An open fire can complement any room, emphasising the vintage feel of a period property or creating a twist on a contemporary look in a modern home.
However there are many problems that you may encounter when installing or using an open fire in your own home.
Problems with open fires Although many people think that an open fire may prove less problematic than a gas or electric fire, in reality there are a number of difficulties that householders can encounter when installing or using an open fire.
No Heat It is hard to believe that a fire can be blazing in the grate and yet the room feels cold however this is a common problem.
Sometimes a fireplace has been built poorly or an old fireplace has been modified incorrectly resulting in much of the produced heat being lost up the chimney.
It is possible also that your room is too large and the fire is too small to heat the room effectively.
This can be rectified by fitting a convector fire which radiates heat around the room and is much more efficient or a wood burning stove which gives the ultimate high efficiencies, but creates a very different look.
Unattractive fires Often when moving into a new property householders will discover that they do not like the look of the fire that is in place.
Frequently the fire will appear too small for the fireplace which ruins the proportions of the room.
Sometimes the fire will be out of character with the rest of the room, perhaps retaining too old-fashioned an appearance in a modernized room or looking too modern in a space that has been styled in a vintage fashion.
A different style or setting may be required to improve the appearance of the fireplace.
Smoking Fires A smoking fire sometimes indicates a problem with the chimney or flue.
A poor air supply to the fire or a flue that is too narrow may cause an unpleasant smoking problem which may render the fire useless.
A smoking problem can sometimes be rectified by cleaning soot from the chimney or by removing birds' nests that are blocking the flue however if the smoking problem cannot be resolved without a major reconstruction seek advice from a HETAS registered or other qualified engineer.
Open fires are an excellent way to make a room more appealing and are a comforting and immediate source of heat.
A range of grates and surrounds can be adapted to complement any room but there are more efficient open fire alternatives that can correct smoke problems and give more heat.
The other option is to consider wood burning stoves with their high efficiency and closed in fire with glass fronts.
Look on our website for more useful information and advice.
However there are many problems that you may encounter when installing or using an open fire in your own home.
Problems with open fires Although many people think that an open fire may prove less problematic than a gas or electric fire, in reality there are a number of difficulties that householders can encounter when installing or using an open fire.
No Heat It is hard to believe that a fire can be blazing in the grate and yet the room feels cold however this is a common problem.
Sometimes a fireplace has been built poorly or an old fireplace has been modified incorrectly resulting in much of the produced heat being lost up the chimney.
It is possible also that your room is too large and the fire is too small to heat the room effectively.
This can be rectified by fitting a convector fire which radiates heat around the room and is much more efficient or a wood burning stove which gives the ultimate high efficiencies, but creates a very different look.
Unattractive fires Often when moving into a new property householders will discover that they do not like the look of the fire that is in place.
Frequently the fire will appear too small for the fireplace which ruins the proportions of the room.
Sometimes the fire will be out of character with the rest of the room, perhaps retaining too old-fashioned an appearance in a modernized room or looking too modern in a space that has been styled in a vintage fashion.
A different style or setting may be required to improve the appearance of the fireplace.
Smoking Fires A smoking fire sometimes indicates a problem with the chimney or flue.
A poor air supply to the fire or a flue that is too narrow may cause an unpleasant smoking problem which may render the fire useless.
A smoking problem can sometimes be rectified by cleaning soot from the chimney or by removing birds' nests that are blocking the flue however if the smoking problem cannot be resolved without a major reconstruction seek advice from a HETAS registered or other qualified engineer.
Open fires are an excellent way to make a room more appealing and are a comforting and immediate source of heat.
A range of grates and surrounds can be adapted to complement any room but there are more efficient open fire alternatives that can correct smoke problems and give more heat.
The other option is to consider wood burning stoves with their high efficiency and closed in fire with glass fronts.
Look on our website for more useful information and advice.
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