Do you use your fireplace during the winter?
@virusxtreme24 (805)
August 18, 2009 7:07pm CST
Hi myLotters,
Some of us have fireplaces in our homes, but are they just there for people to stare at, or are they of use to you?
I have one in my home, but I don't use it. It's too hard for me to maintain, and it can be dangerous if not used properly.
How about you, fellow myLotters?
1 person likes this
9 responses
@0livejuice (48)
• United States
19 Aug 09
I love my fireplace during the winter!
I use it sometimes, with the heat off, and curled up under a blanket, with a nice drink.
It's just too cozy and nice not to use during the winter, and i don't use it SO much that i need to do a whole lot of maintenance.
@virusxtreme24 (805)
•
19 Aug 09
It must be very nice to use if you know how to operate it.:) I'm not so skilled so I can't have my fireplace on 
@thelittlenaga (226)
• India
19 Aug 09
Operate a fireplace, wow. You know what virus, there are people in my place who can make fire with just a twig and rope.
@virusxtreme24 (805)
•
19 Aug 09
I rely too much on technology, that's why. Haha I'm not good at those things
@sysdexlicwriter (1619)
• United States
19 Aug 09
I only use it when we have a power outage. I keep some wood around just in case. We had a power outage about four years ago during the coldest part of winter. I was really happy to have the fireplace cleaned by a chimney sweep and it served me well to keep us warm for the period of time that we had no heat. It's nice to keep flashlights, etc. on hand also.
@virusxtreme24 (805)
•
19 Aug 09
Glad to know that you are prepared. I live in a place where the lowest it reaches in the winter is only 50 or 60 degrees F, so I am not really prepared for power outages during the winter :/
@sysdexlicwriter (1619)
• United States
19 Aug 09
Well, here's an idea, good, bad, or in between.
I would not do this with a gas fireplace. The only fireplace I would do this with is a fireplace that accepts wood only. I would remove the wood and clean out the inside.
Now here is the fun part.
Why not line the walls and maybe the bottom of the fireplace with reflective paper, maybe a colored tin foil type of material. You can stick in a closet light that you stick on the wall with batteries to shine down on the area where you would normally put wood.
Next do some holiday themes or use it as a family display of some sort. Maybe a family scene would be some trophies, certificates, pictures. It would look lovely for Thanksgiving or Christmas with a theme of some sort. It seems it would be the perfect way to decorate with kids and pets where they could not get at it but it would dress up the room.
I would not do this with a gas fireplace. The only fireplace I would do this with is a fireplace that accepts wood only. I would remove the wood and clean out the inside.
Now here is the fun part. Why not line the walls and maybe the bottom of the fireplace with reflective paper, maybe a colored tin foil type of material. You can stick in a closet light that you stick on the wall with batteries to shine down on the area where you would normally put wood.
Next do some holiday themes or use it as a family display of some sort. Maybe a family scene would be some trophies, certificates, pictures. It would look lovely for Thanksgiving or Christmas with a theme of some sort. It seems it would be the perfect way to decorate with kids and pets where they could not get at it but it would dress up the room.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
19 Aug 09
Hi virusxtreme, I have a somba rather than a fireplace, this is an iron stove which you light a fire in and you can see the fire inside it. Some winters I plan to use it, others not. It needs planning to get a good supply of old wood delivered as new wood is useless and just tars the pipes up so after the first few uses all you end up with is smoke in the room. With a clean pipe and old wood they are good to use, especially if the electric company is planning a few strikes.
@virusxtreme24 (805)
•
19 Aug 09
Hi, thanks for your response. I think I know what you are talking about.. my friend has one but she doesn't use it, so I guess it is just there for decoration.
@thelittlenaga (226)
• India
19 Aug 09
The place where i stay at present is a rented flat and we don't have any fireplace, which makes me sad and miss home. But i think, it won't be realistic to have a fire place where the tempt. is above 20 degree C. Dang, it goes above 40C during summer.
Living in peace now that the summer is over at my place.
@thelittlenaga (226)
• India
19 Aug 09
But back in my not-much-developed permanent place, i can't do without fireplace especially in winter.
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
19 Aug 09
Hi virusxtreme, here we could hardly find any fireplace in our house. The weather here is hot all the year round. 
we love fan and air con only 
Anyway fireplaces are available in the villas and cottages in the popular mountain tourism area. Yeah, the climate in the mountain is cold during nighttime especially during the end of the year. I believe people who lived in these classical old European style buildings earlier kept warm by using the fireplace.
When spending our vacation in one of the building there, we were not allowed to keep ourselves warm by making fire in the fireplace. It's just kept for decoration. We just had to switch on the radiator to keep the room air warm and comfortable.
Happy posting 
we love fan and air con only
Anyway fireplaces are available in the villas and cottages in the popular mountain tourism area. Yeah, the climate in the mountain is cold during nighttime especially during the end of the year. I believe people who lived in these classical old European style buildings earlier kept warm by using the fireplace.
When spending our vacation in one of the building there, we were not allowed to keep ourselves warm by making fire in the fireplace. It's just kept for decoration. We just had to switch on the radiator to keep the room air warm and comfortable.
Happy posting
@virusxtreme24 (805)
•
19 Aug 09
I use heaters when I have to, much easier to operate and safer as well.
