Anthracite Vs Bituminus Coal Vs Pellet

Ok, this info may already be somewhere within the forum but I can't seem to find it. I am looking at putting a stove in my home relatively quickly and trying to pick the best one. I would like a coal stove but my wife is freaking out about the mess it will make on a regular basis (Bituminus is VERY MESSY). Really a few questions:

1. How does Anthracite compare to Bituminus coal? I have only had Bituminus coal being from Utah/New Mexico. Didn't know there was another type. How does it compare in efficiency, cleanliness, BTU output, price, etc.? (I realize UT pricing may be completely different as it would have to be shipped from the east and I'm not even sure if I can get it here)

2. A freind, that just bought a pellet stove, has told me that their research indicates pelets are cheaper, cleaner and more effiecient than wood and coal, although I'm quite certain he has not included Anthracite as an option.

3. Are there Anthrocite only stoves? Are there Bituminous only stoves? Or does it matter at all, a coal stove is a coal stove?

I am worried about price and efficiency and she is worried about look, smell (smoke especially) and cleanliness. I know...typical marriage

Thank you in advance.

nyronian wrote:Ok, this info may already be somewhere within the forum but I can't seem to find it. I am looking at putting a stove in my home relatively quickly and trying to pick the best one. I would like a coal stove but my wife is freaking out about the mess it will make on a regular basis (Bituminus is VERY MESSY). Really a few questions:

1. How does Anthracite compare to Bituminus coal? I have only had Bituminus coal being from Utah/New Mexico. Didn't know there was another type. How does it compare in efficiency, cleanliness, BTU output, price, etc.? (I realize UT pricing may be completely different as it would have to be shipped from the east and I'm not even sure if I can get it here)

2. A freind, that just bought a pellet stove, has told me that their research indicates pelets are cheaper, cleaner and more effiecient than wood and coal, although I'm quite certain he has not included Anthracite as an option.

3. Are there Anthrocite only stoves? Are there Bituminous only stoves? Or does it matter at all, a coal stove is a coal stove?

I am worried about price and efficiency and she is worried about look, smell (smoke especially) and cleanliness. I know...typical marriage

Thank you in advance.

Pellets are certainly cleaner and more efficient burning as far as actual combustion goes but the yield in heat is only a 60% of anthracite. They really cost you 70 percent more than coal assuming $240/ton for both and similar efficiencies. Check out this calculator:http://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles ... alculator/

If your object is to augment your home central heating then pellets are great for that. But if you want to truly heat your entire home, you won't save a lot over traditional fuels but you will save some.

Bituminous is cheap but certainly not something you want to burn in a living room stove. Personally, I wouldn't burn coal or anything else in my living room. I prefer central heating. It was a great invention in the 2nd century and remains so today!

nyronian wrote:1. How does Anthracite compare to Bituminus coal? I have only had Bituminus coal being from Utah/New Mexico. Didn't know there was another type. How does it compare in efficiency, cleanliness, BTU output, price, etc.? (I realize UT pricing may be completely different as it would have to be shipped from the east and I'm not even sure if I can get it here)

Anthracite is "smokeless" and practically odorless, you wouldn't be able to tell if a house was being heated by anthracite even if you lived 10 feet from it. The same is not true about bituminous, there are different grades so you have a variable there. Having said that many people on here use it sucessfully. Costs are really dependent on where you are at and dictated by shipping, but if you live close to the source:

Anthracite: appox. $130 ton
Bit: about $60 per ton

Again that's rough guesstimate and is assuming you are picking it up yourself in bulk at the source of processing. Check the "what are you paying per ton" thread to get a handle on the different prices around the country.

2. A freind, that just bought a pellet stove, has told me that their research indicates pelets are cheaper, cleaner and more effiecient than wood and coal, although I'm quite certain he has not included Anthracite as an option.

I really don't know how wood stacks up against coal as far as being environmentally sound but I'd venture to guess it's not a huge difference. As far as price if you're purchasing locally it's not even in the same ballpark. This of course will change depending on your locality.

There's cost comparison calculator here: http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/experts/heatcalc.xls

I am worried about price and efficiency and she is worried about look, smell (smoke especially) and cleanliness. I know...typical marriage

Assuming you can get a good price on the coal cost is not going to be an issue but since your in Utah your only choice may be Bit. which would most likely cause some issues with "ball and chain"

I think you may find that western bituminous is quite a bit different than the bituminous the eastern guys are used to. I burn Wyoming bit. I get quite a bit of smoke out the chimney upon loading at first unless I let the fire rip to burn the volatiles. Problem is that it generates too much heat if I do that. But after an hour or so, the smoke is done and I get a great clean burn. My biggest mess is spilling coal while loading, which I'm getting better at.

I don't think there are any or many handloads makes specifically for bituminous. I think most anthracite stoves work OK for western bituminous. Could benefit by retrofitting preheated secondary air.

I think you'll find similar heat values in anthracite vs. bituminous. If you can capture the volatiles during the first hour of burn time, bit. may have more heat value than anthracite.

If your speaking of stoker stoves, that's a different story. Anthracite stokers vs. bituminous stokers are different kinds of stoves. Although I'm still of the opinion that our low-swell index western bit. coal would burn in some anthracite stokers.

In Wyoming bit. coal sells for about $35/ton. I'm guessing I'll use 5 ton or less this year, to heat my whole house of about 2000 sq. ft. Only other heat I have is electric baseboard, which hardly ever runs unless I'm gone for a few days.

Did your questions get answered? Have you seen bit. coal burnt or tried it?

Steinke

Thank you all for your information! I read it a few days ago and have just been obsorbing it all I LOVE the links to the spreadsheets and cost comparison calculator! It really helps to compare apples to apples based on different fuel types. I have very much confirmed that I cannot get a higher fuel cost per BTU than my propane furnace!!!

wait....I need more shock faces ....I had to be pulled out of full cardiac arrest upon receiving my fuel bill!!

Yes, I grew up on the Utah and Colorado Bit Coal. It smokes ALOT, especially the stoker coal and makes a mess as Steinke pointed out. Plus I live in an area where there is stonch EPA controls (Green, Yellow and Red burn days) and Bit coal is out on Red days (and should be for yellow too). But, Anthrocite is perfectly legal at all times (as my studies has reveled this week). I have a feeling it's going to be about $450 a ton though. Still looking for into it.

According to my calculations though, even at $450 a ton with the BTU output it about breaks even with pellets and wood. But the Bit is about $80 a ton here...so alot of difference. What I'm not sure is the difference in efficiency as well. I think the Anth is much more efficent.

Thank you all for your comments!