7. Types Of Fires
7. Types Of Fires (Image 7 of 8)
Gas fires
The most common choice for a living room, you're bound to find a gas fire that suits your requirements and they needn't be expensive.
Pros
Most give off more heat than an electric fire. With balanced-flue and power-flue gas fires, you won't need a chimney. They can successfully mimic the look of a real fire. The choice of styles available is vast.
Cons
They're generally trickier to install than electric fires, so choose an accredited fitter. They don't give off as much heat as a solid-fuel fire.
Solid-fuel fires
For some of us it's the stuff of dreams, but if your chimney's in good condition and your location permits it, a real fire is hard to beat.
Pros
Out of all the fire types, these give off the most heat. For snuggle factor you can't beat a roaring fire.
Cons
There's a strong DIY element as you will need to keep topping up the fuel. It's essential you keep your flue and chimney in tip-top condition. Coal or wood can't be burned in smoke control areas. They're high maintenance, requiring day-to-day cleaning, and it's important to have regular check-ups for the chimney.
Electric fires
Slumped at the bottom of the fire spectrum, electric fires get a bad press, but the latest models are rather desirable.
Pros
You don't need a chimney or flue to install one. They are ideal for small rooms, such as bedrooms. They're cheap to buy, easy to install and a convenient form of supplementary heating.
Cons
They can't heat large areas - radiant electric fires will only heat the object closest to them and the room will cool down quite quickly once they're turned off. You may have an ugly plug and cable on show.
Gel burners
Decorative gel fires and burners don't give out a great deal of heat, but they can make a stylish centrepiece. They come in a variety of vessels - from bricks to large bowls that will slot neatly into your fireplace, and the advantage is that they burn with smokeless flames, so no flue is required. However, at around £4 for an average container of ethanol-based gel, you can't keep them burning endlessly. For a good selection try Gel Fire Burners. Prices start at around £45, but if you're after something rather more substantial, you can get entire gel fireplaces - try Gel Fireplaces.
More Heating Info
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