10 top tips when buying a fireplace

1. Check to see which type of fire you can have
2. Check your chimney
3. Which fuel source?
4. Are you in a smokeless zone?
5. Do you need your chimney swept?
6. Choose the right size
7. Choose the fireplace that suits you
8. Find a good fitter
9. Don't worry about asking questions
10. Last but not least enjoy!

1. Check to see which type of fire you can have

One of the first steps when buying a fireplace is deciding which fuel source is suitable for your situation.

Fireplace technology has advanced ten fold over the past 20 years which has introduced solutions for fireplaces which would not have been possible 20 years ago. Whether you have a giant inglenook that you could sleep in or a flat outside wall with no hole at all you can find a fireplace.

There are 6 main types of fires available, they are:

Solid fuel – good old reliable wood, coal, logs or various other combustible materials
Natural gas – straight out of the pipe and into the fire. Gas fires offer the closest resemblance to solid fuel fires without the mess.
LPG gas – the same principal as natural gas just out of a bottle instead.
Powerflue – One of the most innovative ideas since the creation of fireplaces! Powerflues are the gas option to homes where there is no chimney to expel the smoke and fumes. Powerflues are installed on an outside wall and use a fan assist to expel the smoke and fumes.
Gel – A relatively new fuel source. Gel fireplaces offer a small decorative fire without the need of any smoke expulsion or very little.

2. Check your chimney

If you plan on using solid fuel or gas, you must next ascertain the state of your chimney and which class yours is suitable for.

With fireplaces there are four types, these are Class 1, Class 2, pre-cast flue and powerflue.

A Class 1 fire requires a flue diameter of 7” or more. Class 1 chimneys can normally be identified by a chimney stack on the outside of the house.
Click here to see what you should look for.

A Class 2 fire requires a flue diameter of 5”. Class 2 chimneys can normally be identified by a chimney stack or a 5” steel flue liner. You should also check to ensure you have a chimney breast.
Click here to see what you should look for.

Pre-cast flues are found on relatively new houses and can be identified by a ridge vent terminal on the top course of tiles on your home. A pre-cast flue restricts the available styles to choose from, but there are still plenty of beautiful fireplaces available.
Click here to see what you should look for.

A Powerflue as mentioned before is used in a house with none of the above. You can install a powerflue on an outside wall but powerflues are generally more expensive than any other fire.

3. Which fuel source

Now you know which fuel sources you can have now is the time to decide on which to use.

Solid fuel gives the best heat but is restricted in some areas now.
Gas offers a very close resemblance to solid fuel but not as much heat.
Electric offers minimal heat but a nice effect if there are restrictions
Powerflues offers good heat and visual experience.

4. Are you in a smokeless zone?

If you plan on using solid fuel you should check to ensure your home is not within a smokeless zone. If you are in a smokeless zone, by law you are not permitted to burn fuel which gives of smoke. However there are smokeless fuels available to burn now and these are widely available. They are the same as conventional fuels but give off very little smoke.
The other alternative is to reconsider and think about using gas.

Click here to check if you are in a smokeless zone.

5. Do you need your chimney swept?

When you first move into your house or decide to buy a new fireplace to add a stunning focal point to your room, we always recommend you have your chimney swept if it has been used for solid fuel before or if it has not been used for a long time. This ensures you have a good clean fire and don’t have any unwanted soot in your room or a bird’s nest on your fire (yes this does happen often!).

6. Choose the right size

If you have a chimney breast where you plan on putting your new fireplace ensure you measure the entire width of it. This is a major factor when choosing your fireplace as you don’t want a fireplace that is too big for your chimney breast!

7. Choose the fireplace that suits you!

Now that you know which fuel you will be using, know your chimney breast size and have the chimney sweep booked, you can start looking for your fireplace!

With various different styles of fireplaces available it can be quite difficult to find exactly what you want. Buying online is by far the easiest way to find the widest selection of fireplaces available, you can research into various fuel sources and find the most competitive prices.

8. Find a good fitter

Finding a good fitter is very important as the last thing you want is to have your beautiful new fireplace fitted wrong! When choosing your fitter always ensure they are either Corgi Registered (for gas) or Hetas Qualified (for solid fuel). This will ensure you have your fireplace fitted to the highest standards and to regulations.

Dont worry about questions

9. Don’t worry about asking questions

We receive hundreds of calls from people looking for fireplaces where their first sentence is “I know this may sound silly but…” What ever you think it is probably not a silly question but likely one we think is very important! And there is a good chance we were speaking to another customer not 5 minutes ago who said the same thing and asked the same question.

Relax and Enjoy your fireplace

10. Last but not least, enjoy!

I don’t just mean enjoy your fireplace when it’s fitted; I mean enjoy the whole experience.

Finding a fireplace and bringing it all together can seem a bit stressful with all the different options but we will help you through every step of the process assisting you all the way from start to finish.