Gas Fire FAQS
If you can’t find the answer to your question below, get in touch with us by phone or email.
A. If you have a class 1 flue (a brick chimney) you will have a chimney breast either inside or outside the house. You will normally have a chimney stack too.
If you have a class 2 flue (this is prefabricated from steel normally) you will also have a chimney breast which is inside the house. This type of flue will normally have been added to your home after the house was originally built. It usually consists of a metal flue box with twin wall flue running inside the false chimney breast – there will probably be a gas cowl and some flue protruding through the roof tiles.
If you have a precast flue, you will have a fireplace opening on a flat wall, and there will be no chimney breast either inside or outside the house. (There can be some exceptions but generally this rule applies). There may be a ridge tile type cowl — look at the ridge of your roof and see if you can see one ridge tile sitting slightly higher than the others, or it may be a section of 5” twin skin with a gas cowl protruding through the roof tiles.
Some homes have no chimney or flue at all. If you already have a gas fire installed, it may be either a power-flue or balance flue. If you go outside the home you will see a flue outlet and basket directly behind where the fire is situated.
If you still are not sure what type of flue you have, we recommend you visit your retailer for guidance. Most retailers offer a survey service to check the flue type prior to installation.
A. There are four things to consider here.
1. Aesthetics – the look of the fire.
2. Efficiency – how good is the fire at converting the gas into useful heat.
3. The cost of the appliance.
4. How often you will use the appliance.
Many customers prefer the look of an open fire due to its authenticity and the decision is very simple. The consideration of a glass fronted appliance is normally due to running costs. If you use the appliance frequently then a higher efficiency gas fire will keep the gas bills down, however it should be noted that glass fronted appliances are usually more expensive than open fronted. Take a look at the Pesaro gas fire which is very competitively priced for a glass fronted fire.
In general terms you will find that true open fronted gas fires (not fires which claim to be open fronted but are partially obscured by a glass canopy) are normally between 50% and 65% net efficiency, depending on their size and whether they incorporate a convector system or not. Check out the Cavello for the best open fronted Wildfire efficiency.
Glass fronted fires normally range from 80%-90% net efficiency. Check out the Cressida, the Panama and the HE900 if running costs are most important to you.
A. No. All gas fires installations in the U.K must be undertaken by a Gas Safe engineer. Visit the Gas Safe website for more information…
A. This calculation is quite simple. Take the gas INPUT of the gas fire and multiply this by the cost per kWh on your gas bill.
– Example: 6.75kW input
– Cost of Gas: 3.2p /kWh
– Calculation: 6.75kWh x £0.11 = £0.21 per hour.
A. If you look at your fuel bills it will tell you the amount you are paying per kWh for both electricity and gas.
– Example: Electricity 11.8p kWh Gas 3.2p kWh.