Coal

[deserteagle71]

I grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania, anthracite coal capital of the country. Anthracite burns hotter and cleaner, with less soot and smoke, than lesser grades of coal. Every fall a truck would pull up beside the house, shove a chute through the window to the basement coal bin, and drop in a couple tons. We burned wood during the day but in the evening before going to bed we'd dump in a bucket of coal on top of the burning wood. Chores - dairy farm - started at 5:30 am every morning, when we got up the house would be wonderfully warm - and the top of the stove would be glowing red from the coal.

Memories from 60 - 70 years ago!

 

[LouNY]

I was using a Hitzer coal insert in my fireplace, great heat output easy to maintain a fire.
The easiest ways I found to get coal ignited was either a really good bed of wood coals just radiating heat then to make a good layer of coal all around. When done many years ago in the central furnace we used either stove or egg coal (1 1/2" to 3") chunks. In my insert I used Nut sized (13/16" to 1 5/8").
Coal need bottom air to burn, it does not play well with top or side air inlets.
The easiest way I found to get it going was to dump a bag of matchlite charcoal in the bottom on the grates, light it off, when it's a bed of hot coals I'd shovel a 2-3 inch layer on top of the coals and wait for the blue ladies to start dancing real well, then add another layer of coal and wait again, repeating till the stove was full, then fill the hopper and damp it down and enjoy the heat.
Shake the ashes down daily and add more coal, works great.

 

[dodge man]

I burn wood chips and it works great, mine are between 12 inches and 16 inches long.

 

[dodge man]

In Ireland they burn peat. Not exaggerating it looks like dirt almost. A unique smell that I found somewhat pleasant.

 

[Jstpssng]

I think that drying the chips might be a bit of extra work for a homeowner

I would fell the trees in spring and leave them with tops on, and chip when they were dry. There was an old coal end heater in our barn which I kept threatening to try it, but when we had a chance to sell it I let it go.
I have a lot of "things I want to do" which never get done.