The fireplace is one nice thing about the cold weather. Each year I enjoy the Chicagoland winter less and less but I can appreciate the fireplace and relaxing at home. When it is below freezing I have an excuse to stay inside, except when I have to shovel my long azz driveway. J33psr0ck, I'd give up the fireplace in a second to live somewhere WARM. coyotebc, I don't know how you do it up in Canada. brrrr.