How to Choose the Right Gas Fireplace (Plus Hot New Features)

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When the temperature drops, there’s nothing quite like coming inside to a warm and toasty home. Gas fires score top marks when it comes to style and functionality – they’re clean, convenient, efficient to run and you can switch them on with the touch of a button. They’re versatile too; you’ll find both classic and and contemporary models on the market, in sizes designed to heat everything from a small bedroom to a large, open-plan room in a family home. You can install them into an existing fireplace or turn a dull blank wall into a magnificent fireplace without any major structural alterations.

Looking to add warmth and flair to your home with a gas fireplace? We spoke with the experts at Barbeques Galore to find out the five key things you need to consider before you buy.

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1. Choose the right shape and size
The first thing to consider when choosing a fireplace is which size will suit the dimensions of your room – as well as deliver sufficient heat.

Gas fireplaces come in a range of sizes, from around 600 millimetres wide up to about 3300 millimetres wide. The bigger the room, the bigger the unit you’ll need.

Next, consider the fireplace shape. Gas fires come in three basic styles – insert, built-in and freestanding. Insert fireplaces are ideal if you’re replacing an existing fireplace; built-ins are designed to be built into a wall; and freestanding fires (which look like wood-burning stoves) give you the flexibility to position them anywhere within a room.

Built-in gas log fires are a popular choice in the design world today. Shape-wise, rectangular and linear styles with simple, minimalist lines are trending.

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2. How much heat do you need?
Whichever fireplace you choose, you’ll need to ensure that it produces enough heat to warm the room efficiently. The heat produced by a gas fireplace is measured in kW (kilowatts).

The Valor Inspire range of gas log fires at Barbeques Galore comes in three different sizes and in either LPG or natural gas. The larger the heater the bigger the area it can heat. Your climate as well as the floor and window coverings in the room can affect the heating capacity of a gas log fire.

As a guide, the Valor 700 gas log fire can heat a room up to 70 square metres in both natural gas and LPG; the 900 model will suit a room up to 75 square metres in both natural gas and LPG; and the 1100 model will heat a room up to 100 square metres in natural gas and up to 90 square metres in LPG.

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3. Consider the location
While a living room is the natural location for a gas fireplace, you can safely install them in many other spots inside the home. Turn your bedroom into an inviting retreat with a built-in gas fire, cosy up the family home with a freestanding model or add a touch of unexpected luxury to a bathroom with a built-in gas stunner.

If you’re installing a gas fire in the middle of an open-plan room, you may want to consider a two- or three-sided design that delivers heat and ambience from different sides.

One design trend we’re seeing a lot of right now is gas log fires installed within a joinery wall featuring combustible materials such as timber cladding. To do this in your own home, you’ll need to select a zero-clearance gas log fire – these styles are specially designed to reduce clearance.

You’ll also find outdoor models that allow you to add warmth and charm to your outdoor entertaining or barbecue areas – with the added advantage of allowing you to use these spaces all year round.

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4. Focus on features
When selecting a gas log fire, consider how you’ll use it and its interior features and styling.

Today’s gas log fires are packed with convenient features. You’ll find models with remote-control operation so you can switch heating on at the touch of a button, change the temperature, adjust the fan speed and even the height of the flame.

As your gas fireplace is likely to be the focus of the room it’s going into, it’s important to consider its decorative features too. The main media options (the features inside the fireplace) are driftwood and coal, which are great for creating a natural or rustic vibe, or pebbles, which give you a contemporary look.

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5. Flue know-how
All gas fireplaces need to be flued externally to safely and effectively remove gases.

There are three main types of gas flues available; conventional flues that run vertically, balanced flues, which can run vertically or horizontally over short distances; and power-balanced flues, which can run vertically, horizontally, underfloor or a combination of all.

Power-balanced flues give the most flexibility when it comes to installation and allow you to put a gas fire just about anywhere – even in an awkwardly shaped home or an apartment.

More: Check out the hot new Valor Inspire range of gas fireplaces at Barbeques Galore here

Tell us: Do you love the convenience of gas fireplaces as much as we do?

This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.