• Coal burns hot and is generally inexpensive but also causes air pollution.coal image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com
  
  While many people associate coal stoves with the 19th century, coal is still a common heating material in some areas. Coal stoves provide a steady, radiant heat that does not need frequent minding. High quality coal, such as anthracite, burns relatively cleanly and leaves no creosote in chimneys, reducing the danger of chimney fires. Coal stoves can also successfully burn wood, though wood stoves are rarely able to burn coal. These versatile stoves come with a few disadvantages, however. Knowing about them can help homeowners make the right decision for their home heating needs.
  
  

Cleaning

• Coal stoves require regular maintenance when not in operation. According to Video Interchange, coal stoves require shaking down twice per day and emptied once per day. Hearth.com notes that coal produces as much as 10 times the ash per pound that wood does. Ashes tend to remain hot, so owners need protective gloves and fireproof containers to hold them. Coal stoves also emit a fine ash that slowly covers most items in the home. HEPA air filters may help reduce levels of this airborne ash, which is a respiratory hazard, but homes with coal burning stoves will still need periodic scrubbing.
  
  

Weight

• Both the stove and the coal it uses for fuel are quite heavy. According to Video Interchange, a coal stove weighs about 600 lbs. when full of coal and must sit on a heavy brick or slate base. Most homeowners with coal stoves must buy large amounts of coal at once, storing it in large hoppers or bins. If these bins are not on the ground floor of a building, they may require a reinforced floor to support them.
  
  

Environmental

• Coal is a fossil fuel, and thus is in limited supply. High quality coal, such as anthracite, is even more limited in supply, which makes coal stoves a short-term solution since coal reserves eventually will become depleted. Coal stoves also produce pollution, especially when burning softer, lower quality coals. Airborne ash and other particulate matter can reduce both indoor and outdoor air quality and threaten the health of people with respiratory problems. Coal also contains sulfur, which can corrode chimneys and other metal objects and contributes to acid rain.
  
  

Supply

• In areas near coal mining installations, coal is relatively inexpensive. However, coal is heavy and difficult to transport. Costs increase significantly as the distance from the mine grows. Buying large supplies of coal for the winter can require a significant amount of money up front.
  
  

Regulation

• Coal stoves burn in a relatively narrow temperature range and are difficult to slow down. Starting the fire is also difficult and requires a lot of experience. Once the fire is burning, it keeps a house warm for up to 24 hours even in very cold temperatures. If outdoor temperatures are above freezing, however, a coal fire may feel too warm. Stove owners may need to open windows since it's a challenge to reduce the stove's heat output.