Open Fireplaces VS Stoves | Burning Inspirations
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At Burning Inspirations we love all fireplaces; open or closed, we’ll have it in our home! But for most people, deciding on the right type of fireplace for your home is a long process with lots of considerations. The debate that rages over open fireplaces vs stoves always comes back to the same thing – it’s what right for you. We’ve decided to break down the considerations for you so that we can help you with your decision.

 

The Benefits of a Wood Burning Stove

Wood burning stoves have numerous benefits and we’ve talked about this a bit before, but here’s a little recap. To start, a wood burning stove is actually a lot more energy efficient than and open fireplace. An open fireplace actually drags air from your home and sends it up the chimney with the smoke, causing a draft and sapping away heat. A wood burning stove doesn’t do that and is purported to be up to 50% more energy efficient! This not only helps with the heating bills, it saves you electricity making it good for the environment.

The other big plus point for wood burning stoves is that you can use them even in smoke controlled areas. In some areas of the country, it is illegal to use an open fireplace. If you’re not sure whether this applies to where you live, check the government regulations, as this may make the decision for you!

Lastly, wood burning stoves will stop sparks from spitting out of your fire and onto your carpet. They’re not necessarily safer that an open fireplace as it gets so hot that you could get a nasty burn if you touch it, but there is a lower fire risk involved.

 

The Benefits of an Open Fireplace

One of the biggest arguments for an open fireplace is actually an aesthetic one. This is obviously a case of personal taste, but it’s generally accepted that a grand open fire is a much more aesthetically pleasing centrepiece for a room than a little stove. You can get some simply stunning designs for your open fireplace and you’ll truly be adding a feature to your home.

The other argument for an open fireplace in the open fireplaces vs stoves debate is that, generally, open fireplaces are less expensive. With a wood burning stove, you’re paying for the unit as well as all of the installation cost, but with an open fireplace you’re cutting out the need of the unit entirely.

Lastly, one of the biggest draws of an open fireplace is, quite simply, the fire. When using a stove, the fire gets somewhat shut away, with the glass door obscuring the view (especially when considering the smoke). With an open fireplace, that roaring, crackling fire is right in view, and creates that stunning ambience in a room that only a fire can.

Whichever side you choose to lean in the open fireplaces vs stoves debate, we’re here to help. We’ve been installing fireplaces around Buckinghamshire for many years and have a passionate team who are ready to help you transform your home.