With the prices of traditional fuels such as gas and electricity constantly on the rise, savvy consumers are looking for other fuels to heat their homes. Many also feel a dependency on fossil fuels is unwise and seek a more eco friendly lifestyle. Fortunately there's an easy way to get this that also brings many other benefits - multi fuel stoves.

If you want flexibility when it comes to your home heating fuel, then multi fuel stoves are the answer. These versatile stoves can burn wood, coke, coal, peat and biomass. Biomass refers to fuels formed from organic substances such as shelled corn and wheat hulls.

A multi fuel stove is made of steel or cast iron body. Each material has its own properties. Steel heats up quicker and cools down faster. Cast iron is slower to heat up but retains the heat for a time after the fire is out. If you opt for cast iron, you'll need to keep a space around it for the air to circulate as otherwise the stove could crack.

At the front of the stove, there's a door, usually cast iron, with a window which allows you see the fire. To avoid smoke blacking up the window, the stove features an airwash which is usually a top slider or spinner. It draws air into the stove and passes it over the glass to prevent blacking up.

As the name suggests multi fuel stoves can handle a range of fuels.

Coal is popular with many owing to its availability. It's a slow-burning fuel that produces more heat than wood. This makes it perfect for long burning fires.

The next most popular choice is wood. It's a convenient renewable source of fuel which offers a real home fire experience complete with flames, smell and that wonderfully cosy crackling sound.

Wood stove fires will burn for up to four hours depending on the type of wood and how well it is seasoned. Wood needs to be seasoned so that it doesn't emit smoke. Most woods need to expose to the elements for two years and then dried out indoors.

One benefit is that you don't need to empty the ash as often as you do with coal; you can just place your fresh wood on the ashes and start a new fire.

If you don't live in a rural area with a plentiful supply, be sure to stock up on wood so you never run out during the cold winter months. Bear in mind that certain urban areas forbid the use of wood burning stoves so you'll need to check with your local authority. On the eco front, wood is carbon neutral.

Other fuels include peat and biomass. Peat in the form of briquettes made from burr peat is a clean fuel that burns well in multi fuel stoves. Damp peat would cause tar deposits to build up both in the stove and the chimney.

Biomass fuels come in the form of pellets. They consist of recycled corn and peanut shells along with sawdust and wood shavings and other organic waste. As this waste would otherwise end up in landfill, using it for fuel is an eco-friendly solution. What's more they burn very hot and more cleanly than wood.

You can get a multi fuel stove in many forms. One popular type serves as a stylish focal point for your living room. Another popular option comes in the form of a range cooker with a back boiler for water heating. Multi fuel stoves can now power central heating or domestic hot water boilers. If you already have a central heating system in place, then your new boiler stove can be linked into it.

Installation of your new stove is much easier if your home already has a chimney. Otherwise you can fit a prefabricated chimney, usually in the form of a twin wall insulated flue.