Log burner or multi-fuel?

[Clive Arthur]

Happy new variant.

I'm not familiar with these, but our 'new' house has a burner with only the markings "Jotul 3" cast into it and no documentation. As far as I can see, these aren't made any longer and there were different versions with different suffixes.

This Xmas I bought some logs and we use it with no problems. However, for complicated reasons to do with the move, we have a bag of smokeless coal. Is there an easy way to tell if our burner is wood-only or multi-fuel? I suppose putting a few lumps in with the logs wouldn't hurt, but it would be nice to know.

[greyrider]

Try their website, jotul.co.uk, where you'll find a user manual for the JotulF3 which is a wood and coal burner. Drop them an email and ask to be sure

[Martin Brown]

If it is multi fuel then it should have some way of reconfiguring the grate so that the coal or eggs can be burnt with more air.

Putting a couple of pieces of coal in the fire when burning logs is a handy way of having embers the next morning hot enough to relight from.

For wood the grate is flat with bobbles on and that can be turned through 90 degrees to get a grate with rectangular holes in.

[Andrew]

Freeze dried eggs or kiln dried ?

[The Natural Philosopher]

Ive never met a wood burner that wouldn't handle coal as well. The only caveat is that if you rev the thing up with coal it may get hot enough and carbon monoxide rich enough to burn through any raw steel inside it.

If you have some sill corrugated flue liner it wont be good, but if you have an old fashioned stovepipe or a proper stainless double wall flue it should be OK

[Clive Arthur]

Thanks all.