If you want a real fire with less of the mess, a wood-burning stove could be the answer, says Julia Gray

SNUGGLING up in front of a real fire is what winter is all about, but a wood-burning stove is often better than an open fire

1. As great as open fires are in many ways, they are not very energy efficient, at only around 20%. Wood-burning stoves are much more efficient, at around 70-90%, so you get all the benefits of a real fire without most of your money going up in smoke.

2. As well as the wood burner itself, remember to factor in the cost of installation, accessories and any necessary building work. However, your wood burner should start saving you money straightaway by reducing the need to have the heating on. If your home has an open-plan layout, or you keep the internal doors open so the stove does more than just heat the room it's in, you should save more on heating costs.

3. The installation of a wood burner must comply with building regulations, and the easiest way to do this is to use a qualified fitter. HETAS-registered installers deal with wood, solid-fuel and biomass domestic heating appliances and can self-certify that their work complies with building regulations, so it's safe and legal.

4. The chimney may need to be lined before the wood burner can be installed. Homes dating from the mid-1960s onwards should have had a concrete or clay chimney liner fitted when they were built, but get a qualified installer to check out the chimney, whatever the age of your home. There are lots of benefits to having a chimney lined, including better energy efficiency.

5. Wood (as long as it's sustainably sourced) is a more environmentally friendly fuel than oil or gas - and subject to fewer price rises. Freshly cut wood contains a lot of water, so you have to dry it out (season it) before you can burn it. This can take as long as three years. You can buy wood that's already seasoned, or you can season it yourself, using a log store - if air can circulate around the logs, they should dry out. And it's not just wood - with a multi-fuel stove, you can also burn fuels like coal, smokeless fuel, peat and turf (depending on any smoke-control restrictions in your area).

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

New Polycell Tough Little Polyfilla (£3.49, www.holburyhardware.co.uk) would make an ideal stocking filler for a keen DIYer, or why not use it around the home to touch up walls before festive guests arrive. This fine filler is lightweight and quick drying - it's designed not to need sanding, but if you do have to sand it, it's easy to get a good finish. You get two 20ml tubes in a packet, which are perfect for popping in a drawer and whipping out when you spot a small crack or dent in an internal wall. You can even use the end of the tube to smooth out the filler - see how to apply it at www.polycell.co.uk/tutorials/use-tough-little-polyfilla.

HOW-TO TIP

Revive the age-old tradition of burning a yule log (the woody, not chocolatey kind) over the 12 days of Christmas with Certainly Wood's Yule Log (£25, www.certainlywood.co.uk). The log (25cm long and around 8-10cm in diameter) comes with festive wrapping and information on the tradition of burning yule logs, plus some kindling and natural firelighters to light it. For advice on lighting and using a wood-burning stove, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=blYl4CS7my8.