fit in the stove. While I have used coal in both stoves, I don't think I've ever started a fire with just coal.