open fires

spinningsheep

We recently reactivated an old fireplace in the lounge, its great! No massive outlay either. We have a gorgeous beige tiled art deco one with an arch shaped opening and candle recesses either side. The costs were:

£30 for chimmney sweep
£8 for 16" fire grate from Wilkos
£4 for 3 side and back fire bricks
£24 for a black and brass fret from B&Q
£1.75 for a wilkos basics baking tin to use as an ashpan!!

Grand total of £67.75.

All the coal is free as my housemate's mum has a friend who has recently changed from a Parkray to a gas fire in their lounge and has enough Phurnacite to keep us warm well into next year, we just go up with sacks every couple of weeks and fill our boots!!

The result is an exceptionally warm house, and a focal point for the living room.

geekgirl

Another wood burner vote here. I have a Rayburn and we light it in September and we let it go out in March/April time. We dry all of our clothing on a pulley airer so no drying costs either. We cook on it as well and there is a kettle on constantly. We also have an unlimited log supply as OH is a tree surgeon.

If you are going to be burning reclaimed wood on an open fire get yourself a really good thick hearth rug as some wood spits loads and will burn your flooring in front of the fire no matter how careful you are with a fire guard.

Ken68

Lovely Geek, you take me back. Had a Rayburn for years, wore it out. Like you , permanently on in the winter and hub of the house.
Nothing like airing your backside on the rail.

stoveman

get the chimney swept and check that its in good condition, not leaking etc in to other rooms.

woodburner is more efficient as you lose all the heat up the chimney