Peat briquettes: pros and cons, which boilers and stoves they suit
Peat briquettes are the cheapest solid fuel per tonne and also the most underrated: people either praise them as "almost coal" or criticise them for the ash. The truth is somewhere in the middle, and it depends on what you burn them in.
What peat briquettes are
Milled peat from the bogs of Volyn, Rivne and Chernihiv regions is dried to 15-18% moisture and pressed into bars of roughly 15×5×5 cm without any binders. The result is a dense dark brown fuel weighing 0.3-0.5 kg per bar, sold in 25 kg bags, in big bags of about one tonne and in bulk. In terms of heat, peat sits between firewood and bituminous coal; in terms of price, it is cheaper than both.
The figures
| Parameter | Peat briquettes | For comparison: DG coal | For comparison: firewood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calorific value | 3,000-3,900 kcal/kg (3.5-4.5 kWh) | 5,500-6,500 kcal/kg | 2,800-3,200 kcal/kg |
| Ash content | 8-15% | 10-20% | 1-2% |
| Moisture | up to 16-18% | up to 12-14% | 20-25% after a year of drying |
| Sulphur | 0.2-0.5% | 1-2% | traces |
| Burn time per load | 8-10 h when smouldering | 4-6 h | 2-3 h |
| Lighting | from paper in 5-10 min | from paper and kindling | from kindling |
Pros
Price. The cheapest tonne of any solid fuel. Even allowing for the lower calorific value, a kilowatt-hour of heat from peat usually costs less than from firewood and is comparable to long-flame coal.
Long smouldering. A load of peat briquettes in a stove or boiler with the draught turned down holds its heat for 8-10 hours. This is a "load it in the evening, stay warm till morning" fuel.
Easy lighting. Unlike anthracite, you do not need firewood to get it going: paper and a few pieces of kindling, and the peat catches within a few minutes.
Low sulphur. 3-5 times less than in coal, which means less smell and slower corrosion of the heat exchanger.
Undemanding about draught. Burns in a simple stove, a potbelly stove, a masonry heater or an old boiler without forced draught. It does not cake into clinker the way some coal does.
The ash is a fertiliser. Unlike coal ash, peat ash is suitable for reducing soil acidity in the vegetable garden.
Cons
Ash. 8-15% means 2-4 kg from a 25 kg bag. The ash pan has to be emptied daily, otherwise the ash layer blocks the air supply from below.
Less heat per kilogram. Over a season you need 30-50% more peat by weight than coal: 6-8 tonnes for an insulated 100-150 m² house versus 3-5 tonnes of anthracite. That means more storage space and more bags to carry.
Afraid of water. Peat is hygroscopic: wet briquettes swell and crumble, and damp ones burn worse and smoke. Store them only under a roof, in bags, on a pallet.
Smell when lighting. There is a faint characteristic peat smell, especially if the briquettes are damp. With a proper draught it does not get into the room.
Not for fast heating. Peat burns with almost no flame, so it warms up a cold house more slowly than firewood or DG coal. People often combine them: light the fire with wood and add peat for the night.
Not for automatic boilers. Pellet and auger-fed boilers cannot burn peat briquettes.
Who peat briquettes are for
| Situation | Suitable? | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Stove, masonry heater or potbelly stove in a house without gas | yes, the best option | cheap heat all night long |
| Simple solid fuel boiler without forced draught | yes | especially for night-time mode |
| Boiler with forced draught and automatic controls | possible, but anthracite is more efficient | peat pays off as a "night" fuel |
| Weekend country house | yes | lights quickly, keeps for several seasons |
| Fireplace with a visible fire | no | no flame, some smell; choose Pini-Kay |
| Pellet or auger-fed boiler | no | pellets only |
| Boiler house or greenhouse with manual loading | yes, in bulk | the lowest price per tonne |
How to burn peat briquettes
Put paper and a few pieces of kindling on the grate, with 5-6 briquettes laid flat on top with gaps between them. Once it has caught, top up to a layer of 15-20 cm, no more than two thirds of the firebox. When the fire is going, close the ash door almost completely: peat works best when smouldering. Do not close the flue damper fully while there are still flames on the fuel bed - that produces carbon monoxide. Clear out the ash before each lighting. Do not keep the bags next to the firebox: peat can ignite from the heat.
How to spot good peat briquettes
Dark brown or almost black, dense, heavy, does not break between your fingers, with little crumb in the bag. A light-coloured, lightweight, flaky briquette is either damp or made from poor peat: it will crumble when carried and burn badly. In the batch certificate, check the moisture (up to 18%) and ash content (up to 15%). A trial batch of a few bags will show how the peat behaves in your particular stove before you buy a season's supply in bulk.
Questions and answers
Do peat briquettes smell when burning?
There is a faint characteristic peat smell when lighting, especially if the briquettes are damp. With a proper draught it does not get into the room. Peat contains 0.2-0.5% sulphur, 3-5 times less than coal, so the smell is weaker than from coal.
How many peat briquettes do I need for the winter?
An insulated 100-150 m² house needs 6-8 tonnes of peat briquettes per season, 30-50% more by weight than coal (3-5 tonnes of anthracite). Peat gives 3.5-4.5 kWh of heat per kilogram, so you will need more storage space.
Which is better: peat briquettes or firewood?
Peat briquettes give 3,000-3,900 kcal/kg versus 2,800-3,200 for dry firewood and smoulder for 8-10 hours instead of 2-3. On the other hand, they contain 8-15% ash versus 1-2% for firewood and cannot warm up a cold house quickly. They are often combined: the fire is lit with wood and peat is added for the night.
Can I burn peat briquettes in a fireplace?
It is not a good idea: peat burns with almost no flame and has a characteristic smell, so it does not give the desired effect in a fireplace with a visible fire. Pini-Kay briquettes are a better choice for a fireplace. Pellet and auger-fed boilers cannot burn peat briquettes either.
How much ash do peat briquettes produce and what can I do with it?
Peat briquettes have an ash content of 8-15%, i.e. 2-4 kg of ash from a 25 kg bag, so the ash pan is emptied daily. Unlike coal ash, peat ash can be used in the vegetable garden to reduce soil acidity.
How long do peat briquettes burn in a stove?
A load of peat briquettes with the draught turned down holds its heat for 8-10 hours: "load it in the evening, stay warm till morning". It lights from paper and a few pieces of kindling in 5-10 minutes. The layer should be 15-20 cm, no more than two thirds of the firebox, and the flue damper must not be closed fully while there are still flames on the fuel bed.
Buy the fuel covered in this article
Prices per tonne and per bag, stock and delivery across Ukraine are on the category page. For wholesale: special terms.