What costs or work does a chimney cause?

We are wavering back and forth and would like to hear some opinions and experiences from fireplace owners. Because such a fireplace costs quite a bit of money.

How much work does such a fireplace really take? Cleaning, for example. Does a three-sided fireplace look "nice" even when unused?

How much do you spend per year approximately on chimney sweeps, wood, fire starters, etc.?

How often do you use the fireplace per year?

Note: We would use our fireplace purely for enjoyment, we do not want to heat with it.

Thanks for all tips and advice.

Since our fireplace hasn't arrived yet, I can only talk about my parents' fireplace. Is it worth it? It entirely depends on how much a little fire pleases you. How often is it cleaned: When my father lights it, you can clean it right after the fire goes out; when my mother lights it, the glass stays clean afterward. In other words, the fire needs to be done properly. Three-sided fireplace: I find them pretty, my father doesn't. Chimney sweep costs: They really vary a lot. My parents pay about €80 a year, my grandma only €20 (she bribes with cake), ours will probably be much more. Wood: Do you chop it yourself or get a cord from the hardware store? Fire starters: My mother doesn't need any except a little paper, my father could pour a bottle of lighter fluid in and still not get a fire going. How often is it lit: In winter, it's almost daily. At my parents' neighbors, only when they want to show off before visitors.

They all heat pretty well, actually. Whether it's worth it for you is something only you can decide. It's decoration and mostly unnecessary or not even cost-effective.

Thank you for the response. We will certainly not cut it ourselves, so the costs for the wood will be added.

If it is a new building that has not yet been started, here are our one-time costs:

For the shell construction for us: airtight chimney shaft 2,500 EUR + galvanizing by roofer 500 EUR = 3000 EUR.

The chimney (masonry) itself between 7-10 TEUR.

Of course, it can also be more expensive or cheaper...

I can roughly confirm the prices. Chimney with everything about €2500 Underpressure regulator (mandatory in new buildings) €1000 3-sided fireplace with storage stones, built and plastered by ourselves €10,000 Fire starters and small stuff are not much, maybe €50 per year

Since we make all our wood ourselves, the price with everything included is about €40 per cubic meter. If you buy it ready-made, prices here range between €70-100 per cubic meter.

We use the fireplace a lot; it also heats the stairwell, so we use 10-12 cubic meters per year.

Even if you do everything yourself and buy as cheaply as possible, you don’t save anything; compared to heating, it’s an expensive luxury. Anyone who sees it differently has a DIY store stove and burns waste pallets or is deceiving themselves.

It’s definitely nice, and the price for it is almost irrelevant to me; that’s why we let the stove cost us something. Besides, you must not forget the daily "work." Every 2-4 days, the glass panes have to be cleaned so it always looks good.

Many try to make wood themselves for cost reasons, but my experiences in the forest over the last 25 years have shown that only very few persevere in the long term because it is really hard work. In addition, the initial investment costs are not exactly low either, so it’s better to have it delivered ready-made.

Great. Thank you for the detailed answers. Now I have a good overview. I’m afraid a fireplace isn’t worth it for us when I hear all this. For us, it would certainly only be on for a glass of wine, and if so, I only like the three-sided fireplace, which is already quite pricey.