Could somebody please give me some advice on using my open fire?

MCMXCV

Hi, moved into a property about 18 months ago with an open fire.
the problem is I'm not really sure how to use it.
It has 2 'flaps', one big one in front of where the fire sits and a smaller one below. We used a bit of trial and error last year and found that the best way to have it was with the big one closed and the small one open but this used fuel really fast. If we had them both closed the fire died out.
Is there a correct way to use this? Do the flaps need to be open or closed for different things?
Sorry im asking such n00by questions.
Any help would be really appreciated.
Thanks.

xbrenx

I wish I could be a bit more helpful but I will give it a try as best as I know how...

While using our woodburner we have 2 apertures open as the fire gets going, once the wood is burning happily we close off the one at the bottom of the burner. This keeps the wood burning gently and we can see a marked difference in the size of the flames if we re-open it.

Not sure how this relates to an open fire though, just something for you to think about. I hope you get it sorted because there's nothing nicer in the winter

macman

there's nothing nicer in the winter

There's also nothing more inefficient.

PennyForThem_2

Hi

I had an open fire for most of my life in various houses and i loved them - dealt with the dust, got the chimney swept, built up the chimney (not me, builder) in one house so I could have an open fire.

About 2 years ago I read an article about wood burning stoves (or multifuel stoves) and liked the idea.

Never, never would I go back to open fire. i would always install a stove suitable for the room/chinmey etc.

Much more efficient. Only downside, I suppose, is that you don't get the scent as much. Upsides more than compensate - for instance takes 5 minutes (or less) to light and get going.

If you can't afford one now - save up!

xbrenx

macman wrote: »

there's nothing nicer in the winter

There's also nothing more inefficient.

Which is inefficient, the open fire or the log burner?

Please say the open fire! lol

manda1205

My fire only has one "flap", but basically regardless of how many flaps, the fire needs to draw some air underneath to keep it flowing, as you've found out if you shut the flap totally the fire dies out. As far as Im aware there is no way round this, I suppose you could try opening a window to help bring some draught through to keep it flowing, but obviously in the winter this kindof defeats the object. Your house is obviously not very draughty so you're going to need to have the flap open a little to keep the air going through, although this shouldnt really have made you burn fuel really fast. What are you burning, if its cheap garage coal that'll burn fast no matter how much air is under it, certain wood will burn fast too.

hethmar

An open fire loses up to 80% of the heat up the flueway. The stove pumps out up to 80% into your home.

Have you had the flue swept?

MCMXCV

Thanks for the help guys. Thanks Manda, that was very helpful. I knew the fire needed a draught but I didn't know if the flap was for extra draught to get it going and needed to be closed when it was already burning.
Thanks for the advice on woodburners but it's a short lease rental property so I don't really want to go making that sort of investment.

The_Economist

MCMXCV wrote: »

Hi, moved into a property about 18 months ago with an open fire.
the problem is I'm not really sure how to use it.
It has 2 'flaps', one big one in front of where the fire sits and a smaller one below. We used a bit of trial and error last year and found that the best way to have it was with the big one closed and the small one open but this used fuel really fast. If we had them both closed the fire died out.
Is there a correct way to use this? Do the flaps need to be open or closed for different things?
Sorry im asking such n00by questions.
Any help would be really appreciated.
Thanks.

Carn't comment on how best too use your open fire as i use a wood burning stove. But you might wanna have a look at this to make sure you are safe when using the fire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsxBu6z9aHQ&feature=related