Common names and types of gas fires
Inset/Taper Tray An Inset or Taper Tray style of gas fire is used where you already have a brick back to your chimney and you’re looking for the nearest possible look to a real solid fuel fire. You can also ‘drop’ an inset style of gas fire into a cast or basket, allowing you to change from solid fuel to the ease of gas with the minimum of effort. This type of gas fire is not very efficient and will not emit a great deal of heat.

Hotbox The next ‘step-up’ in efficiency is a Hotbox. It has been designed to meet the requirements of today’s modern homes where central heating is the norm and only a pre-cast flue has been supplied by the builder. A Hotbox fire is a slot-in fire that comes with its own fibre backing which radiates heat back in to your room – making it more efficient.

Convector The next ‘step-up’ from Hotbox in efficiency terms is a Convector fire. These are an all-new engine type of fire that is suitable for all chimney types. It’s different from a Hotbox by incorporating an additional convection system that provides virtually twice the heat, so there’s even more going into your room. A convector offers an excellent look with great flames and again is a slot-in type of fire with its own radiant backing.

Glass-fronted/High-efficiency The most efficient way to run a gas fire is a glass-fronted gas fire. It provides exceptional heat output and fuel economy efficiency. Set behind a virtually invisible glass window it offers considerably lower running costs – perfect for those conscious of today’s rising gas prices.

Hole-in-wall style Perfect for the style-conscious and those who want to get away from the traditional mantel and hearth setting look. Ideal if you want to keep your floor space free with an uncluttered look. To complete the hole-in-the-wall range of fires you can now benefit from the extra heat and efficiency of a glass-fronted model too.

Basket style A Basket is a four-sided ‘bed’ for holding a gas fire. It can be modern or classic in design and size. A Basket style of gas fire is a compromise to style and aesthetics as it’s quite inefficient (due to the draughts circulating round all sides of the basket, and the amount of gas required to power the flames).

Nothing creates an inviting atmosphere quite like a real fire – it’s surely the centrepiece of any home, adding warmth and character to your room. So what could match that look AND give you freedom, low-maintenance and ease? A living flame gas fire is the answer – it’s instant, looks fantastic and is wonderfully controllable.

With more choice of shape, size and design than ever you’ll never look back…

Before you select your living flame gas fire you will need to make sure it’s suitable for your home.

Firstly you’ll need to know what type of fuel you will be running:

• Natural gas provided through mains pipelines
• LPG usually supplied to rural homes from a tank in the garden or a gas bottle

Secondly, you will need to be aware of what chimney or flue you have.

• Conventional chimney Brick and stone chimneys are easily recognisable. The stack rises well above the roofline and is topped by a traditional chimney pot, or, possibly a gas terminal
  Class 1 – This type of chimney or flue will be a minimum of 7” diameter and is suitable for both solid fuel and gas.
  Class 2 – At 5” diameter a Class 2 is smaller than a Class 1 and is only suitable for gas fires. Most houses built in the last 10 years have a Class 2 chimney.
• Pre-fabricated Flue You will see a metal flue cowl on your roof. Some are metal whilst others may terminate through a short terracotta pot (but without a chimney stack)
• Pre-cast Flue Many modern homes have been built with such flues. You can easily identify them by either a metal flue cowl on your roof or by a raised ridge terminal.

No chimney or flue?
If you don’t have a chimney don’t worry we can supply a gas fire developed to suit your home too.

Some properties have neither, in which case a balanced flue, powered flue or flueless gas fire is needed.

• Balanced Flues Balanced flue stoves do not require an electricity supply – they operate via a twin-walled pipe, which can either exit vertically through the roof or horizontaly through an outside wall. The outer pipe draws air from the outside while the inner pipe expels the products of combustion.
• Powered Flue A powered flue uses an extractor unit mounted on an outer wall to vent the combustion gases directly outside. A mains electricity supply is needed to operate the system.

Flueless Fires
Flueless fires are the perfect eco-friendly flat wall solution for people with no chimney or flue - the fire simply hangs on the wall. It provides a flexible design for your home as well as being suitable for installation in nearly every room in the home – apart from the bathroom. You can even have a flueless gas fire in the kitchen!

If you have a natural gas supply (i.e. not a LPG canister supply) and can run a standard 8mm gas pipe to the fire installation point, whilst ensuring you have adequate ventilation you too can benefit from a flueless fire – and the added benefit of virtually no installation mess and high cost.

All flueless fires are designed to supplement central heating and should be only used as a secondary source of heat.

Benefits of a flueless fire:

• No chimney or flue required
• 100% efficient – reducing fuel costs
• Simply hang on the wall
• No recess required
• Catalytic converter technology
• Can be installed on virtually any interior or exterior wall
• Cleans circulating air of unwanted particles
• Helps neutralise odours and allergens
• No hearth required
• Frees up floor space in a smaller room

Bespoke design service
If you simply can’t find exactly what you had dreamed of, or you want to make a statement with a fire that you can be sure is as individual as you are then maybe our bespoke design service is your answer. Call us to arrange a no-obligation consultation wherever you want the fireplace – home or business, and we’ll come and help you with the best advice, options, professional service and value guaranteed.

Remote controls for your gas fire
Which type of control would suit you best – the discreet manual ignition, concealed behind the ash pan, the convenience of a slide-control – or maybe even the luxury of a remote control?

You can chose the ease of a remote control for your fire at the time of purchase or, in most cases, at a later date. Available in standard or porgrammable design they allow you to vary the flame height and heat output without leaving the comfort of your armchair.

Accessories for your gas fire
Why not update the look of your existing gas fire with a new front, trim or replacement coals? We can supply them all.