This article looks at the factors to consider when assessing how many logs and how much coal you are likely to need when placing your winter fuel order. These include the types of fires you need to light, how often, and the type of property you live in.
There’s also a look at the wide range of fuel products that Lumberjacks stock – not just logs and coal, but sundries such as kindling and firelighters.
This article is a three- to four-minute read.
Now that the colder temperatures have arrived, many households are thinking of ordering their supplies of winter fuel – whether it’s for your open fire, woodburning stove or multi-fuel boiler. But how much are you likely to need, and what factors do you need to consider when deciding how much wood or coal to buy?
High-quality Firewood for Sale in Ipswich from Lumberjacks
At Lumberjacks, we offer hardwood logs, smokeless coal and ovals, as well as sundries such as firelighters. Call us on 01473 461394 if you have any questions, or you can fill in the online contact form here.
What Kind of Fire You Have
Open fires are the more traditional source of heat, but these days it’s more likely to be an additional heat source rather than the only one (for example, in addition to oil or gas-fired central heating). You may not need to light this as often, if it’s a back-up, although nothing beats the cosy atmosphere that it provides. However, they aren’t the most efficient way of providing heat because much of the heat is lost up the chimney.
Multi-fuel and woodburning stoves are much more efficient than open fires – these heat up a room much more quickly (and with an appropriate hotplate top, you can cook things too). In a step up from stoves, multi-fuel boilers and cookers (which also usually operate on wood or smokeless coal) can be connected up to a home’s hot water system.
Of the three, open fires use the most fuel (particularly wood); a multi-fuel boiler needs more logs than a woodburning stove as they have a grate that allows more air to flow around the fuel, which can cause wood to burn faster. Also, bear in mind you may need a boiler on more for the hot water.
Your Heating Needs and Habits
If you need heat throughout the day (for instance, if you are working from home), then you’ll need much more in the way of logs and coal to keep the home fires burning. Equally, if you have a modern home, you shouldn’t need as many fires compared to a period property. Also, if you have a multi-fuel boiler which is connected to the hot water supply, it may need to be on more frequently.
If, however, you have a more regular job outside your home, then you may only need to light your fire two to three times a week and usually in the evenings only. Again, this is particularly true if it’s a supplemental heat source.
The Type of Fuel You are Burning
Hardwood logs, such as oak or ash, burn longer and more slowly compared to softwood logs like pine or spruce. This means you will need fewer hardwood logs to achieve the same amount of heat. For more information on the differences, check out our previous blog post here.
Heavy users should consider ordering in four to six cubic metres of wood or logs for winter, moderate users two to three cubic metres, and light users one to one and a half cubic metres.
What About Coal?
Again, similar factors apply when calculating the amount of coal you will need for winter – how big the rooms are, whether it’s a primary or supplementary heat source, if you need it during the day, how severe the winter is, etc.
However, a rough estimate is one tonne for regular use (daily fires in colder months) and 500kg for occasional use (such as at evenings and weekends). A standard 25kg bag can last about a week for a daily fire, or provide four to eight fires for less frequent users, assuming your fire is largely made of coal rather than wood. Timescales also depend on room size and room construction – is it drafty or well insulated?
Whether you are ordering coal or logs, bear in mind that it’s hard to predict the British weather, so it may be wise to split your order rather than buy it all at once.
Firewood and Smokeless Ovals in Ipswich from Lumberjacks
For our range of hardwood logs, follow this link and to see our smokeless coal and ovals, click here. We also stock a range of sundries, including firelighters, and are Calor Gas stockists for the Ipswich area.
FAQs:
Q: Are there any restrictions on the sale of coal in the UK?
A; The law changed in May 2021 to restrict the sale of traditional or house coal, which produces high levels of soot and other particles which can damage human health. This is part of the National Clean Air Strategy. The smokeless coal and ovals which we stock at Lumberjacks produce far fewer deposits than house coal and what residue is left can usually be brushed away.
Q: And are there any restrictions on the sale of wooden logs?
A: Commercial sales of wet wood (namely, wood with a moisture content of over 20%), like those of house coal, have been banned in the UK for a similar reason. Wood which has been properly dried out shouldn’t create too many deposits on your chimney lining and you should be able to remove them with a brush.
Q: Can Lumberjacks deliver your order?
A: Yes, we can – our standard delivery service is between two and 10 days from the time of your order. Prices vary depending on your address and the size of your order. For more information see our deliveries page.
