Gas Fires
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Gas fires are available in a variety of forms, some are designed for use as the sole source of heating in a room while others are not, and some must not be used as the only heat source.
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The fuel efficiency of gas fires range from the low 40s up to 100% dependant upon the model.
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There are four basic styles of gas fire :-
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- Inset - these fires are intended to be installed into a fireplace opening. This is usually in a hearth setting but in some cases can be a purpose built opening in a chimney breast higher up the wall. The working part of the fire is set back into the opening so that only the fascia protrudes into the room.
- Hole-in-the-Wall - are inset or semi-inset gas fires that are not designed for use in a hearth.
- Outset – are intended for use with a fireplace opening which is covered over and sealed with the supplied back plate so that only a small pipe for the exhaust gases enters the opening, other than that all of the fire is in the room. Can be used with or without a hearth in most cases.
- Hang-on-the-Wall - an inset fire, with the necessary adaption kit to cover the working part of the fire, to allow flush mounting on the wall. Usually these are designed for use without a fireplace opening or existing flue, and can be flueless, balanced flue or power flue models.
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Excluding the shape, colour and trim of the casing of a gas fire there are basically only two types of look of the fire available, living flame effect which simulates a real fire, whether open or glass fronted, and ceramic plaques which were popular before central heating became common-place due to their high efficiency but some modern living flame effect fires, only the glass fronted ones, can now match or exceed them in this regard.
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When choosing a new gas fire you will probably concentrate on the style and look of it but it is vitally important to know what type of flue, if any, that you have and that it is in good working order. If you are replacing an existing fire you would normally need to have it removed, and have the chimney/flue cleaned, especially if a solid fuel or oil burner has used the fireplace previously, before this can be determined by a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. General information about flue types can be found on this page.
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Disclaimer
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Under no circumstances is the information contained in this website intended to be used as a substitute, in any regard, for the advice of an appropriately qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.
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