Please don’t. Instead, if you can, think seriously about installing one of the new breed of highly efficient, low emissions Ecodesign stoves. One of these will make your fuel go up to four times further than an open fire as well as save you serious money, both on the cost of your fuel, and also on how much you will need to use your gas or oil-fired central heating. An Ecodesign stove will also cut emissions by around 80% compared to your old open fire and also improve your home’s carbon footprint.
A high quality Ecodesign stove from The stove Yard, which has passed all of the important safety, efficiency and emissions tests, such as the traditionally styled 5kW Alpha, will cost you just £685 (plus installation), while the contemporary Bilberry Nore, from stove maker Waterford Stanley, will cost you just under £700. But as old Fred Pontin used to say: book early. Due to the fuel crisis the whole of the stove industry is already experiencing high demand, even during this exceptionally hot spell we’re enjoying.
Unfortunately experts are predicting the crisis will last for a few more winters yet which will make fitting a stove an even better decision – the sooner you choose to do it. However, if you decide to stick with your open fire for this winter look for the Ready to Burn quality mark and burn only wood logs that have a moisture content of less than 20% – that way you’ll get around 50% more heat than if you burn unseasoned ‘wet’ or ‘green’ wood which will also save you money.