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Fires, Stoves and Controls
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Q1.
How safe are gas fires?
Q2. What are flueless fires, how
do they work and are they safe?
Q3. What are gel fires, how do
they work and are they safe?
Q4. Are convector fires better
than non convector fires?
Q5. Are living flame fires more
expensive to run that other types?
Q6. I don’t like the logs,
coals or pebbles on my new gas fire. Can I change them?
Q7. What are the artificial coals,
logs or pebbles made from?
Q8. How often do I have to change
the coals on my coal effect gas fire?
Q9. What happens if waste paper
is thrown on my gas fire?
Q10. I have a gas fired back boiler
with a gas fire on the front. Can I change the fire without
changing the boiler?
Q11. How do I operate a gas or
electric fire. Do I need to bend down?
Q12. If I have a remote control
fire do I need an electricity supply?
Q13. Can I still use my power flue
gas fire if there’s a power cut?
Q14. What sort of fuel can I burn
in my stove?
Q15. What are pellet stoves?
Q16. How often do I have to clean
ashes from my stove?
Q17. What is the difference between
a solid fuel and multi fuel stove?
Q1. How safe are gas fires?
All gas fires have to be fully safety tested and approved by
a government recognised authority and carry the CE mark as your
assurance that the appliance is safe. Installation must always
comply with the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure
safe and trouble free operation.
Q2. What are flueless fires,
how do they work and are they safe?
As the name suggests, flueless fires work without any need for
a flue and are fully tested and approved in the same way as
all other gas fire types. As with any product, if installed
in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions flueless
fires are perfectly safe although the manufacturers do not generally
recommend them as the primary source of heat.
Q3. What are gel fires, how
do they work and are they safe?
Gel fires use a non toxic odour free gelatinous substance to
produce a flame effect and a relatively small amount of heat.
They do not normally require a chimney or flue and can therefore
be used where other fire types are not feasible.
Q4.
Are convector fires better than non convector fires?
Convector fires are usually more thermally efficient than non
convector types resulting in a higher heat output and/or lower
running costs. Convector fires incorporate a heat exchanger
to harness heat that might otherwise be lost up the chimney
or flue. Consequently convector fires are usually more expensive
to buy than non convector types and usually use less gas for
the visual flame effect than non convector types.
Q5. Are living flame fires
more expensive to run that other types?
The running costs for the various gas fire types available vary
significantly so it’s important to decide whether you
want optimum efficiency (the most heat for your money), a balance
between efficiency and visual effect or the best available visual
effect. The manufacturer’s literature combined with advice
from your retailer will help your decision.
Q6. I don’t like the
logs, coals or pebbles on my new gas fire. Can I change them?
Definitely not! When a gas fire is tested and receives its CE
mark, it has been tested and approved with a specific fuel type
and arrangement and any change to this could seriously affect
the way the fire works. Any guarantee provided by the manufacturer
or installer will be invalidated if the fuel is changed or the
arrangement altered.
Q7. What are the artificial
coals, logs or pebbles made from?
Many of the simulated coals, logs and pebbles are made from
refractory ceramic fibres (RCF’s) which vary in composition
but are non hazardous. The dies and stains used to colour them
are also non toxic but, as with any man made material, care
should be taken to ensure that small children and pets cannot
attempt to eat them.
Q8. How often do I have to
change the coals on my coal effect gas fire?
All gas fires should be checked and, if necessary, serviced
annually. Your engineer will advise you if the coals, logs or
pebbles need replacing and will be able to assist in obtaining
the correct replacements. Generally the artificial fuel will
last for many years although this will clearly depend on usage.
Q9. What happens if waste
paper is thrown on my gas fire?
You should not throw any waste paper or debris on your gas fire
and should discourage guests from similar action. If your fire
has been used as an ashtray or similar you should check the
user’s instructions for the fire or seek the advice of
an engineer.
Q10. I have a gas fired back
boiler with a gas fire on the front. Can I change the fire without
changing the boiler?
No. Most gas fire and back boiler combinations are designed
to work together and the gas fire is usually an integral part
of the back boiler. You should seek the advice of the manufacturer
or an engineer who can advise you if there are any fire replacement
options.
Q11. How do I operate a gas
or electric fire. Do I need to bend down?
For some models you do have to bend down to operate controls
at hearth level. Many gas fires however have options for controls
at the top of the casing, wall switching and full function remote
control.
Q12. If
I have a remote control fire do I need an electricity supply?
It depends on the type of remote control you have selected.
Some remote controls are self powered by batteries and other
types require a mains supply but virtually all remote control
fires can be operated manually if the batteries or power supply
fails.
Q13. Can I still use my power
flue gas fire if there’s a power cut?
No. Power flue gas fires will only work if there is a power
supply to the fan. All power flue fires are designed to automatically
turn off the gas if the power fails.
Q14. What sort of fuel can
I burn in my stove?
Stoves are designed for wood burning, solid fuel burning or
both and have a burning grate specifically designed for the
fuel type. Those stoves than can burn both wood and solid fuel
are usually known as multi fuel stoves and often have an external
lever or control to adjust the burning grate for different fuel
types.
Q15. What are pellet stoves?
Pellet stoves burn compressed wood in the form of pellets via
an automatic feed and control system that only consumes fuel
when heat is required. The burning rate is determined automatically
thus eliminating wastage and providing optimum efficiency.
Q16. How often do I have
to clean ashes from my stove?
A wood burning stove often benefits from having a bed of ash
so, depending on use, will probably need cleaning out no more
than once a week. In contrast a solid fuel stove should be riddled
and the ash removed daily.
Q17. What is the difference
between a solid fuel and multi fuel stove?
Essentially it’s the type of grate they use. For burning
wood a flat grate is required with air directed into the top
of the fire. For solid fuel, air must be directed through the
fuel from underneath (see Q14).
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