The key is getting the wood cheaply enough! It must be dry so it burns clean as well.

I grew up in a house that had wood fired heating and stove and oven with a 'wet back' for heating the hot water. Fantastic dry heat from the heater much better than our natural gas ducted system. Which seems to promote mould growth and condensation on our windows.

Mum and dad still live on a farm with an abundance of free wood (labour only). The heater and stove and HWS are still going after 40 odd years with regular cleaning only. The problem with wood is like I've said, actually getting it.

A well designed insulated house that limits reliance on heating and cooling is more important.

Thanks Jbantick. My husband is very keen on passive heating and cooling so we will hopefully not have to use it too much though his brothers live on property with lots of trees so we are hoping they feel generous with them! My thought is to have it more for enjoyment than anything else (apparently the wood heaters are more efficient than traditional fireplaces) as I love them in Winter but it has to be able to heat a room well for it to be worthwhile

Combustion wood heaters are very efficient. Better than anything else apart from no heating.

Traditional open fires do look great even when not being used!

If you can get cheap quality wood then it's fantastic. Next step is to find an aesthetically pleasing combustion heater. Could be worthwhile looking into a 'wet back' heater and hook it up to hydronic floor heating or hydronic panel heaters if you have the budget. Team it all together with solar and you'd have an awesome heating system albeit expensive!

While we have never had an open fire place before, we have had a wood burning stove/heater and are planning to put one in the house we are building this year. They are just beautiful and give that gentle, bone-warming heat throughout the house.

They are possibly easier to clean than an open,with the fire and ash being behind the glass door, though I guess I can't really comment.

I would strongly recommend you buy one with the fan attachment as this greatly improves the throw out of the warmed air and certainly, the difference can be felt.

They are beautiful visually too and nothing is nicer on a cold Winter day, than to have the fire going and be warm and snug inside.

Good luck; I hope that helps.