Fires

A fireplace is the focal point of the living room, thus making the fire itself the most important purchase of the room. A fire should be stylish, efficient and economical. There are several options available to you for choosing a new fire, each with their own uses and applications.

A commonly asked question about fires is ‘Which type of fire is the safest?’ – the short answer is both Gas Fires and Electric Fires are totally safe providing that the fire has been installed and maintained correctly. With a Gas Fire it is important to (a) have it installed by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer (b) have it serviced once a year and (c) install a carbon monoxide alarm to detect any possible leaks. With an Electric Fire a Gas Safe Registered Engineer is not required to install the fire but you should ensure that you have followed the installation instructions correctly. For further information we recommend that you contact the manufacturer.

The PlumbNation Heating Supplies fire collection has a complete selection of Gas Fires and Electric Fires available including: Inset Gas Fires, Outset Gas Fires, Balanced Flue Gas Fires, Powerflue Gas Fires, Radiant Gas Fires, LED Electric Fires and Electric Stoves.

Top Fire Manufacturers

• Valor Fires
• Dimplex Fires

Best Buy Fires by Manufacturer

• Dimplex Electric Fires
• Dimplex Electric Free Standing Stoves
• Valor Inset Gas Fires
• Valor Balanced & Power Flue Gas Fires
• Valor Radiant Gas Fires
• Valor Electric Fires

PlumbNation Heating Supplies Fire Guide

Choosing a new fire is usually dependant on the type of chimney you have. We at PlumbNation Heating Supplies have outlined below four chimney types, one of these fire types will describe your most suitable fire requirements and should also help you gain a better understanding of the nature of the fire most suitable for your home.

We at PlumbNation Heating Supplies strongly recommend that you seek advice from a Gas Safe Registered installer to confirm that the fire you wish to purchase is suitable for your requirements.

Fires for a Brick Built Chimney - Class 1 Flue
Gas Fires / Electric Fires

The traditional brick built chimney is suitable for all Gas Fires and Electric Fires. As these chimneys are deep, you can choose from the full depth Gas Fires (Inset Gas Fires) through to the shallower Slimline Fires or Electric Fires.

Fires for a Pre-Fabricated Flue - Class 2 Flue
Gas Fires / Electric Fires

Pre-Fabricated chimneys are suitable for most Gas Fires, Electric Fires and Gas Stoves. Pre-fabricated chimneys are usually made of a metal interlocking flue connected to a flue box, with a metal terminal on the roof. The minimum flue size is 5" in diameter. Pre-Fabricated chimneys offer a good depth, not as much as a brick built chimney, however you can still choose from the majority of full depth Gas Fires and all Slimline Gas Fires and Electric Fires.

Fires for a Pre-Cast Flue
Slimline Fires / Electric Fires

Many new properties that do not have a chimney are instead fitted with a Pre-Cast Flue. A property with a Pre-Cast Flue will have rectangular, hollow concrete / clay blocks that travel vertically up through the cavity wall that finishes with a ridge vent on the roof. Pre-Cast Flues have a much shallower depth in comparison to a chimney, which of course limits the type of fire that can be installed. In this type of home there will commonly be a flat wall instead of the alcoves that are traditional of a home with a chimney. A Pre-Cast Flue is most suitable for Slimline Fires and Electric Fires. Full depth Gas Fires (Inset Gas Fires) can also be used with Pre-Cast Flues with the aid of a spacer kit.

Fires for when there is No Chimney / No Flue
Powerflue Fires / Balanced Flue Fires

In some cases properties may not have a chimney or flue at all. Instead, the fire may have a flue that goes straight through an external wall. These are commonly referred to as Powerflue or Balanced Flue.

With a Balanced Flue, the emissions from the fire are extracted through the wall via a fan assembly. Air is drawn into an outer pipe from outside the property for combustion purposes, whilst the inner pipe vents the combustion gases safely away to the outside of the property, thus increasing its efficiency.

Powerflue (or Fan Flue) appliances work similar to Balanced Flues except that whereas the flue gases are normally vented out directly via an external wall, the flue gases of a Powerflue are instead extracted via an electric fan assembly. An electric fan will commonly create some noise whilst it is switched on.

Gas Fires

Gas Fires are fuelled by natural gas so they are on average more economical than Electric Fires. Gas Fires are easy to maintain when compared to wood or coal fires, as there are no ashes or soot to clean up, nor is there a need to load and stockpile wood. Modern Gas Fires are safer for the home as they do not produce smoke or soot, this makes Gas Fires a more suitable option for people with breathing problems.

There is a wider range of Fires available should you choose a Gas Fire. Below you will find a list of each type of Gas Fire available from the PlumbNation Heating Supplies Gas Fire collection and a short description of its ideal environment.

Inset Gas Fires

Inset Gas Fires are installed directly into the fire opening. This is usually in a hearth setting, but in some cases there can be a purpose built opening in a chimney breast higher up the wall. Inset Gas Fires are predominantly for use with Traditional Chimneys (Class 1 Flue), Pre-Fabricated Flues (Class 2 Flue) or Pre-Cast Flues.

Outset Gas Fires

Outset Gas Fires are used with a fireplace opening that is covered over and sealed with the supplied back plate. The Outset Gas Fire therefore sits outside the hearth setting, with the majority of the fire protruding out into the room. Outset Gas Fires are predominantly for use with Traditional Chimneys (Class 1 Flue), Pre-Fabricated Flues (Class 2 Flue) or Pre-Cast Flues.

Balanced Flue Gas Fires / Powerflue Gas Fires

Balanced Flue Fires or Powerflue Fires are only suitable for properties that do not have a chimney or flue option. Balanced Flue Fires / Powerflue Fires extract gases directly through an external wall rather than vertically through the roof via a chimney or vertical flue terminal.

Radiant Gas Fires

A Radiant Gas Fire is a more traditional type of Gas Fire that consists of white radiants (ceramic pots), hence the name ‘Radiant Gas Fire’. Radiant Gas Fires are economical to run and easy to control. Most Radiant Gas Fires can be hearth or wall mounted and they are suitable for Traditional Chimneys (Class 1 Flue), Pre-Fabricated Flues (Class 2 Flue) or Pre-Cast Flues.

LFE Gas Fires

A Living Flame Effect Gas Fire (or LFE Gas Fire) uses technology that simulates the flame effect of a traditional solid fuel fire (such as a log fire or coal fire), this flame is generated by a gas powered system. The point of a LFE Gas Fire is to create the same realistic feel and warmth of a real solid fuel fire, without the usual associated hassle, such as soot and wood stockpiles. LFE Fires are suitable for Traditional Chimneys (Class 1 Flue), Pre-Fabricated Flues (Class 2 Flue) or Pre-Cast Flues.

Basket Gas Fires

A Basket Gas Fire is a four-sided ‘bed’ for holding a gas fire and can be suited to either modern or classic designs. Basket Gas Fires will sit directly into the fireplace opening. Basket Gas Fires are suitable for Traditional Chimneys (Class 1 Flue), Pre-Fabricated Flues (Class 2 Flue) or Pre-Cast Flues.

Electric Fires

The fundamental benefit of an Electric Fire is that a specialist installation is not required. In most cases with an Electric Fire you simply plug it in and it’s ready to go. Electric fires are a great alternative to gas fires because, unlike Gas Fires, Electric Fires can be installed almost anywhere and produce no mess. Therefore an Electric Fire is more convenient for the home and is considered to be highly efficient for the end user as there are no CO2 emissions or heat wasted on flames.

An Electric Fire can add style and sophistication to your living room. The PlumbNation Heating Supplies Electric Fire collection is filled to the brim with cutting-edge designs and contemporary style. Some Electric Fires are more traditional in design as not every home is seeking a contemporary décor. In such cases we have many Traditional Electric Fires available to offer efficient warmth without looking out of place.

Electric Fires are available as Wall Mounted Electric Fires, Inset Electric Fires or Floor Mounted Electric Fires. There are also some Electric Fire models that can be switched on whilst not generating heat. This is suitable for when there is a need to effectively simulate the look of a real fire without the need for the heat that would normally be generated (ideal for the warmer months).

LED Electric Fires / LCD Electric Fires

LED Electric Fires / LCD Electric Fires are impressive, ultra-cool fires for the contemporary living room. LED Electric Fires are wall hanging electric fireplaces that simulate a flickering flame effect using LED technology. The flame effect is similar to that of an LFE Fire, except that a gas supply is not required.

Electric Stoves

An Electric Stove is typically available as a cast iron style electric stove, with a fan heater to provide heat for the intended room. Many Electric Stoves feature flame effects that can be used independently of the heating source, silent operation, thermostats and remote controls. Electric Stoves are cost effective option for a traditional looking setting.

Fire Surrounds and Hearths

A Fire Surround makes up the surrounding area of a fire, giving the fireplace its distinctive and proud looks. Fire Surrounds are available in a range of finishes including Oak, Mahogany, Granite, Marble and more.

The Hearth is the base of a fireplace and usually protrudes into the room providing a safety boundary around the fireplace. A Hearth is normally made of Brick, Granite, Flagstone or Cement.