What kind of fire do you have and why?

[Theonlyoneiknow]

Ok, so as part of project house make over we need à new fire and fireplace. Am not sûre whether or not ti have an open wood fire (not woodburner, would need too much work), or a gas fire.

Just wondering about pros and Cons. Our fireplace is quite draughty.

Not sure why a woodburner would need too much work?

I have one. I grew up with a coal fire in a very efficient Victorian grate. It was a huge amount of work and mess but very effective. In future I would always go for wood instead of coal, because there's so much less mess.

Sorry, i meant too much work to install. Our current fireplace is very small so would need to knock out the chimney breast à bit to fit one in

We have a woodburner because we live in a bloody cold house and cant afford to run our oil fired central heating very often.
I love it.

open fire is under 20% efficient. Very wasteful.

We have a small wood burning stove that sits on the hearth. It's only the flue pipe that needs to go up the chimney . The rest of the small fireplace opening is boarded up . I know it's sounds awful but it looks fine as it's painted black and hidden by the stove

An open fire is very inefficient as most of the heat goes up the chimney

Have your chimney been lined?

Open fire - it was there when we bought the house (which is very old). I had a woodburner in my own house before I got married which I had put in. When it got going it was brilliantly hot - but I did hanker after the immediacy of my mum's gas fire....

I spent about two hours in the shop today, not sûre if i came out any wiser, will try and find links and see what you think

Most shops have only a few stoves on display. You need to look online.

Quite like this one
www.penmancollection.com/fairburn.php

Oops I see you are taking about an inset gas fire rather than a wood burning stove

I have an open fire because it's really pretty and I also have central heating. If I didn't get free wood, I probably would never light it though.

Or this but with white mantle surround
www.gratefireplace.co.uk/ecocast-he-falkirk-cast-iron-fireplace.html

What do you want it for?

Occasional practical use - gas is much the easiest

Occasional 'pretty' use - open wood fire looks nice but is inefficient

Serious alternative to central heating - woodburner, but you need a lot of space for wood storage, or gas fire.

Its a big room, Long but narrow. There are two radiators in the room. Have never used the fire that is in there at the moment. So would say for occasional heat and to look nice?

We had the choice recently. We put in a cast fireplace because we can close the damper when we are not using the fire and because of that there is no heat loss when we just have the central heating on. It burns anything. We took out a gas fire because we find we have to turn it off as the heat is too intense. An open fire is more varied with heat output.

I'd be tempted to go for a nice modern gas fire, as it's quick when you want it and no effort when you don't.

We have a woodburner, but that's because we don't have gas into the house, and we need something practical for power cuts. Keeping a supply of logs needs space, which is fine as we have a big garden and a garage we don't keep the car in.

Logburner . The heat is adjustable. You can keep it going for hours without stoking it. If you enter your room dimensions online many of the websites will tell you what size you need.

I cant post pics here of my lounge can I?

We have an open fire was there when we moved in we have this thing that goes up it if not using but tbh we use it most nights when its cold
Downsides cleaning it
Growing up we had a gas fire they really are very easy but i dont like design of them.

I love our open fire. The fire surround is original and really beautiful and a classic local design. We have loads of free wood we have collected when neighbours have cut trees down so it costs us nothing. And of course wood (unlike gas) is a renewable energy source.

Love the look of logburners but they are all wrong for the style of our house. I know an open fire is less efficient but our living room gets pretty toasty when we light the fire in the evening. It's probably better than having the heating on and heating the whole house I reckon?

Gahhhhh now i am really confused !!!

I am currently undergoing a big renovation with 3 fireplaces to replace.

The installers I have spoken to regarding an open fire require that your chimneys are properly smoke tested and if they fail they need to be lined. 8" stainless steel liners are around £850 each. PP's are right in that they are only 20% efficient, and to comply with hetas certification the room needs to have permanent ventilation.... So by installing an open fire you could technically make your room colder.

I am desperately trying to find a sympathetic solution as I really want to reinstate the open fires but it is by far the most costly option for the least efficient outcome.

HTH

Thanks chunk

We've got an open fire, I love it, it's pretty and it's very warm in our relatively small sitting room but it's messy to clean out and it makes a lot of dust.....still love it though and the smell reminds me of being little.