Here at Pearson Fuels, we are proud to deliver a range of high-quality fuels nationwide in order to ensure that homeowners from every part of the UK can source a reliable provider. After all, cheap coal is not always the best quality coal on the market and it is important that clients are able to distinguish between affordability and value. Luckily, we’ve got you covered! Read on as the Pearson Fuels team go over the basics of burning coal…

How many different types of coal are there?

Coal was created during a lengthy process known as coalification and took around 300 million years to form. It is made from dead vegetative matter that fell into deep swamps where the lack of oxygen slowed down the decaying process. Over time, intense heat and pressure compressed the matter in order to form four different varieties of coal (peat, lignite, bituminous and anthracite) that can be distinguished based on the amount of time they were subjected to these conditions. For instance, the youngest form of coal, peat, is moist and brown in colour whereas the oldest form of coal, anthracite, is rigid and glossy black in colour.

Is coal an expensive fuel to burn?

According to statistics, there is enough coal remaining in our reserves to last another 150 years at the current rate of consumption. After all, coal is a non-renewable fossil fuel which means that it will eventually run. In fact, the government and big industries are already starting to search for power alternatives like wind power and hydropower instead. With this said, the fuel is available in abundance when it comes to residential use which makes it incredibly cost-effective.

How efficient is house coal?

Peat and lignite are the two youngest varieties of coal and they contain a lot of moisture which makes them unsuitable for household burning. On the other hand, bituminous coal and anthracite, the two oldest forms of coal, have been subjected to the intense heat and pressure involved in coalification for 300-350 million years. As a result, they have an incredibly high carbon content and this makes them very efficient for burning because they produce long and hot fires.

Although there are four different types of coal available on the market, most homeowners tend to opt for traditional bituminous briquettes or anthracite because they have the highest carbon content and are therefore considered more efficient to burn. To find out more information about the fine details of burning residential coal, get in contact with the best coal merchants on the market and speak to a member of the Pearson Fuels team today!