Smokeless Fuel & Coal

Smokeless fuel is a type of solid fuel that has been specially manufactured or processed to burn with significantly less smoke than traditional house coal. It's designed to produce high heat output and longer burn times while releasing minimal visible smoke and lower levels of harmful particulates.

Smokeless fuels are approved for use in smoke control areas across the UK, making them the go-to choice for households in towns and cities. Common forms include ovoids (egg-shaped briquettes) and nuggets, made from anthracite, petroleum coke, or a blend of coal and other materials.

Most smokeless fuel is made by blending anthracite or low-smoke coal fines with a binding agent, then pressing the mixture into a uniform shape - typically an oval or nugget. The binding agent (often starch or pitch) holds the briquette together and helps it ignite and burn evenly.

Some premium smokeless fuels, such as those based on high-grade anthracite, require little processing because anthracite naturally burns cleaner and hotter than standard bituminous coal. The manufacturing process is tightly regulated in the UK to ensure that fuels meet Defra's smoke-emission standards before they can be sold as "approved" smokeless fuel.

Smokeless fuel takes slightly longer to ignite than regular coal, so it's best lit in stages. Start by clearing out any old ash from your grate (leaving a small bed can help retain heat), then build a base of dry kindling or firelighters. Once the kindling is burning well, add a small layer of smokeless fuel on top - don't smother the flames.

Allow the fuel to catch fully and turn from black to glowing orange before adding more. Avoid overloading the grate too early, as this restricts airflow and causes the fire to die back. A good draught is key - make sure your flue or chimney is clear and vents are open when lighting.

Yes - but only in a multi-fuel stove, not a wood-only stove. Multi-fuel stoves are designed with a raised grate that allows air to circulate beneath the fuel, which is essential for burning coal and smokeless fuel efficiently. Wood-burning-only stoves lack this raised grate and are not rated or designed for solid fuels.

Always check your stove manufacturer's guidance before burning smokeless fuel, and make sure the fuel you choose is approved for use in stoves. Products like our Stovemaster and Burnrite Smokeless are specifically suited to multi-fuel stoves.

Smokeless fuel has a much milder odour than traditional house coal, which has a distinctively strong smell when burning. Most people find smokeless fuel to be largely odourless once it's fully alight. You may notice a faint smell during the initial lighting stage, but this quickly dissipates as the fuel reaches temperature.

If you're noticing strong smells during or after burning, it's worth checking that your chimney is drawing correctly, your flue isn't blocked, and the fuel is fully dry. Poorly ventilated appliances can cause combustion gases to linger, which is both unpleasant and potentially unsafe.

You can mix wood and smokeless fuel in a multi-fuel stove, and many people find it an effective way to get the best of both fuels - wood provides a bright, fast-starting flame, while smokeless fuel delivers sustained, high heat over a longer period.

However, if you're in a smoke control area, you must use only DEFRA-approved smokeless fuel and DEFRA-exempt appliances. Burning wet or unseasoned wood alongside solid fuel can increase tar deposits in your flue, so always use kiln-dried or properly seasoned wood.

In a UK smoke control area, you are legally required to only burn fuels that have been approved by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). These approved fuels include anthracite, certain grades of coke, and manufactured smokeless fuels like ovoids and briquettes that meet Defra's smoke emission standards.

You can also burn dry wood - but only in a Defra-exempt appliance (i.e. a stove or fireplace that has been independently tested and certified to meet emission standards). Standard house coal and unseasoned wood are not permitted in smoke control areas. All of the smokeless fuels sold by Housefuel are Defra-approved and legal for use in smoke control areas across the UK.