Open Fire

[Merlot]

I have recently moved into a house with an open fire. It hasn't been used for about 5/6 years so I've arranged for it to be swept as a precaution.

The fire is pretty small (see pic below), so I am not sure whether to use logs or coal. My parents have always had log fires but never having had either myself, I don't know the plus and minus points of each.

Which is generally cheaper to run?
Why would you choose one over the other?


It is roughly similar in size to the example below

[renmure]

Generally speaking, logs fires burn in a nice pretty manner, are easier to light, are a bit more manageable in terms of "ok, stick another log on and let it burn for another 20 mins".. but don't really throw so much heat out and the fire tends to need stoked up quite often to keep it ticking along. Coal takes longer to light, can get a bit smokey as the coal heats up before lighting, but throws a good bit more heat out and can be left without poking and prodding for longer.

For something as small as the one in the pic then a couple of small logs will give you something pretty to look at for time it takes to eat dinner where as a decent dollop of coal might take the first course of dinner to get going but will keep you warm till bed time cocco.

Edited by renmure on Tuesday 29th September 18:38

[saleen836]

Coal costs money, if you have a dog everytime you take it for a walk and see a log or 2 laying on the ground take them home= free heat!

[schmalex]

I would buy a bag of coal for about £6 & then chuck a dozen or so lumps of coal in with the wood you are also burning to give a bit of base heat.

[tays27]

How do you test an open fire?

I have one that doesn't look like it's been used for years and rather worryingly had a gas boiler on the otherside of the wall!

[John MacK]

schmalex said:

I would buy a bag of coal for about £6 & then chuck a dozen or so lumps of coal in with the wood you are also burning to give a bit of base heat.

This is what we did when I was young and we had an open fire in the winter.
Start it with paper and kindling, add a couple of bigger logs and add some coal into it, then top up with coal, or if it is going 'down' add a log or two on-top again to brighten it up.
Also get the coal dust and small dregs and add them to some water to make a paste, add this on-top of some fresh coal on an established fire and it will keep going for hours if you want to go out or are not 'using' the fire.