Fireplaces In Your Home: To Use Or Not To Use?

Original fireplaces add undeniable charm and character to older properties. But should you use them as a source of heating, or keep them as a decorative feature? In this post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of lighting your fireplace.

The appeal of keeping it functional

Fireplaces can help to set a cozy and romantic atmosphere in your home. After a long winter walk, everyone can huddle around the fire and warm their hands, while listening to the crackle of the flames.

Beyond creating an ambience, fireplaces can also help you to reduce your heating bill. They’re cheaper to run than a gas furnace, while homeowners with electric heating can continue to use a fireplace in a power outage.

While some homeowners choose to block up their fireplace to improve insulation, keeping the chimney open can often boost value too by giving future homeowners the option of still using the fireplace. While animals and debris can fall into chimneys, adding a chimney cap can reduce this problem.

Potential drawbacks and modern alternatives

Firing up an old fireplace has its drawbacks. If you have young kids or pets, there might be safety concerns with introducing an open fire to your home. The smoke from fireplaces also isn’t good for those with respiratory issues. On top of this, fireplaces can be messy, and you may need to occasionally clean around them and get the chimney itself cleaned by a professional.

When it comes to energy-efficiency, open chimneys also lead to drafts and heat loss. While using your fireplace regularly can prevent this, you’ll need to keep it running constantly in cold temperatures to combat all heat loss.

Fireplaces also only provide zone heating and won’t keep your entire home warm (unless you have a fireplace in each room). HVAC installation is often necessary in older homes to keep them comfortable by today’s standards. Of course, there’s nothing to stop you switching between an original fireplace and HVAC – you can have both.

Creative repurposing ideas to consider

Using a fireplace for its original purpose may not be suitable for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you have to brick it up. You can preserve these historical features by repurposing them into unique focal points.

What are some ways to repurpose a fireplace? A few solutions could include:

• A storage nook: A fireplace could make a great place to store books, board games, DVDs or vinyl.
• A pet bed: You could turn it into a cozy spot for a pet to sleep.
• A shrine: Honor loved ones who have passed with photos and candles, or dedicate an altar to religious figures.
• An electric fireplace: You could still use your fireplace as a heat source, but instead of lighting a fire there, you could turn it into an electric fireplace that is plugged into the mains.

Fireplaces can also be embraced as decorative features by repainting them or simply making an effort to maintain any original stonework or metalwork. You can also decorate the mantlepiece above them or add ornaments around the hearth.