Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Gas Fire?
A gas fire is, as the name suggests, a fire system that uses gas as its fuel.
There are two types of gas available, the first being natural gas which is generally found in pockets under the sea bed and transported to land via a network of pipes. The second type of gas is liquefied propane gas, or LPG as it is often referred to. This is basically a gas supplied in large pressurised containers and is generally used where properties are not on the network supplying natural gas. A lot of the properties that don't have natural gas are found in rural areas, small villages or farms.
There are different types of gas fire, which fall into the categories below:
- Decorative: Decorative gas fires are primarily designed to provide a focal point in a room, giving the beauty of a living flame and is designed to compliment a centrally heated room.
- Convector: As its name implies, a convector gas fire provides additional heat in the form of convected air, and in some instances the fire may be used as the only source of heat within a room.
- Radiant: This type of gas fire uses the fireback to increase the radiant heat output to the room. Some models of gas fire achieve a significant heat output using this method.
There are two basic type of gas fire. These are inset, which as the name implies sits within an opening with its trim flush with the back panel and outset, which sit in front of the back panel protruding into the room.
What is a Stove?
A stove is a type of fire that uses the traditional method to provide heat to a room and is basically a cast iron or steel box on legs that harbours a fuel source within. As a general rule a stove can provide more heat because of its design.
There are four different materials used for constructing a modern stove. These are:
- Cast Iron: This is the original material used to construct a stove. It is made up of different panels of cast iron that are bolted together and use a sealant to make it airtight, which in turn allows airflow to be precisely controlled. This allows both the heat output and refuelling frequency to be varied and helps maximise burning efficiency. Cast iron also is also better at diffusing heat and can be cast more thickly in areas allowing for greater strength. The casting of the panels also allows more ornate and sculptural panels to be made.
- Steel: Steel stoves bodies are generally made from one piece, which does away which additional seams to provide a more airtight seal than cast stoves. This allows for easy and precise fuelling and is generally used to make more modern and contemporary looking stoves controls. The steel construction of stoves reduces weight over traditional cast iron stoves.
- Aluminium: These stoves are used purely for electric and flue less gas stoves that don't produce as much heat as multifuel and wood burning stoves. They are easier and cheaper to construct and also much lighter.
- Composite: Stoves made from composite materials are only used on electric stoves, where the heat output is much lower than any other stove. This allows for greater manoeuvrability as the stoves are much lighter for easier transportation
What fuels do stoves use?
There are four types of fuel available for stoves, these are:
- Wood Burners: This type of stove burns logs or wood as the name suggests. Logs burn best on a bed of ash with no draught from below and create a fabulous flame pattern which is both cosy and hot. In general most wood burners have a kit available to upgrade the product to multifuel.
- Multifuel: Multi fuel stoves are designed from the outset to burn either wood and logs or any other source of solid fuel such as types of coal and pure heat. Mulitfuel stoves have a raised grate that allows for air to be drawn in and burned from underneath. Some multifuel stoves create a much greater heat than wood burners.
- Gas: These types of stove are designed to run on natural gas or LPG (liquefied propane gas). They don't produce as much heat as a wood or multifuel stove, but require very little maintenance in the form of cleaning out. Gas stoves are available as class 1, 2 or flueless.
- Electric: The main advantage of an electric stove over any of the above is the weight savings, and transportability. The other great thing with an electric stove is the availability of having a flame effect without any form of heat, or flame effect with heat. These are ideal where houses are well insulated but require a focal point.
What is Cleanburn technology?
Most modern wood burning or multifuel stoves have a clean burn system. This is also sometimes referred to as 'after burn' or 'air wash'.
Cleanburn stoves burn wood or solid fuel with outstanding efficiency resulting in more heat delivery into a room and less going up the chimney. It works by using three separate airfiows; primary air to burn solid fuel in the conventional way, plus airwash air to help to keep the window or glass clean and pre-heated secondary or cleanburn air to burn excess soot or hydrocarbons in the smoke.
Affiliates
Fireplaces from The Fireplace Warehouse, probably the largest display of live gas fireplaces in the world.