Which fire is suitable for my home?
Which fire is suitable for my home?
It may seem like a simple process – find the fire I want, have it professionally installed and then enjoy the warmth it brings. However, in order to decide which fire is suitable for your home in Greater Manchester, a fundamental question is, what sort of chimney does my property have?
It’s a really important question to answer as the type of fire you buy and have installed will depend on the specific chimney or flue type your property has. And so, before you start fire shopping you need to identify your chimney.
Class 1 or traditional
These chimneys work by removing waste gas from the fireplace by the natural distribution of air. A class 1 chimney or traditional chimney is usually found in properties built pre-1960 and it is easily identifiable on the roof as a brick built chimney stack and chimney pot or flue. Providing there is no fault with the chimney or any damage – most fire types are suitable.
Your traditional chimney will have an internal diameter of around 17.78 cm (7 inches in old money) and so will be able to cope with class 1 and 2 solid fuel fires, electric fires, gel fires and gas fires. Each fireplace chamber may be slightly different – for example an inset fireplace is not going to be exactly the same installation as a wood stove – but working with Heat Installers will ensure it is fitted correctly and safely.
Class 2 chimney or prefabricated chimney
This is found in older properties that have had a class 1 traditional chimney that has, over time, been modernized with a steel flue (some modern homes have steel flue’s built in). This is usually a 5” steel flue and steel flue terminal and these chimneys are easily spotted by their metal cowl.
These chimneys are also quite versatile and you can install a gel, gas or electric fire – however, you can’t have a solid fuel fire.
Pre Cast Flue
Usually found in homes built later than 1960, the pre-cast flue won’t have an identifiable chimney on the roof but a rectangular box and terminal which you can see on the roof of a house.
This type of chimney is shallower than the other types and so you can only install a class 2 fire. This type of flue is not suitable for any solid fuel fire but will suit a range of gas fires.
No chimney
Very modern homes are often built without a chimney at all. This restricts your fire choice to either an electric fire or a flueless gas fire or stove which work using a very clever catalytic converter. This makes them 100% efficient as they will not lose heat through a flue. These can be tricky to fit as they will need a ventilation brick – but again, that’s where our professional fire installers come in.
Another option is the balanced flue gas fire but this will need to be fitted into a room with an external wall as it will require two pipes, one to draw out fumes and one to draw in fresh air. Over to the experts again!
Finally, properties without a chimney at all could also consider a powerflue gas fire which work using a fan – again that external wall is crucial.
Get it right and be safe
In order to comply with health and safety and building regulations any new fire should be installed by a qualified installer and it’s vital to ensure your fire or stove is the correct one for your property.
Before you decide on which fire, fireplace or stove to buy for your Greater Manchester home, Heatinstallers.co.uk will carry out a FREE no obligation site survey to ensure that you purchase the right fire for the type of chimney you have – and to advise on the heat output the fire should have for your room.
Getting it wrong can be a costly mistake and so give us a call or drop us an email to book your free site survey.
