WHAT DO I PAY ATTENTION TO WHEN BUYING A GAS FIREPLACE?

Are you planning to bring atmosphere and warmth to your home by buying a gas fireplace? Or is your current fireplace in need of replacement? When you buy a new gas fireplace, there are a number of important points of attention that you should pay attention to so that you can enjoy the fire for years to come. For example, take into account the presence, or the possibility of realizing a gas connection and flue, and make sure you choose the right power. In this blog we go through the three most important points of attention that you should pay attention to when you buy a gas fireplace.

• How to control the supply and flue channel
• The right power and efficiency for your gas fire
• Get inspired and see which fire you like

 
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How to control the supply and discharge channel

The main condition when purchasing a gas fireplace or stove is the presence of a gas connection and a ventilation and exhaust duct. In order for a gas fire to burn, it must have access to the fuel, in other words, the fireplace must be connected to the gas network. If you buy a fire on (bio)propane, the connection to the gas network is not necessary. Propane gas is stored in propane bottles, which you place next to your house and then simply connect to the gas fireplace.
 
In addition to available fuel, enough oxygen is also needed to ignite the fireplace and it is mandatory to connect the fireplace to a suitable exhaust duct for the discharge of flue gases. In other words, a number of things that you have to take into account when you buy a gas fire.

Controlling ventilation and drainage of a gas fire

Controlling the ventilation and discharge of a gas fireplace can be done in different ways. First, there is a difference in a fireplace with an open or closed combustion. The vast majority of people today have a fireplace with a closed combustion. This means that the fire is connected to a pipe with an supply and outlet channel. A gas fireplace with an open combustion extracts oxygen from the room where the fireplace is located and therefore achieves a lower efficiency.

The difference in combustion affects the way you control the supply of oxygen and the discharge of flue gases. With an open combustion, it is easy to use an existing chimney for the removal of flue gases. A closed combustion fireplace uses one tube with a supply channel at the outer edge and inside a tube that discharges polluted air. However, it is possible to convert the existing chimney into a suitable flue gas exhaust duct.

The flue of a fireplace with a closed combustion can be controlled via the façade or roof of your home. Of course you can use existing pipes for this. The possibilities with regard to placing a fire are not endless because of the connection to an supply and exhaust duct, so you have to take the limitations into account when purchasing your gas fireplace. In our blog 'What do I pay attention to when installing a gas fireplace?' we give you more tips on what to look for when you place a gas fireplace.

 

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The suitable power and efficiency of your gas fireplace

When you have determined the location of the gas fire in the house, the power and consumption of a gas fireplace is the next point of attention. Often a fireplace with a high efficiency and high power is chosen. As a consumer, you may think that a fireplace with high efficiency and high power is by definition better and heats the room faster, but a fire with too high power heats the surrounding space too quickly.

The importance of the right return and power

The efficiency of the fireplace indicates what percentage of the energy released during the combustion of the gas is converted into heat. For efficiency, the higher the efficiency, the more economical the fire is. If you buy a gas fireplace with a high efficiency, you save on both fuel costs and the environment. So it is advisable in all cases to buy a gas fireplace with a high efficiency.

However, if the power of your fireplace is too high, the room will quickly become too hot. As a result, you are soon forced to turn the fire low or even off and you no longer enjoy the flames. In addition, a high-power fireplace cannot optimally dissipate heat. It is therefore important to buy a gas fire or gas stove that fits well with the room you heat in terms of power.

 

Determining the correct power of a gas fire

Which capital you need in your specific living situation depends on a number of factors. It depends, among other things, on the content of the room to be heated and the extent to which your home / room itself is insulated.

1. Determine the content of the room
You determine the content by calculating the content of the room. You can easily do this by multiplying the length, width and height of the room and thus calculating the cubic meters of content.

2. Map the degree of isolation
In addition to the content of the room, the degree of insulation also affects the required power. We adhere to the following guidelines:

A - Gas fireplace power in well-insulated homes
Is your home equipped with good insulation, such as roof insulation, floor and / or cavity wall insulation, or double glazing? This is usually the case with recent new-build homes or homes that have been professionally renovated and insulated not so long ago. With such a home, the red line (A) applies when determining the required power of your fire.

B - Gas fireplace power in moderately insulated homes
Is your home equipped with insulation, but for example a bit older? Do you have double glazing, but do you only have basic wall and floor insulation? Then you can keep the orange line (B) when determining the required power. You can of course also choose to insulate the house better first and then purchase a fireplace with a lower power, this ultimately saves heating costs.

C - Gas fireplace power in poorly insulated homes
Is your home poorly insulated and do you not have double glazing? Then follow line C when determining the right power for your gas fire. Keep in mind that if you have your home better insulated in the future, you may have a fire that provides too much power.

Get inspired and see which fire you like

In addition to the points of attention that you should pay attention to when you buy a gas fireplace, it is also important to research what you like. After all, a fireplace is a sustainable product that you want to enjoy for years to come. It is therefore important that the new fireplace fits the interior of your home and your style wishes. You can easily get inspiration via social media or the internet. For example, take a look at the Instagram and Facebook page of the DRU where we post inspiration every week.

You can also find plenty of inspiration on our website. View our collection of gas fire  where we show you our most beautiful fires and give you tips on different styles and shapes of a fireplace.

Need help buying a gas fireplace?

Do you need help choosing your dream fireplace? Or haven't seen enough yet? Contact one of our dealers for all your questions or feel free to visit a DRU dealer. 

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