RI 2403 Use Of Bituminous Coal In Househeating Furnaces

"During the coming winter, it is probable that many householders who have habitually been users of anthracite coal will be obliged to turn to some other fuel for heating purposes, because of the limited supply of anthracite. The next best fuel, from a standpoint of cleanliness and ease of operation, is coke, but here again the supply is inadequate and the householder will have to fall back on bituminous coal. Though bituminous coal has the dis¬advantage of being dirty to handle, requiring more care in firing, and of giving off considerable smoke, it will be more generally available, costs less, and in the better grades which will naturally find their way to the domestic market, is higher in heat value, and contains less ash than anthracite.Choice of CoalThere a variety of bituminous coals are available, the householder should choose a low volatile coal, such as New River, Pocahontas, or some other ""smokeless"" coal, or the British coal now being offered in the markets along the Atlantic seaboard. Though not necessary to have the coal sized, as is the case with anthracite, it will be found cleaner to use coal from which the fine dirt has been screened. If it is found that excessive dust is caused when firing the coal, this can be reduced by slightly wetting the coal at the front of the bin, as it is being used.Method of Firingusing bituminous coal instead of anthracite in the domestic furnace, it will be necessary to use an entirely different method of fir Instead of leveling the fuel bed and putting on fresh coal in an even layer over the entire fire box, the coked and partly burned coal remaining from the previous firing should be pushed as much as possible to one side of the box, and the fresh coal thrown into the empty side so as to leave some burning coal exposed. In this way the green coal is heated slowly, the volatile gases are given off gradually, and are ignited by the burninggoing to waste up the chimney unburned."