Please talk to me about Victorian open fireplaces and alternatives!

[CuddyMum]

Haven't lit a real fire in this house (have temporarily got a bio ethanol burner in the grate that looks lovely but doesn't give out much heat) and I'm just wondering whether there are alternatives to coal and wood in the form of gas (gas supply close by). I don't want it to look modern and we currently have a cast iron arched insert (not the original) but I don't want to effectively have most of the heat going up the chimney! Of course, I may have to bit the bullet and get the chimney cleaned and capped and learn how to light a fire! Sorry for rambling - I'm used to glass fronted, remote controlled hole in the wall fires! All views welcome :)

Our house had an original (not to the house) cast iron fire surround with a gas (coal effect) fire in it. It looked very realistic - I couldn't believe how many people thought it was real. It didn't give off much heat though!

We removed it and installed a woodburner which heats the place a lot better.

I've booked the chimney sweep who also supplies and fits woodburners so I'm going to have a chat with him about it. I'm warming (pardon the pun) to that idea. I don't suppose you have a picture of yours do you?

not fitted sorry! But we had the charnwood c8 - www.charnwood.com/range/stove/ceight.aspx

Turned out that there was a small inglenook behind the fireplace so it sits in that, and actually I think looks better.

Our beautiful Morso is being fitted in 13 days time. I cannot wait

We removed the existing living flame gas fire (which did actually put out a fair amount of heat) and opened up the 1930s fireplace which had been closed up.

The gas fire was quite old but almost realistic looking, or it would have been if the previous owners hadn't just plonked it in the middle of the wall, raised from the floor with no surround or anything.

I want one! I want to keep my lovely wooden mantlepiece - will it look ok?

I replaced the old 80's style gas fire in our house with a cast iron fireplace with a nu-flame gas insert. I really regret it. It looks lovely but doesn't give off much heat and is fairly expensive to use. Wish I'd gone down the woodburner route.

You need to be careful about the distance from the woodburner to combustibles ie your wooden mantelpiece. I'd get someone in to do a site survey and advise.

I have a coal topped electric heater in my fireplace, it gives out loads of heat (blows it out have no idea if this has an official description) doesn't seem to massively impact my electric bills.

It can be used with a chimney balloon to keep the heat in, and took approximately 30 seconds to install.

Not as nice as a wood burner but a relatively simple option for providing heat if you couldn't get one because of your mantelpiece.

Our electric bills are HUGE! So, I'd prefer not to go down that route plus I do like the idea of investing in a woodburner if possible.

I must admit we've just been using our fireplace to burn wood & coal. Yes a lot of heat goes up the chimney but there's still loads in the room and the two rooms above it get warm too. We do only use it to top up central heating on chilly days though not as a proper fuel source.
We just had the chimney swept and sorted out a grate (ours was broken) and a new ashpan (previous owners took it ) and was good to go.

we have a gas insert from acquisitions in our fireplace at the moment which doesnt give out a lot of heat at all but are looking to replace it with a woodburner. you do get log effect stoves which burn gas, i didnt know this until last week when we were in the shop looking at woodburners, the man in the shop said they are quite efficient but i dont know if that was sales talk or not.

Will be keeping the open fire in the dining room but seriously exploring woodburner options for the living room (with my non existent budget). We are having the sashes renovated in August (and adding slimline double glazing). Should be as snug as a bug this time next year :)