Does anyone use their 1930's fireplace?

Kiran

Agree with the above post, you need a chimney sweep to do an inspection and clean. The solid fuel forum is a good source of information and there are a couple of sweeps who post on there. Look for a guy named Greenfires. He is very knowledgeable and helpful.

Gloomendoom

-taff wrote: »

Chimney sweep, and you'll probably need coal for an open fire but wood will burn just as well.

Wood isn't really a suitable fuel in a smokeless zone.

Rain_Shadow

Palomb wrote: »

I've just moved in to a 30's house with load or original features including an amazing tiled fireplace. I had hoped to have a log burner but the fireplace is too small but I would still like to have some flames! I have been told that all I need to used the fireplace for a fire is sweep the chimney... Anyone have any pointers beyond that? I've only ever had central heating so am an absolute novice.

I grew up with open coal fires. Nothing would persuade me to have one now. Filthy, time consuming, uncontrollable.

ripplyuk

Do you have central heating as well OP? If you just want flames, what about one of the inset gas or electric fires? The good ones are very realistic and no mess at all .

lisa110rry

Have a look at a website called Twentieth Century Fireplaces, this will give you ideas. You need first to get the chimney swept and smoke tested as said before, then get a grate to put the coal on with a decorative front to keep it from falling out, then you're ready to go.

Not_Me_Officer

Depends on the stove.

We are in a smokeless zone but because of some filter in our stove apparently we can burn wood just fine.

Kiran

That's possible with a stove but not with an open fire.

Palomb

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

I grew up with open coal fires. Nothing would persuade me to have one now. Filthy, time consuming, uncontrollable.

More so than wood?

Palomb

lisa110rry wrote: »

Have a look at a website called Twentieth Centuary Fireplaces, this will give you ideas. You need first to get the chimney swept and smoke tested as said before, then get a grate to put the coal on with a decorative front to keep it from falling out, then you're ready to go.

That's the kind of answer I was hoping for. Thank you

Rain_Shadow

Palomb wrote: »

More so than wood?

No idea. We only used stick (and newspaper) as starters for the coal). Occasionally burned a log if there were some available.


We had coal fires until I was about 12, so around 1970.


I just remember the time it used to take my father to clean out the grate and build the fire each day and the inevitable soot and ash that went everywhere if the fire blew back and the singed rugs when a coal jumped out.


Ah the good old days.:cool: