ours uses the chimney route, we do have a fire place, but dont actually have a chmney attached to it anymore as it had to come down!, was adjoined to a neighbours and they needed it down and padi for it!!!. we do have a chimney on the other side of the house, but blocked up fireplaces.
luckily the boys have never realised that the chimney and fire place cannot be connected!!!! we always had to move the stereo though as this is in the fire place!!