Why would you opt for a central heating fire?
In terms of warmth and comfort, nothing beats a real wood fire. However, the heat from a fireplace in your living room can sometimes cause your thermostatic central heating or underfloor heating to shut down, making the rest of the house cold.
In addition, some of the heat from the wood fire gets lost up the chimney. In such a situation, a central heating fire is an excellent solution. With a central heating fire, you connect the wood fire or stove to an existing central heating system. This way, the heat from your fire is effectively used for heating your entire home as well as for heating water.
A central heating fire has many advantages. You save energy and money, you use fuel efficiently and, at the same time, you make your home cosy. Installing a central heating fire depends on your personal taste and the requirements of your home. It can be done in several ways.
How does a central heating fire work?
How the central heating fire will work depends on how it is installed and the structure of the existing heating. There are essentially three ways of installing a central heating fire.
Central heating fire in combination with a central heating boiler
There are two ways to combine a central heating fire with a central heating boiler.
- What if you don't want to make too drastic changes, but you do want to enjoy the comfortable heat of a wood fire? With a simple pump system, the heat from your fire or stove is also used for the central heating system of your home.
- By installing a buffer tank, you heat both the central heating and domestic hot water supplies, whilst achieving efficient use of the heat that is generated by the fire or stove.
Completely gas-free with a central heating fire
A third possibility is a central heating fire combined with solar energy. Do you want to refurbish your home and to make it as energy-efficient as possible? Or are you thinking of building a new energy-efficient home? A central heating fire makes it possible to heat your entire home without gas and to also provide domestic hot water. In this installation, you combine the use of solar panels and a heat pump with a central heating fire. A large buffer tank ensures that you always have enough hot water - both for heating and for the domestic hot water (in the shower for example). If you burn wood that you collect locally, then with this system you are entirely self-sufficient.
The designs of central heating fires
There are central heating fires for both large and small homes and for areas of any dimensions. Whether you want a basic fire, a classic one or a real eye catcher, there is an appropriate fire for every interior.
Central heating fires are available as built-in or freestanding: a built-in fire can be installed during the renovation of an existing property or into a new-build home. You can also choose from various types of fire views: from the front only or from two sides, for example as a fire placed in the corner of a room.
Another lovely option is a fire with a tunnel view. This model can be placed between two rooms, allowing you to enjoy the ambience and heat from both sides. The space-saving solution offers a central heating fire with a ‘water jacket’ as a surround in which the water tank is located around the fireplace.
Installation and maintenance of a central heating fire
Before deciding, obtain proper information about the necessary capacity for your fire and the possibility to install a central heating fire in your property. It is also recommended to have an authorised fitter to install the central heating fire. That way, you can be sure that the installation is done properly, you prevent problems at later stages and you are assured of the correct capacity.
Just like with gas fires and regular wood fires, it is important to have your central heating fire maintained regularly. You can routinely remove the ashes from the air supply duct. Furthermore, the chimney needs to be swept, with the frequency depending on how often the fire is run and the type of wood that you use.
What else should you consider when planning to buy a central heating fire?
Fuel is, of course, indispensable for burning your central heating fire. There are many types of wood in contemporary wood fires and stoves that ensure a very efficient combustion. Most important is that the wood is dried well and is stored in a dry place. Therefore, a good storage place for your firewood is also important.
If you are concerned about having no hot water when the fire is not burning, don’t worry. In all cases the system continues to work and your central heating boiler or your solar boiler will serve as backup.
More information? See our broad product range of central heating fires or request a brochure.