# Do you like fireplaces? Would you want one in your house? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2013, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283 "2013-01-25T02:39:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/61 "2013-01-25T14:32:26Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Not a particularly good point, considering smoke is not an allergen. What’s being an allergen got to do with nausea? ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/62 "2013-01-25T14:37:52Z")
An actual brick and mortar fireplace - no. I’ve had a wood burning stove, and I’d have one of those in a heartbeat. Fireplaces waste too much heat up the chimney for my taste, and the vacuum they create to maintain the draft is not worth the heat loss. A wood stove can radiate a lot more heat by virtue of the metallic surface area, and a heat exchanger in the pipe will generate even more. Current daydream is a house with a pellet furnace as primary heat, and a very low tech stove with an intake duct to the outside as supplemental/secondary. I can live with dumping the ash. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/63 "2013-01-25T14:40:27Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > What’s being an allergen got to do with nausea? I’m sorry, are you confused? You seem to be. I responded to two posters. One who said he was allergic to smoke, and another who said that was “a good point”. Now, why are you asking nonsensical questions after I pointed out smoke isn’t an allergen? ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/64 "2013-01-25T14:43:59Z")
I’ve never been a big fan of fireplaces; however, in an emergency, such as a power outage, they are good for heating up part of the house. Last year we had the fireplace converted to gas. It’s actually warmer and the house isn’t so drafty when it’s on. It still works if electricity is off and can be converted back to wood burning in under an hour if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/65 "2013-01-25T15:02:53Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I’m sorry, are you confused? You seem to be. > > I responded to two posters. One who said he was allergic to smoke, and another who said that was “a good point”. Now, why are you asking nonsensical questions after I pointed out smoke isn’t an allergen? Just because it’s not an “allergen” doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous or bad for you. Wood smoke, even at very low levels (We’re talking about “that fireplace smell” that people are so fond of) has regrettable effects, overall. And it’s also incredibly difficult to keep out of other houses, so even if you’re not burning wood in your house, you’re probably breathing the smoke from your neighbor who is. [Start here.](http://ehhi.org/woodsmoke/health_effects.shtml) How bad is it? You can find various opinions on the subject, but pretty much everyone agrees the stuff is bad for you. Do NOT just say “Well if you’re breathing it, you’re doing it wrong.” Do some research and make an informed decision. Don’t treat this like a religion. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/66 "2013-01-25T15:03:07Z")
We have a wood-burning fireplace that we use maybe once a year. I don’t like it. It makes it very difficult to arrange furniture in our living room. For aesthetic purposes, I would prefer to remove the mantle and cover it with wall board. The only thing that keeps me from doing so is the fear that some winter we’ll be without power for multiple days and really want it. (We lost power for about 36 hours during Snowmaggedon a couple of years ago. It got down to about 45 degrees in the house.) ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/67 "2013-01-25T15:05:09Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > Just because it’s not an “allergen” doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous or bad for you. > > Wood smoke, even at very low levels (We’re talking about “that fireplace smell” that people are so fond of) has regrettable effects, overall. And it’s also incredibly difficult to keep out of other houses, so even if you’re not burning wood in your house, you’re probably breathing the smoke from your neighbor who is. > > [Start here.](http://ehhi.org/woodsmoke/health_effects.shtml) > > How bad is it? You can find various opinions on the subject, but pretty much everyone agrees the stuff is bad for you. Do NOT just say “Well if you’re breathing it, you’re doing it wrong.” Do some research and make an informed decision. Don’t treat this like a religion. I’m fairly certain that I’m not the one in this exchange who is treating this like a religion. ---
**Author:** ![Molesworth\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Molesworth\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molesworth_2)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/68 "2013-01-25T15:08:10Z")
Some of my best memories of childhood are of my family sitting around a cozy open fireplace and recalling just how constantly frigging cold we had been the previous winter, before that fireplace was installed. That feeling of warmth was wonderful. A bit like when you’re inside during a downpour and you can hear torrential rain beating down on the roof and windows. Humans 2 : Elements 0 Suck it, nature. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/69 "2013-01-25T17:53:34Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I’m fairly certain that I’m not the one in this exchange who is treating this like a religion. Dunno; I’m getting a distinct “not interested in understanding potential health hazards, because I like fireplaces” vibe from some posters. Maybe I’m just misunderstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/70 "2013-01-25T18:02:09Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > Dunno; I’m getting a distinct “not interested in understanding potential health hazards, because I like fireplaces” vibe from some posters. > > Maybe I’m just misunderstanding. You summed up my viewpoint quite well. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/71 "2013-01-25T18:05:14Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > Dunno; I’m getting a distinct “not interested in understanding potential health hazards, because I like fireplaces” vibe from some posters. > > Maybe I’m just misunderstanding. Actually I think the vibe is “If you’re breathing in the smoke you’re doing it wrong” Our new house is going to have a gas fireplace and my husband is still working on convincing me that changing it to a wood fireplace is a good idea. On the plus sides: He likes playing with fire and a safer more confined area for him to do so is a good thing. Since he likes playing with fire the house would be warmer than our currently negotiated compromise temperature On the downsides: We’d have to buy wood as we have no convenient woodlot A little messy _I_ never get to play with fire Properly maintained fireplaces are not any more of a house fire risk than electricity and I don’t see people giving up lights and computers. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/72 "2013-01-25T18:07:35Z")
I grew up in a house with a fireplace and remember my dad lighting fires and we’d sit in front of it toasting marshmallows in the flames. Now I have a gas fireplace and live in Tucson, where it rarely gets cold enough in the winter to start a fire. Still, it’s nice to have. And I’ll take a gas fireplace over burning wood any day of the year. Wood fireplaces are too much damn work and I’m sort of a lazy bastid. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/73 "2013-01-25T18:52:53Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I’m sorry, are you confused? You seem to be. > > I responded to two posters. One who said he was allergic to smoke, and another who said that was “a good point”. Now, why are you asking nonsensical questions after I pointed out smoke isn’t an allergen? Your reply did not quote the first one, only the second one, who said smoke makes her nauseous. In other words, LTQ. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/74 "2013-01-25T19:02:12Z")
We have two now, one in the livingroom and one in the master bedroom. Yeah, I like 'em and use them when I can, which isn’t often enough here in Texas. They’re both gas w/ cinder logs and a remote operates them. In our old house we had a single wood burner in the living room. It was quite enjoyable once burning but a pain having to keep dry wood stacked, etc. My folks house is an old 1851 antebellum plantation home with 2 fireplaces down and two up. It’s positively wonderful to sit by those fires. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/75 "2013-01-25T19:25:04Z")
I like them fine, as long as someone else brings/cuts the wood, brings it inside, starts the fire, and maintains the fire, and doesn’t make a mess while doing it. So no, not really. I have 2 fireplaces, I think I used one of them on 2 different occasions. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/76 "2013-01-25T19:32:33Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > Just because it’s not an “allergen” doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous or bad for you. > > Wood smoke, even at very low levels (We’re talking about “that fireplace smell” that people are so fond of) has regrettable effects, overall. And it’s also incredibly difficult to keep out of other houses, so even if you’re not burning wood in your house, you’re probably breathing the smoke from your neighbor who is. > > [Start here.](http://ehhi.org/woodsmoke/health_effects.shtml) > > How bad is it? You can find various opinions on the subject, but pretty much everyone agrees the stuff is bad for you. Do NOT just say “Well if you’re breathing it, you’re doing it wrong.” Do some research and make an informed decision. Don’t treat this like a religion. I’ll take your word for it that wood smoke is bad for you, however nearly 100% of the smoke from indoor wood burning fire places goes up the chimney. There is no smoke smell inside the house nor should there be if you’re doing it right. The only time I smell wood smoke is around campfires of if I’m outdoors and can smell somone’s chimney. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/77 "2013-01-25T19:50:17Z")
I love wood fireplaces. And I have one. Gas ones dry my skin out very badly. Also, fellow Houstonians? You may thank me for the very pretty weather lately. I bought a half a cord of firewood. It’s been warm since. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/78 "2013-01-25T20:08:16Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > Wood smoke, even at very low levels (We’re talking about “that fireplace smell” that people are so fond of) has regrettable effects, overall. If I avoided all the pleasurable things I know are bad for me I would not enjoy the extra few years of life it would buy me. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/79 "2013-01-25T21:43:36Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Your reply did not quote the first one, only the second one, who said smoke makes her nauseous. > > In other words, LTQ. It said the first quote was a good point. I specifically addressed that part of the post. It really isn’t too difficult for most people to follow the exchange. Try harder next time. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283/80 "2013-01-25T21:47:59Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > It’s also nice to hear the critters pop that have burrowed into the wood for the Winter. 🙂 I think it’s likely that you are hearing micro-explosions of trapped moisture. If it was critters, you would probably see an exodus first. Haven’t seen such in my fireplace yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-fireplaces-would-you-want-one-in-your-house/648283.md?page=5)