how much work is involved in having a real fire

[lionbeast]

None at all. We have one going right now and it takes 2 minutes to set and get going.

But, of course, you do need to remember to get coal, logs and firelighters

A lot

And you'll need the chimney serviced as well.

There may also be 'no burn' days in your area.

I love fires.

In camp.

I have a multifuel stove.

I pick up the coal from the merchants and hump it into the storage area at the back - the coal merchants can deliver which is more effective/labour saving if you ahve the area to store a large amount in.

I collect wood where and whenever I can. I season it and then it is cut and mauled (by me). You can buy it ready to burn but it costs a fair bit.

You need to go outside in foul weather to get fuel if you are low on supplies.

You need to tend it throughout the day and rake it out and take out the ashes every morning.

You need to arrange to get your chimneys swept every year.

I wouldn;t be without mine. I love it. It is all routine and mine was developed during my childhood so I love the whole thing

It does create more dust, but it is lovely. And if you use wood only then it is carbon neutral.

Hardly any, but you do need to invest in firelighter, kindling, coal and logs. We reckon it costs about £5 for the evening. Takes no time to light. Takes a while to get going (we're in a smoke-free zone and the coal isn't that great). Takes me 10 minutes to clear it out really well the next day (the days I don't are the days they'll play on the hearth while I'm not looking!). The chimney gets swept every couple of years.
Our fire is fab.

None if you have my pyromanic dh.

Seriously - we have a big woodburning firebasket in ours. We get logs twice a year, and it takes me and the kids about 2 hours to carry them all to the log store. We tend to just empty the ashpan and remake the fire (far easier to do with a woodburner than a coal fire) which takes 10 minutes (including bringing in kindling/paper/logs) and once a week dh and kids will clean properly which takes about 30 minutes

Pru - would you care to lend me your DH for a week? I would even let him light the bonfire of general rubbish and assorted trimmings that needs doing down the back if he would sort the pile of logs out that need chainsawing...

Pru, I also have a puromaniac DH!

Hmmm. Just think of all the free exercise you are missing! [hopeful]

so would i have to clean it out the next day after everytime its used and what happens if i dont?
so about £5 a fire, do you think thats abouit what it works out too?

if i went to some local areas and collcted wood, what would i have to do to it before putting it on the fire? dry it out somehow?

and can you bake potatoes in a open fire or anything?

yes you have to clear it out. revolting not to. what sort of fireplace have you got and do you live in a smokeless zone?

so would i have to clean it out the next day after everytime its used and what happens if i dont?

You wouldn't get the air flowing through to keep the fire going - the ash blocks the flow

so about £5 a fire, do you think thats abouit what it works out too?

No. I use a good quality smokeless fuel with free wood. I keep my stove in for a bout 4 months of the year though so it is different to lighting the odd fire. I would guess about £2 per day on really cold days if you are savvy about it.

if i went to some local areas and collcted wood, what would i have to do to it before putting it on the fire? dry it out somehow?

You have to dry it out for a year - it's not necessarily the rain - it's the sap you need to dry out - I can dry out rain soaked logs in a few hours after bringing them in (although I don;t have to these days - I have a woodshed). It's the sap you need to be rid of otherwise you get loads of smoke.

and can you bake potatoes in a open fire or anything?

No. I have a special pan I can do waffles on top of my stove on and baking anything (such as chestnuts) means I have to find a rack which will mean they are not touching the stove - otherwise they burn - badly. You can do baked spuds on bonfire wrapped in loads of tinfoil but I think a homefire is too intense?

I think you can legally burn seasoned wood in a smokeless zone by the way.

oh sorry it's for a holiday cottage, how long do they take to get going, and how long do they last for, ? do you have to put it out before bed or anything?

We have a woodburner.

It certainly doesn't get cleaned out every time it has been used - it works better with ash in the tray.

We only use firelighters if we have no small pieces of wood to use as kindling.

We burn wood from all diferent sources - people give us old furniture, floorboards etc and we cut our own wood - haven't bought any for 3 years but then we have been lucky I guess.

We don't live in a smoke-restricted area though so I guess that helps us.

We have had the chimney swept once in 5 years but you really should get a cowl for the top of your chimney to stop birds trying to nest in it and check the intergrity of you chimney before using it (check the bit that goes through your loft!)

You need to season wood before burning it so anything cut needs to be left for a year to burn well - don't burn anything green or you'll get lots of smoke and not much heat. Anything you collect would have to be dried well before use really (so make sure you collect stackable bits!)

There is little work involved for me - my DH is a pyromaniac too and enjoys chopping wood

Woodburners are best, you can control the fire more easily so if you need a lot of heat you can 'open it up' and burn it quickly. If you go out or go to bed you can shut it right down and it can last for ages and still kick out a lot of heat. We keep ours going all night by just shutting everything right down and loading it up. In the morning we just add a few logs, open the air vent and away it goes - far more effective than a open fire.

oh sorry it's for a holiday cottage, how long do they take to get going,

Depends on their setup and the weather at the time. Buy firelighters and bed in amongst newspaper - top tip is to chuck in a couple of tealights - the wax covers the fuel and makes it much easier to light it.

and how long do they last for,

Dependshow much fuel you give them. As I say, I keep mine in (ie 24/7) for around 4 months of the year.

? do you have to put it out before bed or anything?

Not if you have a suitable fireguard to prevent spitting onto flammable objects.

ok thanks for the tips. i love open fire and wood burners but have never used one before.

my grandparents used to have one and bits used to spark out all the time, and get you on the legs !

do anyof you cook on yours . even a few toasted marshmellows would be nice

We've bunged a stew in a pot on top of our woodburner a few times, you can also do jacket potatoes easily enough. Also you can keep the kettle on top for quick tea making - you are really mainly limited by your imagination tbh.

I do cook on mine (ie the waffles) but it is a stove and is therefore easier - if it is open it will not be as easy but I remember roasting chestnuts on the open fire of my childhood by placing them around the edge.

You need a toasting fork (or similar) to do toast and marshmallows on an open fire.

If it is a holiday cottage have they advertised the fire as working? They will help you with it if they have and will probably provide the fuel, but you need to check that the chimneys have been swept etc. You don't want to be in a place with a chimney fire, especially not whilst supposedly on holiday!

thanks for the great advice, bet its lovely snuggling in front of an open fire

yeah, but the most fun bit is kicking the cat out of the way every evening - apparently we light it just for her

lol