Advise On Installing A Gas Fires

Acquisitions X-Fire 1200

All Gas Fires must be installed and serviced by a GAS SAFE Registered Engineer. The Engineer will survey your property and ensure that all requirements of the Installation Manual are met to ensure your fire is installed correctly and safely. All GAS SAFE Engineers are regularly audited by GAS SAFE to ensure they are working in line with current regulations.

We recommend that all gas fires are serviced every 12 months. This should be done regardless of how often the fire is used. There are number of issues which can effect a fire functioning correctly and safety - blockages in the gas pipes, gas leaks, chimney blockages etc.

It is easy to blame the gas fire when it fails to function however a very large amount of claims are not related to the gas fire. When a gas fire does not operate, the problem can be nothing to do with a fault within the gas fire. Below are some very common causes which will stop a gas fire functioning. Before making any claims please check these site related issues are not causing the problems. This will eliminate costly call out charges.

Drugasar Eclipse Suite

1. Gas Pressure - a common cause of a gas fire shutting down while it is operating is that the gas pressure is not correct. This problem can be more noticeable when switching on other gas appliances within the property like boilers etc. A drop in pressure will mean that the safety device on fire will shut the fire down to protect you. Contact Transco or your gas supplier regarding upgrading your gas pipe work.
2. Chimney Draw Is Too Strong - the draw on the chimney is causing the pilot flame to lift away from the thermocouple making the safety device to shut the fire down - Contact a flue specialist
3. Chimney Draw Is Too Weak - the draw is not strong enough, this could be because the chimney has become blocked, causing the fire to spill hazardous fumes into the room. This is very dangerous. The safety device senses the amount of oxygen in the air and will shut the fire down. - Contact a flue specialist.
4. No Power - A remote control fire needs a power source. If it is powered by a mains supply has the fuse blown or the power switched off? - Contact an electrician. If it is battery powered - check and change the batteries.
5. Incorrect Installation - All gas fires are supplied with an installation manual. This shows how to fit the fire in line with the manufacturer's instructions and the CE approval to ensure it is safe. Ensure you have a copy of the Installation Manual before starting to install a fire. The warranty will be invalid if the fire has been wrongly installed. When a fire is installed by a GAS SAFE Registered Engineer he will issue you a certificate showing the work that has been done and confirming that it is safe.
6. Flueless Fires - Flueless Fires have an excellent safety record. If a Flueless Fire shuts down after running for a number of minutes check all ventilation requirements have been met before operating the fire again. A vast majority of fires have a ODS unit fitted which will shut the fire down if the oxygen levels in the room reach a dangerous level.

REMEMBER - ALWAYS USE A REGISTERED GAS SAFE ENGINEER FOR ALL GAS FIRE INSTALLATION AND SERVICING WORK ASK TO SEE THE ENGINEERS REGISTRATION CARD AND IF IN DOUBT PHONE GAS SAFE.

Find a fantastic selection of Fires, Fireplaces, Stoves and much more from the likes of Fireplace Megastore, Fireworld, Fireplace Supermarket with House2Home Megastore also boasting a growing range of fires.

Evonic Fires: Manufacturer Focus

Evonic Fires is a brand of CK Fires, situated just outside of Stratford-Upon-Avon, Birthplace of none other the Shakesphere himself and surrounded by culture and history, you can find Evonic Fires on the banks of the river avon.

Evonic Fires have been working hard to bring you one of the widest choices of quality electric fires, built in Britain and exclusively available through retail outlets so you wont find them for sale from any online only companies. Evonic Fires belieive, as do many fire & fireplace retailers, that to get the best service and to truly get the fire you are looking for requires face-to-face interaction with a highly trained member of showroom staff. You can truly pick their brains as it were to get the knowledge, facts and most importantly the most informed choice when it comes to choosing your fire.

The Evonic Fires range includes both inset and wall mounted fires alongside electric stoves, utilising the latest technologies in 3D LED technology  which produce arguably one of the most beautiful flame effects for just £1.00 per year.

Alongside the wonderful products such as the Endeavour 3D, Euphoria, Pioneer and Discovery 3D Evonic Fires also offer peace of mind, offering a 2 year warranty instead of the statutory 12 months offered by most.

Available from all good independent showroom retailers, including Fireplace Megastore, support the British ecomony in these tough times and buy British.

The Cold Weather Approaches

As your wood burning stove may have not been used for a few months, it is important to make sure that your chimney is swept before you start to use it again to ensure it is free from bird nests or other obstructions.

Now is a great time to have your chimney swept

With use, soot, deposits and tar can build up, reducing the chimney’s draw, make the stove run badly and can cause a chimney fire. Now is a great time to have your chimney swept, before the colder weather as more chimney sweeps will be available than when winter is in full swing.As well as making sure your chimney is safe and clear from blockages, it is also a good time to have your wood burning stove or open fireplace serviced to ensure the best performance, as HETAS installers are starting to enter their busiest period of the year.
In the mean time, here are some general safety tips for keeping your chimney in tip top condition;

• Ensure your wood burning stove is installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s Installation Instructions. 
• You should have your chimney swept at least once a year, depending on the fuel you use and how dry it is, how frequently your wood burning stove or fireplace is used, the type of chimney or flue and whether or not it is lined, as fewer deposits will build up in a lined chimney.
• When burning wood, use only dry, seasoned logs with a maximum moisture content of 20% in your wood burning stove. If you burn green or wet wood, a lot of the heat in the stove’s firebox is lost in burning off the excess water. This reduces the stove’s efficiency, gives you less heat in the room and causes tar to condense in the chimney, which is one of the biggest causes of chimney fires.
• Never burn cardboard boxes, waste paper or wood treated with preservatives and coatings containing heavy metals, or other toxic chemicals and contaminants in your wood burning stove.
• If you have recently opened up and plan to use a fireplace, make sure it is inspected by a HETAS qualified engineer before use. Inspect the chimney breast, particularly in the roof space. Make sure that it is sound and that the sparks or fumes cannot escape through cracks or broken bricks. If in doubt, have your chimney lined as there can be warranty and house insurance issues with not lining.

High-Efficiency Fires Help Gas Bills Fall By 2 Percent

According to British Gas, average gas bills fell 2% in the first three months of 2010, despite the coldest winter for a generation. The average gas bill – between January and March of this year – for the 8m homes supplied by the company fell to £373, compared to £381 in the same period of 2009.

A large part of the reason for this is that consumers are increasingly seeing the benefits of installing more efficient central heating boilers and gas fires. For example, if you have an open fronted gas fire that is over 5 years old, it could be as little as 25% efficient, using as much as 9.45kW of energy to generate only 2.4kW of heat, with the rest of the heat going straight up your chimney.Fireplace Supermarket's latest gas fires, such as the innovative Apex Capacious and Verine Orbis models are contributing towards this gas efficiency trend. They are incredibly energy efficient of up to 89% so under 5kW of gas being used to put 4kW of heat into your living room. This means that by upgrading your old open fronted gas fire to a high efficiency glass fronted fire, you can save 57% on your gas fuel costs and have 46% more heat.

Crystal Fires Montana High Efficiency Gas Fire

Wow Crystal Fires release a stunning HE (high efficiency) gas fire called the Montana, and is set to light up the showroom (and Internet) sales across the UK.
Here at Fires/Fireplaces/Stoves we love supporting the UK manufacturers and the great thing about Crystal Fires is they make it easy for us to do just that by producing high quality fires time and time again.
The Montana HE gas fire is an inset glass fronted gas fire, it has similar looks and design to the other Crystal fires on sale, however Crystal boast that their high efficiency Montana has the same high heat output as the extremely popular Crystal fires Gem (4.2kW) but consumes only half the gas input, which means the same heating for half the cost!......superb.
The Montana comes with a selection of finishes, the standard HE version allows a traditional trim with a choice finishing effects and trims, but you can opt for a modern styled fire by having a majestic or contemporary crystal fires fascia, which still provides the same stunning operational figures. The option for a remote with the Montana is available, but I fear the additional cost may put many people off, however if your going to have a really cool high efficiency, highly effective gas fire I'd get the remote if you can afford to just because it finishes off this classy fire perfectly.
Great job crystal fires, and we look forward to the next product update.

How To Cut Your Energy Bills...

Almost nine in 10 households (89%) will be rationing their energy use this winter to save on bills, meaning a potential 23 million households will be switching off or turning down their heating, according to uSwitch. It says an average £224 increase in energy prices within the last 12 months has left 87% of consumers worried about the cost of this year's winter fuel bill.
In October The Guardian asked readers for their tips on cutting energy bills.
They were contacted by a retired 66-year-old retired academic who worked at a London university. She spent half her working life caring for her children and doing voluntary work, which reduced her pension, so she now makes an effort to keep her heating bills down. She has taken rationing her energy use to a new level, and she wanted to share her methods.

"People talk as if very high energy bills are inevitable, whereas often these could be cut a little or a lot, and in ways that can improve our quality of life. I've just had my quarterly bills: electricity £7.44 (+ VAT + standing charge = £12.89) and gas £7.88 (+ VAT but minus dual fuel discount = £4.75).

"If you asked me to score my quality of life from one to 10, I would definitely say 12 plus.

"I am a pensioner, at home and with the computer on most of the time, who pays well under £100 for my annual, total, combined gas and electricity bills. I have worked out gradually how to do this, and now find it so easy it is automatic.

"Although I am very lucky in my housing and neighbourhood, at least some of my savings could be made by anyone. A few ideas are fairly costly to set up, but they could be paid for many times over in savings on later annual bills – especially given that carbon fuel prices are only going to keep rising.

"Three years ago I moved house, and chose an end-of-terrace home with a south- and west-facing living room, and no nearby tall trees or buildings. The living room has patio doors and even in deepest winter, on sunny days, it heats up to more than 20C. If you have any blank walls that face east or west, but preferably south, could you possibly put in a double-glazed window? The larger the better. Patio doors heat up rooms much more than ordinary windows do.

"Insulated cavity walls and roof increase the winter warmth. I have carpets here – much cosier than the laminate floors in my last home – and cream 'blackout' curtains which give excellent insulation.

"I do not use central heating. Instead, I use the warm living room almost all the time in winter. Okay, the other rooms are chilly. But does that matter as long as you only need to use them briefly during the day, and you have one really warm room, or two for larger families?

"My main heating is a wood-burner, and for that you have to have a chimney or some kind of wall outlet. My burner, with installation by a plumber, cost about £500. Even a large room is fine with a small burner, and they last forever.

"The other expenses are logs – about £200 a year. So that does bring my fuel bills up to nearly £300, and you do need somewhere to store the logs without having to carry them far. There is very little ash, which only needs clearing out into a small bag about once a month. The annual chimney sweep costs about half the price of checking the gas boiler.

"You can get burners with in-built boilers, which heat radiators and water tanks. Instead, I always keep a filled kettle on my burner, and add that hot water to pans or to an electric kettle whenever I need boiling water. I slow-cook stews on the burner, after heating them on a hob, and you can hang clothes around for very quick drying.

"My glass-fronted burner is a beautiful companion. Throughout the year, I collect twigs and lumps of fallen wood in nearby parks to use for kindling and to start a quick blaze in the morning.

"For unheated bedrooms you can use one or two – or three – hot water bottles (from the burner kettle) and lots of warm covers. It can be more pleasant to sleep in a warm bed in a cold winter room than in a hot summer bedroom where you cannot control the temperature.

"Maybe you are thinking about the misery of cold kitchens and bathrooms. During winter I prepare food, and the hot water for cooking and washing up, in the living room – so need to spend little time in the kitchen. Jackets and jerseys are handy for longer spells in the kitchen. Living in inner London I have shops near by. I use them as my main larder, so I can do without a freezer, and I turn on my fridge only briefly to cool white wine, or occasionally for the grandchildren's ice-cream. Food keeps well in cool kitchens.

"I buy milk every other day, and keep the carton in a jug of cold water. Shopping every day or two ensures that food is fresh and varied. Another advantage is not having a fridge full of stuff near its end-of-shelf life, which helps to reduce overeating and throwing away stale food.

"The bathroom is the other great energy consumer. Older people will remember how in the 1940s-1950s we tended to have a bath once or twice a week. Advertisers have lately persuaded us that it is unhealthy and disgusting to shower less than at least once a day. Yet a quick wash, with water from a kettle, is fine for most days – or a leisurely wash in front of the burner. Baby wipes are a great invention, and I can guarantee no one will guess if you haven't had a shower for five days.

"Maybe you are thinking that a good quality of life demands several warm though hardly used rooms, plenty of hot water on tap, and lots of electric equipment on standby. But think about all the things you could buy instead of burning money on fuel bills."

That's how our academic cuts her costs. Saving that much money clearly takes a lot of effort, so would you be willing to go that far in the name of smaller utility bills?

While her ideas seem to do a great deal to reduce fuel bills overall and the idea of using a woodburning stove to provide the main heat for a room is a great idea. Especially when using a Stove fan to help circulate the warm air around the room.

However it seems to me that her determination to cut energy bills is driving the cost of general living up, for example I think it would be cheaper to pay for the cost of heating water for a shower every day or every other day rather than a constant supply of baby wipes!
Also the cost of running a modern, energy efficient Fridge Freezer also would be less than the cost of buying food on a daily basis from a local shop, which can often be more expensive than a weekly or half-weekly shop from a supermarket.

Saving money through energy efficiency

With the UK's major energy suppliers bumping up their prices by up to 18% this winter, the belated arrival of the cold winds represents a great opportunity to look at ways of cutting your fuel bills.

The imminent announcement of a consultation on the government's Green Deal, which aims to help you make your home more energy-efficient, should provide an added incentive.
And there are lots of ways you can save money - in some cases a great deal - just by making a few simple upgrades to your home.
Some improvements cost virtually nothing and can take a matter of minutes to install; others require a bit of capital and expert help. Others still require small changes in habits that should more than reward the effort.
All are well worth considering. According to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), the average household could save about £280 a year on its fuel bills by being more energy efficient. Bearing in mind the average bill is about £1,300, that's quite some saving.
This equates to more than a tonne of carbon emissions every year, thus helping to combat rising global temperatures.
There are plenty of schemes around to help you get a better idea of what upgrading your home to make it more efficient actually involves.
Old Homes Superhomes is one such project, which is supported by the National Energy Foundation. Sarah Harrison, head of Eco-refurbishment, says the scheme can help people understand not just the financial benefits of so-called retro-fitting, but also how upgrading homes can improve your quality of life.
Insulation When it comes to energy efficiency, the smallest measures are often the most effective, so insulation is a good place to start.

Top tip

The most cost-effective energy efficiency measure you can use is to place kitchen foil behind your radiators to reflect heat, according to the National Energy Foundation.

Doors and windows can then be sealed quickly and easily using self-adhesive foam and rubber strips, and draught excluders. Seal up any gaps between your floors and skirting boards and, together, these measure could save you more than £50 a year, according to the EST.

Next look at insulating your loft and walls properly - about a third of an uninsulated home's heat is lost through the walls, and about a quarter through the roof.
Walls will require varying degrees of works depending on their construction, but proper insulation can save hundreds of pounds a year. Just topping up your loft insulation can also shave a substantial amount off your annual bills.
Also look at secondary and double glazing - almost 20% of heat loss from the average home comes from windows.

Heating Upgrading old electric storage heaters to modern alternatives can save you more than £100 a year, and in some cases considerably more.
Replacing an old, inefficient boiler with an A-rated condensing model could save as much £300 a year, although you will have to decide whether this is worth the £1,000 to £2,000 cost of buying and installing one.
Even fitting a room thermostat could save you more than £50 a year.
Energy-efficient behaviour You may scoff at the point of turning off appliances when you're not using them, but add up all the savings and they can be worthwhile.
For example, switching plugs off at the wall and avoiding standby mode on TVs, computers, stereos and the like, together with switching off lights when you don't need them, could save you almost £50 a year.
Wash your clothes at 30 degrees instead of 40 and don't use a tumble dryer in the summer, and you could save another £30.
Upgrading appliances/electronics If you need to replace any domestic appliance, then it may be worth spending a little extra to get the most energy-efficient model you can afford. Some fridge/freezers with an A+ energy rating can be incredibly affordable.
They are all rated by law, from A to G, so you can tell how efficient they are. However, there is a great deal of variation within these bands, so also make sure you look at the specific figures on energy consumption. Some appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines, also have grades A+++, A++ and A+.
Very roughly, a new efficient appliance could save you between £20 and £40 a year on energy bills, according to the EST.
More modern consumer electronics are also more energy-efficient. And if you're looking for a new television, bear in mind that LED TVs are more efficient than LCDs, which in turn are a good deal more efficient than Plasmas, according to Which?
Not strictly an appliance, granted, but replacing old incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient versions can save you £3 a pop.

Energy generation and renewables These measures aren't about upgrading what you already have, but investing in technologies that allow you to generate your own energy.
As a result, they can be quite expensive, which is one of main reasons why the government is launching its Green Deal.

Feed-in tariffs are available for domestic energy generation

One way is to use wood to heat your home. According to the EST, replacing electric heaters with a wood pellet heating system could save as much as £580 a year.
Carbon emissions would also be reduced, as the carbon dioxide given off when burning is offset by the carbon absorbed by the tree from which the wood was cut.
Solar panels are another popular way to generate power, and can typically provide about three-quarters of an average home's electricity needs.
Wind turbines are an alternative that, if situated in the right part of the country, can provide more than enough electricity to power a typical home.
Government feed-in tariffs mean you get paid to generate electricity, and for selling any excess to the main grid. In fact, one turbine could generate savings and income of more than £3,000 a year including tariffs, the EST says.
Another option is heat pumps, which take heat from the air or the ground but which need electricity to run. In some cases, these are better at saving on carbon emissions than money.
You will need to calculate the payback time carefully when deciding whether to invest in any of these technologies. But remember that if you sell your home, the buyer can also benefit from the cost savings, which can add to the value of your property in their eyes.

Trianco Stoves, The Newton Collection.

Trianco have been providing quality heating products for some time so I feel it is time we had a look at some of their products. This time we are going to be looking at the modern styled Trianco Newton Stoves, now firstly these stoves come in a 5kW and 8kW option. These options provide the 5kW or 8kW heat output respectfully and have up to 78% efficiency.

The Newton stoves have quite a modern/contemporary design, simplistic in many ways, but this is a design feature as the newton stove has been made to have all the modern features expected from a stove but not confuse the user with several controls and settings.

The Newton is a British made stove and can burn a wide variety of solid fuels, including wood (seasoned hardwood recommended) or peat/turf briquettes. Both varieties of the stove can come with the option to have a pedestal. This raises the stove from ground level and changes the appearance of the stove. When accompanied with the pedestal the stove is easier to clean and load, and there is also a place to store fuel under the stove, however for many this moves the stoves from the traditional setting expected when buying a stove.

The 5kW model may be top or rear flued,(5inch flue), for many the positioning of the flue pipe is important to the aesthetics of the stove, so having the option to choose is a bonus. The 8kW stoves have a 6inch flue and may only be top flued when being used with the optional boiler.

The boiler option can provide hot water and be used with radiators, this option is becoming more and more popular as we all look to improve the efficiency of our homes and reduce our carbon footprint. Of course by using a stove and burning wood you are doing this, but many are going all the way and using a boiler that is heated by the stove to even better the environment and the use of the heat emitted from the stove. Some stove users will have the underfloor heating in their homes powered by their stove, which is great if you can afford the time and money!

Trianco Newton stoves stylishly have tertiary air intake that creates a triple-burn system ensuring clean and complete combustion for higher efficiency and lower emissions. The modern design is created by 5mm thick sheets of steel being laser cut into the desired shapes for assembly, this level of thickness is excessive of current regulations, and to add even more efficiency and longevity to the stove the Newtons have vermiculite bricks installed that encourage the retention of heat.

Other great features include the unique handle and control design and the stove comes complete with a cast iron grate, an ash pan and operating tool.

Another great example of great British design and engineering and a company worth considering if you are looking to purchase a modern stove.

New Legend Open-Fronted HE Fires

Legend Fires have released the new Virage range, a range of open fronted, high-efficiency gas fires, taking all the best bits of the already popular Vantage range and combining it with the high-effiency of the Evora range to create the new Virage fires.

These new open fronted gas fires offer a maximum heat output of 4.6kWand efficiency of up to 68%, these open fronted gas fires give a similar efficiency rating to that of a glass fronted fire, but without a glass front, which can be viewed as a major advantage over the glass fronted fires.
You don't have to worry about cleaning glass that has condensation marks and no reflections from the glass possible detracting from the look of the overall fire.

The Virage range are available in three different styles, the Virage HE, Virage Contemporary HE and the Virage HE 4 Sided gas fires. These fires are all avaiable in Brass, Polished Chrome and Black with the choice of five different fuel effects, choose from the standard coals, pebbles with the options of a new ripped coal fuel effect as well as the choice of modular coals or pebbles.

The Virage HE 4 Sided gas fire looks stunning with the polished chrome trim with coal fuel effect and black outer trim, the beautiful contrast between the polished chrome, the black interior and exterior trim, especially when placed on a white or pale coloured wall really makes the fire stand out. The picture right shows the fire on a feature chimney breast in a plain white finish, contrasting the feature wallpaper either side, really drawing attention to the fire.

Comes with Manual rotary control as standard with additional extra Slide or Remote control, Suitable for Class 1 chimney's & class 2 prefabricated flues running Natural gas only available and with Depth of 195mm fully inset, the Legend Virage Range of High Efficiency Convector fires are a must for those looking to save energy but not interested in having a glass front on their fire.

Now available from all good fireplace retailers such as Fireplace Megastore, Fireplace Supermarket & Fireworld

Do I Need A Flue Liner?

If you have a standard masonry chimney and wish to install a woodburning or multifuel stove, it is highly advisable to fit a stainless steel flexible flue liner with the stove.

Corinium Flue Systems recommends fitting a flue liner for the following reasons;

• Masonry chimneys, particularly in older properties, are likely to have cracks. Without a liner, any fumes from the stove and creosote formed will leak through cracks in the masonry, possibly exiting in other rooms in your house or in your neighbours'.

• Creosote is a tar like substance that is formed when fumes emitted from the stove cool down as they rise. When these gaseous fumes cool down, any substances contained within the fumes condense and are deposited on the inside of the flue or chimney. A flue liner has a smooth inner skin with less surface area for creosote to be deposited onto, whereas in a masonry chimney it is likely to build up in cracks or crevices. Creosote is highly flammable and is often the cause of chimney fires.

• A flue liner is much narrower than a chimney and is the same diameter from top to bottom. This continuous, consistent pathway will allow the flue gases to exit the chimney much quicker, with less chance of deposits. A flue liner's narrow, consistent diameter also means that it will warm up much quicker than a chimney. This results in an improved draw, making it easier to get a fire burning without lots of smoke back into the stove. A flue liner will retain the heat longer than a chimney after the fire has died out, which means it will be easier to start a new fire the morning after the night before.

• A flue liner is generally more straightforward to sweep. Creosote deposits formed will be harder to remove from a large chimney, especially build ups in cracks or crevices.

A question frequently asked is whether the flue should be insulated - this is done by backfilling the chimney around the flue liner. This is not necessary, but can be beneficial if you have a particularly cold chimney i.e. external, very exposed and very large. Normally the warming of the air in the chimney surrounding the liner during burning is sufficient for insulation.

They are also frequently asked whether a flue liner is necessary to comply with building regulations. It does not state in the building regulations that a flue liner has to be fitted with a stove. However, you must be sure that the chimney is in good working condition and has been sufficiently maintained. The majority of installers and retailers will recommend fitting a flue liner; particularly in older properties, as it is safer and more efficient.

We do not advise asking your installer not to fit a flue liner purely on the basis of cost. Once you have made the one off investment, your stove and flue liner, if properly maintained, will last for years. Most stove and flue manufacturers offer a warranty on their products - for example, Corinium offer a ten year warranty on our flue liner, subject to conditions of use.

Buy British: Fires & Stoves

These are troubling times for Britain's manufacturing sector, once a relative bright spot in the country's lacklustre recovery, which contracted at its fastest pace in more than two years in October, as new orders plummeted.

But at a time when the weather is closing in and people are looking to replace their fire or stove, many will simply head down to their local DIY or home-improvement store and buy an off-the-shelf stove or fire. However there is quite a high likelihood that these stoves and fires were built overseas, while there may be nothing wrong with stoves and fires, they may serve and satisfy all your heating needs. 

However it is always nice to know exactly where your stove or fire has been built. In this article we have a look at some of the most popular British products on the market and have a look into where they are created.

The Portway 2 Multi fuel stove is a contemporary steel stove which features a large viewing window and is exceptionally easy to operate.

With a choice of 2 stove colours; charcoal or black, and 3 leg heights this is a highly versatile stove.

Features: 

• Exemption from the Clean Air Act 1993 and suitable for smokeless zones as recommended by DEFRA
• Top or rear 125mm (5”) flue connection
• Simple operating controls
• Airwash to keep the glass window clean and clear
• Easy access, easy carry ashpan
• Tough, 5mm thick steel stove body
• Cast iron door and grates 

You can also choose to customise your stove with our range of decorative window inserts or vitreous enamel doors in Ruby Red or Arctic Grey.

The Portway Range of stoves are built by BFM Europe, the company is based in Stoke-on-Trent with a 51,000 sq ft purpose built plant, housing the most up-to-date manufacturing, sales and training facilities in the industry, including the latest sheet metal technology, R&D department and purpose built laboratories.
The Portway range are showroom exclusive, meaning you CANNOT purchase them online, however you can view and purchase the stove from Fireplace Megastore

Paragon & Matchless are both part of Charlton & Jenrick, startedby two friends in 1986 and based in Telford they produce a wide range of gas and electric fires, ranging from the stunning Chorus hole in the wall gas fire to the Quartet balanced flue fire and a stunning range of electric fires. Twenty four years later the Charlton & Jenrick Group moved into new premises, although just a stones throw from the original premises, are very substantially larger at 42,000sqft. It will be home to the group's gas fire manufacturing and product development operations, which employs 43 people.
The group is now a major player in the fireplace market employing over 120 staff across 3 sites in the UK and sales in excess of £12m. With it's 4 main brands, Katell, Paragon, Fireline & Matchless they are involved in almost all product groups including gas and electric fires, timber, marble & stone fireplaces and suites plus wood burning stoves.  

This high efficiency balanced flue fire is the Verine Marcello balanced flue gas fire, perfect for modern homes without a chimney or flue and features a natural stone fuel bed. The Marcello can be wall hung or inset into most external walls with stainless steel trim.

This stunning gas fire is almost unique in that it can be hung on the wall or inset so not to protrude into the room. While boasting a massive 87% efficiency meaning you wont be wasting energy while heating your living room, boasting 4.2kW of heat output, enough for even some of the larger living spaces

Much like The Portway Range of stoves, The Verine Marcello is built by BFM Europe, the company is based in Stoke-on-Trent with a 51,000 sq ft purpose built plant, housing the most up-to-date manufacturing, sales and training facilities in the industry, including the latest sheet metal technology, R&D department and purpose built laboratories.

The cheapest we found it was at Fireworld HERE

The Endeavour 3D

Evonic Fires is a brand of CK fires, situated in rural Warwickshire and are focused on provided a wide selection of quality fires, built in the Britain, available from many independent fireplace retail outlets.
Evonic Fires have unveiled their latest offering. The Endeavour 3D hang on the wall electric fire. This ultra-slimline electric fire utilises the same technology that makes the Brilliant Newdawn-E so popular with the choice of seven different fascias to creates a stunning electric fire that not only looks good, but also gives a great heat output for an electric fire at 2kW with built in thermostat.
The Endeavour uses a log fuel effect to create a very realistic looking electric fire, also creating the illusion that the fire is deeper than it actually is, further adding to the realism of the flame effect.
Available in the almost standard electric fire finishes of black glass and gloss black, the Endeavour 3D also breaks from the norm offering the choice of Grey Mirror, Brushed Aluminium, Calcite White and Stone Effect. However the crowing glory of the Endeavour 3D is the solid Oak Fascia that is available, this truly combines the best of having a natural wood surround and inset fire with having a modern hang-on-the-wall electric fire.
 The natural grain of the fascia frames and complements the flame effect in the centre, adding even more ambience to that of a standard black glass electric fire.
And built with almost exclusively British components, you can be sure that when buying an Evonic fire, you are supporting the British economy, especially important in these difficult financial times.
You can now view the Evonic Endeavour 3D complete with black glass fascia, alongside the Evonic Euphoria Stove and Almyra hang on the wall electric fire now on live display at Fireplace Megastore.


Do you have a question that needs answering? Or you want your heat appliance reviewed by the Fires Fireplaces Stoves Team? Why not contact us on firesfiresplacesstoves@gmail.com

Office and industrial heating

DRU gas heating systems are used extensively in offices, workshops, industrial units and even large factories throughout the UK. They can be used as the main source of heating for offices and industrial premises. They can also be used for supplementary heating in extensions to buildings or in portable accommodation.
DRU office and industrial heating systems can be found in a wide variety of commercial premises, including a central London hedge fund company, light industrial workshops in many inner city locations, offices and studios by the River Thames in Twickenham and the distribution centre of an international tool manufacturer in Nottinghamshire.
Heating for Leisure
DRU heaters have been installed in many leisure environments, such as sports halls, visitor centres and even in zoos. This is because DRU Art and Style series heaters can be run on LPG and need no electrical supply, so they are suitable for remote sites, portable buildings, livestock accommodation and animal houses.
Heating for Military
DRU heaters have been installed in a large number of military establishments, from the far South West of England to the far North of Scotland. They are also used in British Forces headquarters in Cyprus and other overseas locations.
They provide robust, efficient and reliable heating for military barracks, which are often in remote locations and subject to harsh weather conditions. DRU Art series heaters are most suitable for these kinds of premises as they can be run on LPG and require no electrical supply. So there is no danger of heat loss in the event of power failure.

Heaters for all applications
The DRU range of office and industrial heaters includes balanced flue models with heat outputs from 2 – 11 kw and powered flue models with forced air convection from 7 – 16 kw. They are available in a wide selection of colours and designs to compliment plush offices or more functional industrial and workshop environments.


Contemporary gas, electric and wood fires
DRU is Europe’s leading manufacturer of contemporary gas fires which, as well as looking great in the home, can add warmth, comfort and style to hotels, pubs, restaurants and even office receptions! To see the full range of DRU gas electric and wood burning fires, visit: http://www.fireplacemegastore.co.uk
Heating Services
DRU provides a wide range of services for office and industrial heating throughout the UK. Operating through a national network of DRU approved GAS SAFE registered heating installers, we provide free surveys, consultations, installations, warranty work and servicing. You can contact us about servicing your existing DRU heaters. We also stock spare parts for many older and obsolete models.

We love our wood-burning stove in the house we’ve just bought, but...

We love our wood-burning stove in the house we’ve just bought, but I have discovered we live in a smoke control area. 

This is the question faced by dozens, if not hundreds of individuals, couples and families faced every year as they purchase their new house, complete with stove, envisioning the stereo-typically romantic image of sat around the stove, the warm glow eminating from the window and bathing everyone in the warm glow. Putting an extra log on the stove as the fire every so often, just to top up the heat.

However this dream can quickly become a nightmare if you become informed you live in a smokeless zone and your stove is not DEFRA approved.

However not all is lost, you can still keep your stove, however you would be slightly restricted to burning smokeless fuels, DEFRA approved status merely means that the stove has been given approval by DEFRA to be exempt from the clean air act when burning wood.

So not to worry if you've just bought a house with a stove that isn't DEFRA approved, you can still burn smokeless fuels and enjoy that romantic image of relaxing in front of a blazing stove with the room covered in the warm glow.

Aga Little Wenlock Classic in Ideal Home

The Aga Little Wenlock Classic stove makes a welcome appearance in the November issue of Ideal Home, taking pride of place in Matthew and Rebecca Stenson’s living room (p.30). The Stensons’ home is a new build cottage, located in a Cambridgeshire village close to Huntingdon. Although the cottage is only three years old, it has been faithfully built in the rustic style using a traditional oak frame with modern structural insulation panels.
The Stensons have created a home rich with old world charm, but have incorporated the convenience of modern technology wherever possible. With underfloor heating and an air-source heat pump to keep their fuel costs down to around £80 per month, a wood burning stove is more a feature than a necessity. The Aga Little Wenlock Classic woodburner they have installed in their living room is a perfect fit for the character of the cottage with its timeless combination of traditional and modern aesthetics. However, the suitability of this stove for their home goes much deeper than looks alone.

The Aga Little Wenlock Classic stove achieves fuel efficiency of up to 81.2%, making it a good fit for the eco-friendly ethos of fuel economy seen in the rest of the Stensons’ heating system. The Little Wenlock Classic stove has a heat output of 4.7kW. This gives it the power to keep a small living room toasty warm in the worst of weather, but also makes it ideal for supplementing central heating in a medium living room such as the Stensons’.
The Stensons have gone for high quality materials wherever possible both in building and decorating their home. It is no surprise therefore that a solid cast iron woodburner would appeal to them. Aga are renowned for their quality control, being unwilling to release stoves with even the smallest superficial defect. While there are cheaper stoves on the market with similar designs, a close-up comparison will always show the Aga stove to have a flawless finish where a budget stove may well have the odd rough edge.

Ideal Home Magazine is one of best selling homes magazines, and it’s easy to see why. Every issue is crammed full of inspirational ideas, creative decorative techniques and the latest interior design style trends....




Do you have a question that needs answering? Or you want your heat appliance reviewed by the Fires Fireplaces Stoves Team? Why not contact us on firesfiresplacesstoves@gmail.com