Welcome to our essential guide to choosing a gas fire. The information in this article should help you to make the right choice of gas fire for your home.
Gas fires are a great way to provide additional heat in your home, especially during the colder months but when it comes to choosing a gas fire the very first thing you will need to know is the type of gas fire you can install. To choose a gas fire you’ll need to establish the type of chimney or flue that you have (or don’t have in some cases). Your flue/chimney will be one of three different types and the best way to identify your flue type is by taking a look at your roof to see if you can match it to one of the images below. From left to right we have a Class 1 masonry chimney, Class 2 pre-fabricated flue & Class 2 pre-cast flue.
For more information on flues and chimney types, you can read our complete and more detailed guide on the different types of chimneys here.
Why Should I Consider Buying a Gas Fire?
Gas fires and gas stoves are the ultimate balance of authenticity and convenience, they produce a real flame that works alongside the ease of a piezo ignition, slide control or remote handset. We only supply gas fires from industry-leading brands, they are designed with the very latest technologies and are available in traditional and contemporary styles.
Built-in and freestanding gas fires feature extremely realistic fuel beds with carefully positioned burners that help to create an incredible flame effect. There are lots of different gas fires that allow you to use an existing chimney for installation, whereas other models such as balanced flue or flueless can be installed in homes without a chimney in a similar way as a gas boiler. It may surprise you that even homes without a main gas supply can enjoy a gas fire or gas fireplace thanks to the range of LPG models we have available.
What are the Different Types of Gas Fires?
There are lots of different types of gas fire available in the market, we’ve given you a brief description of each one and highlighted their uses and how they work below.
Conventional Flue Gas Fires
Conventional chimneys rely on the traditional method of natural circulation of heated air to expel the products of combustion up your chimney. Conventional flue gas fires work with open or glass fronts and are usually built in standard sizes and commonly come in either brass, chrome or black finishes.
High-Efficiency Gas Fires
Both outset and inset models are available as high-efficiency (HE) gas fires. They can boast efficiency ratings up to 90% which means only 10% of the gas energy is wasted. The glass front of a high-efficiency gas fire means less heat loss up the chimney and essentially the entire combustion of the gas fire works to produce more efficient heating.
Built-In Gas Fires
Built-in gas fires also known as wall-mounted and media wall fires present a modern hole-in-the-wall aesthetic. These models are becoming increasingly popular in homes due to their sleek design and small space footprint. There is a wide range of styles and sizes available and one of the many benefits to a built-in gas fire is that it can be installed in the home without needing a hearth, whilst producing lots of heat to your room.
Outset Gas Fires
Outset gas fires are incredibly efficient, they sit in front of your fireplace on a hearth that allows lots of heat to be released into your living space. Outset gas fires are very traditional in design and come with either radiant bars or a living flame effect.
Balanced Flue Gas Fires
These heaters do not require I chimney and are extremely efficient. A balanced flue gas fire can be an incredibly versatile option for a fireplace and can be fitted on almost any external wall within a home. Instead of using a traditional chimney, these fires are connected to a balanced flue pipe placed horizontally through the wall. This balanced flue expels unwanted fumes and draws in fresh air to feed to flames, simultaneously.
Flueless Gas Fires
Flueless gas fires burn incredibly cleanly they are A-rated for energy and 100% efficient. Using a catalytic converter they turn carbon monoxide into harmless carbon dioxide and water vapour. These fires are a fantastic option if you do not have a chimney within the home but require an additional heating appliance.
Gas Fireplaces
These models include the gas fire, fireplace surround and hearth and can look truly stunning in lots of different settings. Complete gas fireplace suites can be expensive as they include everything you’ll need. We've put together a great selection of gas fire packages below to help you choose the perfect gas fireplace for your home.
What Heat Output Will I Need?
Your fire or stove will only be able to heat the room it’s installed within so to get the best value out of it, make sure you’ve got the right output for your room. You’ll need a gas fire that can adequately heat the room but if it is too powerful, you’ll have to run it at a low temperature which can be inefficient. The output of each gas fire is measured in kilowatts (kW) and on each product page on our website you’ll find a handy heat output calculator to ensure you pick the correct size gas fire.
Glass Fronted or Open Fronted Gas Fire?
When buying a gas fire you’ll have the choice of either glass-fronted or open-front. Glass-fronted models have a fixed piece of glass that sits in front of the flames, they are more efficient because more of the heat is pushed through the glass panel via radiation and less heat is lost up the chimney.
Although less efficient an open-fronted fire can have a more realistic appearance as you won’t encounter reflections against the glass. Open-fronted gas fires are generally cheaper to buy upfront too which can be a bonus.
Essential Features to Look Out For
There are several features to look out for when buying your gas fire or stove, we’ve highlighted the main ones you should look out for below.
Remote controls or easy-access control panels (on the top or side of the appliance). Both will save you from constantly bending down to adjust the heat, so would be particularly helpful if you have limited mobility. Recent models also include a thermostat function which will help you to control the room temperature more efficiently.
Different fuel beds like logs, coals or stones appear to be burning when the fire is on. With lots of models, you can choose which fuel bed you would like.
Oxygen depletion sensors are designed to automatically turn off the gas supply if oxygen levels drop. This stops the fire from producing dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
A CE mark should be on all gas appliances which shows they meet European safety and efficiency standards. From 2023 the CE mark will be replaced with the UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) which will be used for all goods placed on the market in Great Britain.
What are the Benefits of a Gas Fireplace?
Powerful Heat Output - Gas fires and stoves can boast heat outputs of up to 6kW which is three times the output of an electric fire (they average 2kW of heat).
Realistic Flames - Gas fires look as close to a real log burner as you can get and also feature realistic fuel effects. In short, a gas fire could be a great choice for you if you want genuine-looking flames and cost-effective heat.
Cheap to Run - Gas costs less per kWh than heating oil, electricity and in some cases burning wood and mineral fuels.
Controllability - Gas fires produce heat at the flick of a switch or remote control, they allow you to operate everything from ignition to flame height at the touch of a button. Programmable remotes offer the additional benefit of a programmable timer and thermostatic controls, so if you choose to set it before you return home your house will be both warm and welcoming.
Safety - Oxygen depletion sensors are designed to automatically switch off the gas supply if oxygen levels drop, to avoid producing dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
Who Should Install a Gas Fire?
If you are looking to buy a new gas fire, then the installation work should only be carried out by a competent Gas Safe registered engineer. A Gas Safe installer will also be best suited to advise on which gas fire is the most suitable type for your home.
