UK members: Open Coal fire running radiators

[missyinohio]

Odd subject I know. Back in the days when I traveled to Enland, I was in a lot of homes that ran an open coal fire that I imagine had water pipes running through the back of the firebox so that it heated radiators in the house. I would love to get more information on this type of a system. Hopefully someone on this board has some info, or where to get info on this subject.

[lgslgs]

English hubby says to tell you that they are called "back boilers". If you do a Google search on "back boiler" you'll get a lot of good info.

Lynda

[missyinohio]

Thanks! I had looked on google.co.uk, but since I didn't know what it was called I wasn't getting anywhere. I remembered how nice it was with the fire, and yet the house was evenly warm.

[Jillis]

I don't know why, but I cannot be in a house in which an open coal fire is burning, or even one in a woodstove.

I get intensely nauseous and panicky, headache and usually run out of the house. Years ago, I lived in a log cabin with a friend. The friend's mother used coal in her fireplace insert stove, and it was a lot cheaper then wood, also lasted all night.

My friend didn't believe me about what happens to me around coal fires, thought it was all in my head. Waited for me to fall asleep and then put some in the wood stove in our cabin---which was not an airtight.

I woke up running out of the house sick as a dog.

Doesn't anyone else have this happen?