When it comes to lighting a coal stove a coal dealer will explain that certain procedures need to be followed in order to light it correctly. Plus once lit you need to maintain the amount of coal that you provide it with to ensure that it burns correctly and continuously. If you don't carry out the right procedures and maintenance after lighting a coal stove it will soon become extinguished.

Below we provide just a number of tips that should hopefully help you with getting your coal stove fire started and which will ensure that it remains lit afterwards.

1. It is important that the kindling and paper use to help get a fire started in your coal stove is completely dry. Only when you have got these lit well and burning hot should you then start to add a few pieces of hardwood to the fire.

2. It is important that during this stage of the lighting your coal stove the draft control on yours remains fully open to allow the fire to become established and the temperatures reach the required heat levels. After adding the wood to the stove you need to let a good layer of embers to build up in it before you then start to add small amounts of coal.

3. Always gradually add small amounts of coal to the stove until you have built up a layer of about 1 to 2 inches of well burning coal in it. Adding too much will actually make it far more difficult for the coal to ignite because not enough air is getting in to cause a draft. Plus only add more coal to a stove when the rest already in there has become well lit.

4. It is crucial that you fill the stove up with coal to the highest point that you can as the deeper the bed of coal in it then better it will function. However, just because there is lots of coal in the stove does not mean it has to run continuously at high temperatures you can easily regulate by reducing the amount of air that is allowed to flow in to it.

5. Also it is important that the draft control on your coal stove remains open until the coal you have put in is well light and you can see blue flames. Plus you should never leave this part of your coal stove fully open for extended periods of time as it could in fact cause internal damage and remember to ensure that the door to the ash pan remains closed at all times as well , except when it needs emptying.

As mentioned previously a coal dealer will tell you that getting your coal stove started initially is going to be difficult. But if you follow the steps we have provided above then you should find it much easier. One last thing when it comes to lighting a coal stove never attempt this until the temperature outside has fallen below 55 degrees on a daily basis for several days. This is because the chimney cannot actually develop enough draft.