The way we heat our homes has been in the news like never before.

And for many people, the humble open fire or logburner has been a massive source of comfort and assurance.

But in a changing world, they’ve gone from being a ‘nice to have’ item to an absolute ‘must have’ in many homes.

Here are five reasons why we believe 2022 is definitely the year of the real fireplace…

#1 Soaring Gas Prices

Everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment. And with more gas price hikes on the way, the thought of this coming winter will send chills down your spine in more ways than one.

Thankfully, unlike gas appliances, wood and coal burners aren’t connected to a meter and changing tariffs. When you burn solid fuel, you literally ‘pay as you go’.

No hidden charges, no surprise bills.

The sheer comfort of this, plus of course the feel of authentic heat from a real fireplace, make it a must-have in these uncertain times.

#2 Dodgy Data Debunked!

There has been some serious misreporting about the environmental impacts of burning solid fuel. And this has now been exposed by campaigners.

Apparently, woodburners and open fires emissions have now found to have been over-estimated by a massive 100%-plus! This is because the Government relied on a survey from way back in 2014 which incorrectly estimated six millions tonnes of wood was being burnt a year. The true figure is around 1.75 million tonnes – less than a third of the supposed figure.

Not only that, pollution data from bonfires, barbecues, outdoor pizza ovens, garden waste burners and even wildfires was added into the total figures, giving a completely inaccurate and distorted picture.

Full details on this can be found here.

#3 New ‘Eco’ Stoves Are Here!

January 1st 2022 saw the ushering in of new Ecodesign stoves. These newer appliances are much more efficient and are fast becoming popular right across the country.

Don’t worry though, you don’t have to get rid of your old stove. Of course, you may want to consider upgrading in he future. And if you do, it’s most likely you’ll find you’ll be getting more heat from less fuel – bonus!

#4 Changing Work Patterns

The COVID pandemic has changed the way some of us work forever. There is much more working from home or hybrid working than at any time in our history.

And because we’re spending more time at home, many disused chimneys and fireplaces have been brought back into use.

Not only does this brighten up and add character to any home, but given the gas prices at the moment, it’s also become an essential part of our home heating.

#5 Clearer Labelling & Burnright Advice

Ever bought a bag of logs, only to find they aren’t dry? Luckily, that is now becoming less common due to new labelling laws brought in by the Government which were fully implemented in 2022..

Sales of smaller quantities of wood (under two cubic metres in volume) now have to be ‘Ready To Burn’, and will include a logo saying as much.

And of course, you can get some great information on how to burn your dry fuel effectively thanks to the grassroots Burnright campaign, co-founded by our very own Mr Soot owner David!