Weird Flex of having a Fireplace

Older demographics are the majority. To be out of touch is to not realize that youth culture is only a driving culture if it has a majority.

The stove has a lip at the front, and would not normally be operated with so much ash in it so there is usually no danger of logs falling out, but things were not normal, nor would the door ever be opened that far, it was just for the sake of the photo.

Living in a well insulated house with underfloor heating I would hate to go back to rads and fire. House is always a lovely even temperature. Have an electric fire which I only turn on for effect as I don't need the heat function. Also live in Dublin so very rarely affected by outages for long. No power outage during this storm.

However my parents live in an older rural home and they were very grateful for their stove as they lost electricity for a few days.

Also recently switched from gas to an induction hob I would never go back to gas.

I was a reluctant convert but convection is a lot easier. We have camping stoves for any blackout.

Very strange attitudes throughout this monster storm. "Flex" about having a fire, stove, generator etc… My storm affecte inlaws neighbours have dropped around to them twice to boast about their petrol generator. Thankfully I live in a community where people help each other out in times like this. There's a serious bang of "I'm all right Jack" lately.

Of course an A rated home is the best option - I dont think anyone can argue that. However it is sensible to have an alternative heat source. The stove may not be used on a regular basis but it still makes sense to have it. In addition to power outages, a boiler or heat pump may breakdown and be out of action. Getting someone to repair these isnt easy or usually isnt done quick - so it does make sense to have other options.

For example I have solar panels to heat water. The oil boiler also heats water and we also have an immersion which is very rarely used. The solar panels work brilliant in summer. We have to use the boiler in winter to heat water but there have been times when the oil went or boiler broke where we had to use the immersion. It makes sense to have different options.

Also I have been told that insulation deteriorates over time. A builder I know reckons the A rated homes of today wont have the same warm feeling in years to come. He recommends his clients puts in a stove. He also done this in his own house. He doesnt agree with only having one heat source at all.

Personally wouldn't put a stove in my home ( a rated). Would never use it because it would get too hot in the house. Love my electric fire instead which I turn on daily for the flame effect.

Good Idea suggested here to have a backup gas heater.

It is obvious there are two schools of thought here.
Those who are housework shy and want convenience and those who don't see a drudge maintaining an open fire/gas hob because of the benefit they get.
Personally, I enjoy the whole act of building a fire and all that entails, I also enjoy the whole prep part of the cooking process while my partner prefers convenience, buys pre chopped onions and veg etc. We manage to co-exist, there is no one preference fits all.