4 Tips for Buying a Gas Fire

1. How Much Heat Do You Need?

This is a very important question that needs answering. All fireplaces (except imitation electric fires) have a flame and that means they will produce heat. When you make the flame larger or wider then there will be more heat generated. When buying a gas fire you have to consider how often you will use it and enjoy the warmth and atmosphere that it creates. If you buy a very large fireplace for a small room it may be impractical as it will generate too much heat meaning you never have it switched on.

2. Energy Efficiency

Gas is the cheapest fuel to use per Kw of heat generated. Natural gas is over 70% cheaper as a fuel than using electric, wood or bio-ethanol. By selecting a modern gas fire design with a high energy efficiency rating you can dramatically reduce your utility bills.

3. What Flue System Will You Use?

The flue system (or chimney) is used to take the products of combustion away from the fireplace. If you have a brick built chimney you may decide to keep it or change to a modern flue liner system. If you have no flue system in your home then you will need to consider a flueless gas fire, bio-ethanol fireplace, electric fireplace or a balanced flue gas fire.

4. What Budget Do You Have?

Installing fireplaces can involve lots of hidden costs but there are two costs to consider first – the cost of the fire and the cost of the installation. You can buy a cheap fire but it could cost you a lot to install if the correct planning has not been done first as each type of fireplace has differing installation requirements Visit our fireplace showrooms to see the various styles of fireplace and advice on installation costs.

We hope you’ve found this guide of interest – if you’d like to know more about the fires we offer have a look at our Fire, Fireplace and Surround Showroom.