Wood or gas fire

Modern efficiency means that there is very little wood ash to empty and that would only be every week or so. Correct burning is key, I have a thermometer on my flue, magnetic back, about 12 inches up. I get no glass blackening if it stays in the optimum temperature range

Setting the fire is key too, top down burning to warm the flue first, no smoke comes into my room. Yesterday I used just 3 small logs and 4 pieces of kindling and 4 pieces of eco fire lighters. Once the fire dies down, the stove remains warm for hours and makes a considerable difference to my comfort

Properly seasoned logs, I bought and stacked a tonne, mostly in a keter storage unit outside, some in my garage. This is my third season of burning them and I have enough for several more seasons. I got a 5kw stovax multi-fuel fire and it sits on a stovax plinth. A very nice moden clean-looking design

Multi fuel because I wanted the option to burn smokeless eggs, I have an electric firelighter to get those going and they simmer heat all through the night

Work is not really work as it is so minimal

My daughter has stopped using hers because of the risk from the fumes.

We have an electric log effect fire which we can use with or without heat and swear the room gets warmer from the log effect.

I agree ladies,. If I were a few years younger the ‘work’ wouldn’t bother me.

I had a real wood/multifuel stove for many years as my main heating source. Gravity feed to central heating. It was really lovely. But the work of emptying the ashes twice a day was tedious especially in the winter when it was windy outside and the hot ashes get blown back at you. The dust got everywhere. It was impossible to have a good stereo system or tv due to the dust in the air.
I now have a gas fire that looks like a wood burner and the instant heat without the faff is great.

Well I was so glad to not have to light our wood burner when we moved house . My daughter lights hers but she is 30 years younger, she made me put one in when we were building , it is an expensive ornament
It does give fantastic heat from little fuel , Karmalady loves hers