What should I pay attention to when purchasing a gas fire or gas heater?

The most important condition for the purchase of a gas fire and gas heater is the presence of a gas connection and pipe. This is obviously possible via a regular gas pipeline, but also via a connection for propane gas if you are not connected to the gas network. Do you already have a gas fire or a gas heater right now? Then you can either leave the new gas fire in the same position, but you can also choose to install the gas fire in a different location in your home.

Points for attention about the flue

The outlet for flue gases can be installed through the wall or roof. You can also use existing pipes, of course. The new DRU PowerVent® system has hugely increased the options for installing a gas fire. The outlet can be installed over a greater distance, for example in the crawl space. This means that you can even choose to place a gas fire in the middle of your living room or between two rooms. You do not have to be restricted by an existing setup, but can have the fire installed in the most convenient location in your home.

Power and consumption of a gas fire and gas heater

Once you have chosen a gas fire and decided on the position in your home, the capacity and consumption of the gas fire is the next point for consideration. A fire with a high capacity is often chosen. As a consumer, you may think that a fire with a high capacity is better by definition and that it will heat the room more quickly. However, a fire with a capacity that is too high will heat the surrounding area too quickly. As a result, you will soon be forced to turn the fire down or even off, and you will no longer be able to enjoy the flames. Moreover, a fire with a high capacity cannot dissipate the heat evenly. That is why it is important to choose a gas fire or gas heater that is a good match for the room you want to heat in terms of capacity.

Determining the correct capacity of a gas fire

What capacity you need in your specific living situation depends on several factors. It depends on the volume of the space to be heated and the extent to which your home or space is insulated. You determine the capacity by multiplying the length, width and height of the space and thus calculating the cubic meters of efficiency. 

Gas fire capacity 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 for new, recently built houses or homes that have not been professionally renovated and insulated until recently. The red class (A) applies to a home like this when determining the required capacity for your fire.

Gas fire capacity for reasonably insulated homes

Is your home fitted with insulation but already slightly older, for example? Do you have double-glazing, but only basic wall and floor insulation? Then adhere to the orange class (B) when determining your required capacity. Obviously, you can also choose to insulate the house first and then purchase a fire with a lower capacity, which ultimately saves heating costs.

Gas fire capacity in moderately insulated homes

Is your home poorly insulated and do you not have double-glazing? Then adhere to class C when determining the right capacity for your gas fire. Keep in mind that if you allow your home to be better insulated in the future, you may have a fire that provides too much capacity.