What are the advantages and disadvantages of using coal to heat your house?

Advantages:

# It is a much warmer heat compared to electric. # It provides much heat and energy when burned. Disadvantages: # You need to be able to store at least 1 ton of coal. # You need to tend to the fire at least 2 times a day in the colder months. # You have to remove the ashes from the stove, and dispose of them somewhere. # Whatever type of coal you use with a blower unit, you will have a lot more dust in your house. # There is a risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning, you need a detector. # When you shut the stove down for the season you should clean the stove and check the pipes and the chimney for dust buildup. # Some of the smaller stoves use a blower to keep the fire going or they have a very small fire box, if your electricity goes out often in your area you will have to start another fire in the stove and the smaller the fire box the longer it takes to start a fire in the stove. # It smells bad.