Which gas fire do you need for your home?

Buying a Gas fire can be a daunting process, especially now that there is so many gas fires on the market! At fires2u we have complied a simple list of the gas fires that are currently being sold with a description of these gas fires so you can make sure you are purchasing the correct one.

Full Depth Gas Fire / Class 1 Flue

A Full depth gas fire (can be described as Class 1) is suitable for someone that has a brick chimney and is easily recognisable by the chimney stack with accompanying terracotta pot or gas terminal. If you have this type of flue in your home you can handle all gas fires (apart from gas fires designed for “no chimney” applications see below) from those with a deep fuel beds right through to shallower slimline styles.

Pre-Fabricated Flue / Class 2 Flue

Pre-fabricated flues (can be described as Class 2) are easily identifiable by a metal flue and terminal on the roof and a metal flue box behind the fire. Prefabricated flues usually offer a good depth (however we would recommend you check the depth you have, before you purchase a gas fire to make sure that it will definitely be suitable) therefore also allowing you to choose from many full depth gas fires and all slimline gas fires. Pre- fabricated flues are found either in older houses where the existing Chimney has been lined by a steel flue or in newer properties with a steel flue built in and is recognised by a metal flue and terminal on the roof.

Slimline Gas Fire/ Pre-Cast Flue / Class 2 Flue

Pre-cast flues can be identified by a ridge vent or metal flue tube and terminal on the roof. Constructed from concrete or clay blocks they form a rectangular section flue. If you have this type of flue you need to look for gas fire that is called Slimline there is a wide range of slimline gas fires on the market now. Pre-cast flues are found in most modern homes. The main issue when looking for a gas fire is Depth so make sure this is checked to make sure the gas fire is compatible for your home.

More and more properties do not have any of the above flues in the homes, if this applies to you then have a look at the below options you can go for if you don't want to go for an electric fire -

Powerflue Gas Fires

Powerflue fires use an electronically driven fan unit mounted on the external wall to expel the flue gases directly outside the building. A power flue is an open fronted gas fire which can be used where there is no chimney or flue available. Powerflue gas fires can come in both inset and outset gas fires models and requires an electricity supply.

Balanced Flue Gas Fires

Balanced Flue fires use a horizontal pipe to vent directly outside wall. An electricity supply is not required for Balanced Flue products and therefore is a glass fronted gas appliance. Balance flue gas fires are used in homes where there is no chimney or flue available and can either come as inset or outset gas fire model.

Flueless Gas fires

Flueless fires and appliances use a catalytic converter which converts all harmful gases to carbon dioxide (safe gas) and water vapour. Flueless gas fires can be installed into most rooms providing there is a gas supply excluding bedrooms and bathrooms however the room needs to meet minimum size and ventilation requirements (which is always stated within the information context next to these fires on fires2u.com website). These gas fires therefore do not require any chimney or flue or even an outside wall – they come in various styles from traditional to modern so they can look great any room they are fitted in!

At fires2u we always advise speak to a registered Gas safe fitter before you order any Gas fire, this guarantees that the gas fire you are thinking of purchasing will defiantly be suitable for your home. We can always email you the installation information of the product before you purchase the fire from us, email us on insallationinfo@fires2u.com and state the manufacture and name of the gas fire within the email.

Gas prices on the rise - How can you keep your gas fire running costs low?

During these cash-strapped times to hear news that Scottish Power is going to increase domestic gas prices by 19% in August has shocked and disheartened many UK consumers. As Audrey Gallacher from the government watchdog Consumer Focus stated "This huge increase will be a body blow for consumers and we fear other firms will follow Scottish Power's lead" It is now believed that many UK families will face a stinging 50 per cent rise in their gas and electricity bills in the next four years, as increases continue to grow and grow!

Unfortunately with UK’s cold climate, items such as gas fires are no longer a luxury and are very much a necessity. The last few Christmas’s and January's in the UK have been so cold that the warmth from a gas fire has been essential to make it through these periods. So what is the solution? Well unfortunately theres nothing that can be done about the increases of prices we are going to face for gas in the next few months BUT there is ways of making sure you purchase a gas fire that will run as efficiently as possible! Manufactures of gas fires over the last few years have invested a lot of time and money to produce gas fires that not only look great but are highly efficient, produce exceptional heat output but are low cost to run and a large range of fires called High Efficient Gas fires have been appearing on the UK market.

But how do High Efficient Gas fires work?

All High Efficient gas fires are glass fronted which reduces the warm room-air being drawn up the chimney or flue. In addition to this, the convection air design draws in present cold room-air and circulates this through the hotbox to produce convected hot air back into the room. This increases performance and optimise's efficiency = More Heat For Less Money!

These High Efficient gas fires (HE gas fires) can help home owners improve their energy efficiency by up to 60% more than a decorative gas fire, reduce running costs by up to £83 per year and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 79%. Therefore meaning that customers that upgrade there old open fronted gas fire to a high efficient glass fronted fire, will not only save but will also have more warm heat in the room they are fitted in.

At fires2u we sell a large range of High Efficient gas fires by manufactures such as Eko fires, Flavel fires, Gallery fires and Valor fires. So to beat the increasing gas prices convert to a High Efficient gas fire today before the cold weather strikes us again!!