Coal was a popular heating choice for homes in the 1800’s but was put aside for other sources of heat such as fuel-oil furnaces, gas heaters, and electric heaters. It has come into use again in recent times, enjoying a new-found popularity amongst those who want to save money, and who want to go back to ‘simpler times’.

Coal can be quite difficult to handle and get used to, but it is an affordable, plentiful, and South African-mined source of heat. As coal is becoming more commonplace again, finding coal for sale is getting easier.

As with all forms of heating, it is important to understand the risks and safety aspects, to ensure that your family and home are safe. Burning anything in the home can quickly turn into a dangerous situation. If you are new to owning an anthracite heater, or are considering getting one, there are certain safety aspects to keep in mind.

Safety tips when using an anthracite heater

• Your chimney should have an adjustable louvre inside it. When you start your heater up, this louvre should be open fully. If it is not open fully, the smoke will come inside your home.
• Once the heater is running and burning nicely, you can close the louvre to a setting where you find it works best.
• Anthracite – along with other fossil fuels, emits carbon monoxide when burning, so it is important to ensure there are no blockages in your chimney at all times.
• Make sure when looking for coal for sale, you find someone reputable. Because the fumes from burning coal have the potential to be dangerous, you want to make sure that you don’t just by any anthracite coal for sale, but choose a supplier that ensures they provide only the best quality anthracite coal.