Q1. Does this fire give off
heat?
Manufacturers of fires and stove provide detail of outputs in
their literature and are usually happy to provide further advice
on the telephone or via their website. It’s worth noting
that manufacturer’s literature often quotes the maximum
output with the fire or stove burning continuously so an allowance
should always be made for this and the time taken for your fire
or stove to reach its optimum operating temperature.
Q2. How much heat do I require
for my room?
Many factors influence the heat requirements of a particular
room or area such as the number of external walls, window size,
number of doors, level of insulation and ventilation rate so
it’s worth having an accurate estimate before deciding
on the appliance you are going to fit. If your house is centrally
heated, the heat output from your fire or stove may not be essential
for keeping the room comfortable in the depths of winter but
may become more important in the spring and autumn when you
may be able to do without central heating for much of the day.
Q3. Does all the heat go
up the chimney?
The efficiency of a fire or stove usually indicates how much
heat is lost up the chimney or flue. If a fire is say 70% efficient,
30% of the energy it consumes is lost although some or all of
this ‘loss’ may be essential to keep the chimney
or flue operating correctly. Flueless fires and gel fires are
effectively 100% efficient.
