Victorian Fireplace
Gas Fires
Chimney Types
Class I flues
Most houses built before the 1960s will have a class I flue, which is has an internal diameter of 7 inches or greater.
Class II flues
Smaller Class II flues are often found in modern houses or houses that have had the flues relined. Class II gas fires are more efficient but some larger fireplaces and baskets cannot use them as they cannot cope with the volume of fumes created.
Precast Flues
Precast flues, or gas flue blocks are incorporated within a building block in more modern houses. Usually there is no chimney breast and a Ridge Vent on the roof instead of a chimney pot. Only fires labeled as suitable for precast flues can be used with them as they can only move a limited volume of flue gases.
No Flue: No Problem
If you would like a gas fire but your house has no chimney you can have a Powerflue gas fires designed to be fitted on outside wall.
More detailed Information on Class I Flues, Class II Flues and Precast Flues can be found here
Gas Fires
Which gas fire is right for you. If you need good heat output then a high output gas fire maybe the best choice.
If a realistic flame effect is all you need then a standard living flame gas fire may be what you need.
Standard Living Flame Gas Fires
These tray gas fires sit in the bottom of the fireplace opening and are mainly decorative. They look like real coal fires and provide real flames.
These gas fires can be used for heating for around half of the year. On colder days in Spring and Autumn you can avoid turning on the central heating all over your home as these gas fires will adequately heat an average sized room. They provide radiant heat that is especially good close to the fire.
With running costs of about 10p per hour this is much cheaper than turning on central heating and greener!
High Output Gas Fires
The High Output range of gas fires that are available with some of our fireplaces have been designed to reduce the loss of heat up the flue when the gas fire is being fitted in larger Class I chimneys.
They restrict the flow of the flue gases by means of a damper incorporated on the cast fireback. The heat output with this system will be more than 3kW, a big improvement on standard gas fires.
High Output fires cost the same as a normal class I fire (about £195) but you must also use this a specially adapted fireback which costs anadditional £50
Powerflue Gas Fires
Powerflue gas fires can be used if you have no chimney or an unservicable one.
A powerflue gas fire uses a fan attached to the outside wall to suck the flue gases out of the room. A square section duct attaches the fan to the special cast back.
The Powerflue system including the fan unit, the gas fire itself, the ducting and special fireback costs £700 in total
Front fitting gas fires
Front fitting gas fires are a much more efficient way of heating a space since they allow much less heat to escape up the chimney by virtue of their built-in fireback.
They are not designed for use with the majority of the cast iron fireplaces on this website. They are for use with our fireplace Fascias. The model we are recommending is the Super Radiant from Crystal Fires.
Fireplace Fascias for Gas Fires
Our Fireplace Fascia Plates are ideal for the installation of most front fitting gas fires as they have standard fireplace openings and a flat area to seal to as well as having a classic Victorian look. They are also sized to fit inside most mantles whether wooden, cast iron, marble, limestone or slate.
Non Vent Gas Fires
All gas fires use the oxygen in a room for combustion.
A gas fire of over 7kw will need a permanet open vent which will in fact cool the room!
Gas regulations allow that any fire of less than 7kW does not have to have additional ventilation in the room. These are called non vent gas fires. All our gas fires are non vent gas fires.
The Verine VF III Gas Fire
VF3
A basic NonVent tray fire that fits a 9inch class I flue.
It is very versatile and can fit any 16 inch or 18 inch cast iron fireplace insert.
When used in conjunction with a fibreback it will give from 6.9kW - 2kW heat output which is similar to a 2 bar electric fire
The decorative fuel effect 18 inch x 16 inch tapering insert trays fit into 16 x 18 clay backs
With a real life coal effect where you can move the coals around to improve the flame effect.
It is an extremely robust and well engineered gas fire. In fifteen years of selling these gas fires we have never had a problem with one!
£175 complete
Crystal Fires Super Radiant
CF001
The Crystal Fires Super Radiant is a modern front fitting gas fire which can come with a selection of trims and can be used with any fret
It is a high output 3.9kW gas fires that come in an enclosed box and has choice of trims.
It is suitable for use with our fireplace fascias
£295