There’s something undeniably charming about an open fire – the flickering flames, crackling logs, and the cosy warmth make it a popular choice in many homes across Wales.
But while an open fireplace may look inviting, it’s not always the best option for heating your home.
Open fires come with some serious downsides – poor energy efficiency, high emissions, and increased fire risks – meaning you could be burning through more fuel (and more money) than necessary.
At this point, let’s address the elephant in the room 🐘- yes, we sell wood-burning stoves, so are we just going to slate open fires, and say they are awful?
No, we know how cosy and welcoming they can be, and for many people they might still be the right option. We also maintain chimneys for both open fires and stoves, so we’ve seen firsthand the problems that come with an open hearth.
Our aim is that whichever you end up choosing, you are fully informed, so you can make the best decision for you.
So, what exactly is wrong with open fires, and what’s the alternative if you still want the charm of a real flame – without the potential problems?
Let’s get into it…
1. Open fires have low energy efficiency…
If you’re sitting next to an open fire, you’ll probably be absolutely roasting in no time at all, so it might be hard to believe that they are actually not a very efficient way to heat your home.
In fact, around 80% of the heat produced by an open fire is lost straight up the chimney. Which means that for every log you burn, only a fraction of its energy warms your home and the rest escapes, taking your heating budget with it.
It’s also difficult to control the heat output – open fires burn unpredictably, so your living space can go from too cold to too hot in no time, and there is no mechanism to help circulate the heat that is produced. It’s for this reason that it’s often boiling beside the flame, but colder far away, as the heat doesn’t spread effectively throughout the room.
Ultimately, while a fire might look great, and bring a sought-after aesthetic to your home, its primary job is to provide heat, and an open fire is simply not the best way to do that.
📖 Read more: Wood-burning stove vs open fire: which one is best for you?
2. Open fires cause air pollution…
The cosy atmosphere of an open fire comes with an invisible downside: air pollution.
And it’s not just the outdoor air we’re talking about, it can significantly impact your home’s indoor air quality and your health.
The biggest concern?
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – tiny, invisible particles released in smoke that can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. These pollutants are linked to a range of serious health issues, including asthma attacks, bronchitis, heart disease, stroke, and even lung cancer. Long-term exposure has been associated with reduced lung function and increased respiratory infections, particularly in children and the elderly.
Additionally, open fires emit carbon monoxide, a dangerous gas that can accumulate indoors and cause headaches, dizziness, and, in severe cases, carbon monoxide poisoning. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other toxic chemicals are also released, further reducing indoor air quality and increasing the risk of health complications.
The reality is, while an open fire may feel cosy, it comes at a hidden cost to the air you breathe.
3. Open fires have a high environmental impact…
If you’re keen to reduce your carbon footprint, an open fire is not the way to go.
Because they burn so inefficiently, open fires release higher levels of CO and unburned particulates into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution and climate change – not a good combination.
Another often-overlooked issue is the sustainability of firewood. The demand for firewood, especially in colder months, can contribute to deforestation, harming ecosystems and reducing carbon absorption from trees.
Of course, there are more sustainable alternatives, and ways to make wood-burning more efficient, which includes:
✅ Seasoned or kiln-dried logs, which burn cleaner and produce less smoke.
✅ Sustainably sourced wood from responsibly managed forests.
By making smarter fuel choices and opting for cleaner-burning appliances, it’s possible to reduce environmental impact without giving up the warmth and charm of a real flame.
4. Maintenance Costs & Practical Considerations
Having an open fire isn’t just about lighting a match and sitting back to enjoy the fire – it requires ongoing maintenance, which over time can have significant time and cost implications.
Unlike modern heating solutions, open fires demand constant attention, from sourcing and storing firewood to ensuring proper chimney maintenance and regular cleaning to prevent hazardous creosote buildup.
You’ll need to factor in:
🪵 Firewood Storage: Requires a dry, ventilated area to prevent damp wood from producing excess smoke.
🔥 Ash & Soot Removal: Regular cleaning is needed to prevent buildup.
🧹 Chimney Sweeping: Open fires produce more soot than stoves, requiring frequent professional chimney cleaning to prevent blockages and fire hazards.
As well as the cleaning out the fireplace in between uses, which can take quite a bit of time.
If you’re unable to safely maintain the fireplace and chimney yourself, you’ll need to factor in professional cleaning, which can cost a few hundred pounds, a couple of times a year.
So, open fires are definitely not the easiest or most cost-effective heating solution in the long term.
5. Open fires are a hazard…
Between 2023 and 2024, there were 218 chimney fires in Wales. Most homeowners don’t realise the fire hazards associated with an open fire.
Unlike a closed stove, an open hearth can send sparks and embers flying into your living space, increasing the risk of accidental fires.
In addition, creosote, soot and tar can accumulate more easily in the chimney due to the inefficient burn, which can lead to more chimney fires.
Not only do these factors result in a real danger to you and your family, they may also result in higher home insurance premiums due to increased fire risk.
Switching to a safer, enclosed wood-burning stove may even help you secure better insurance rates.
6. Open fires face tough regulations…
The UK government is tightening regulations on solid fuel burning to reduce air pollution. Under the Clean Air Strategy, restrictions on the types of fuel that can be burned are increasing, and open fires are facing more scrutiny than ever before.
In Wales, many towns and villages fall within Smoke Control Areas, where burning wood in an open fire is already illegal unless you use an approved smokeless fuel.
Future legislation is expected to further limit the use of open fires, meaning switching to a DEFRA-approved wood-burning stove could help you stay compliant with evolving laws.
The alternatives to an open fireplace
If you love the ambiance of an open fire but aren’t loving the sound of some of the downsides, then don’t worry – there are a few options that will tick the boxes for heat as well as ambiance.
Wood-burning stoves
Modern wood-burning stoves offer the charm of a real flame while being far more efficient and environmentally friendly than traditional open fires. They burn fuel more efficiently, produce lower emissions, retain heat for longer, and reduce fire hazards compared to open hearths.
Electric or gas fireplace
For those seeking a convenient and low-maintenance heating solution, electric and gas fireplaces are excellent choices. They require no chimney or flue, provide instant heat, emit no smoke or harmful particulates, and have adjustable heat settings for better temperature control.
📖Read more: Wood burning stove vs gas fire: which is best for me?
Renewable energy heating
For homeowners looking to move away from solid fuel heating altogether, renewable energy options provide a sustainable solution. Heat pumps extract heat from the air or ground, biomass boilers use compressed wood pellets or chips as fuel, and solar heating systems capture energy from the sun to heat water and indoor spaces.
The benefits of a wood burning stove
We did start this by saying that wood-burners are what we specialise in, so we do think that they are superior to an open flame in many ways (and the science, and regulation backs that up).
If you want the charm of a real flame, but without any of the downsides of an open fire, then this is exactly where a wood-burning stove can come in – and it’s why we’re seeing so many people switch from an open fire in Wales.
By upgrading from an open fireplace to a high-efficiency wood-burning stove, you’ll get more warmth while using less fuel, as modern stoves retain heat far better than an open fire. It’s a legal requirement that all new wood-burners installed in the UK comply with the Eco-Design, ensuring a cleaner, more efficient burn, making them far less of a pollutant than open fires and traditional wood-burners.
Safety is another major advantage – without flying embers or excessive chimney deposits, wood-burning stoves greatly reduce fire risks.
And of course, there’s the aesthetic appeal; a stove gives you the beauty of real flames in a controlled, stylish setting.
There are very few downsides to a wood-burning stove, and those that exist are easily fixable.
📖Read more: Everything you need to know about a wood-burning stove
Ready to install a wood-burning stove?
While an open fire may look charming, it’s simply not the most efficient, eco-friendly, or practical way to heat your home.
A modern wood-burning stove provides all the benefits of a real fire without the downsides – more warmth, lower fuel costs, improved air quality, and better safety.
If you’re ready to upgrade from an open fire, our expert team can help. We specialise in wood-burning stove installation, maintenance, and advice across Wales, ensuring you choose the perfect stove for your home.
Contact us today to explore our range of high-quality wood-burning stoves and take the first step towards a warmer, greener, and safer home.
