Fireplaces UK

As the main focal point of any home, not only does a fireplace create a beautiful feature, it also has the option of being a cost-effective way to heat your home whilst oozing ambience. Choosing a fireplace can be an exciting but also daunting task. With current design trends, there is a huge choice of styles, materials and sizes to choose from so this information is here to give you a brief insight into the options available to you with fireplaces in the United Kingdom.

Cast Tec Victorian Corbel

A traditional fireplace design consisted of a hearth base, back panel or inglenook chamber and a mantel. Common materials used were original a combination of stone, marble and cast-iron and they were a huge part of the Victorian and Edwardian era. The living areas of grand properties focused around the fireplace being the main feature and a place to gather around for warmth and entertainment.

Years later, fireplaces became smaller and more focus pointed towards the heating side with real, open fires continuing to be the most common way in heating homes. Custom made brick or tiled fireplaces surrounded a chair brick inside the chimney. The coal man was a familiar site and this was one of the issues that led to the Clean Air Act being introduced to many parts of the UK.

When gas fires became popular, this was a dramatic change and resulted in many home owners changing their fireplaces as well. The convenience of lighting the fire and the controllability that a gas fire offers resulted in most homes now featuring a gas fire. A gas appliance that incorporated radiant bars offered impressive heat output was the most common design, these were often stand alone designs fitted on a hearth or hung on the wall. Whilst they offered impressive heat output and efficiency, they didn't particularly look that appealing. Living flame fires were designed to simulate a real, open fire. With imitation coals and a open flame, they instantly became popular and the 1980's were a time when most homes were now installing a new living flame gas fire.

Be Modern Arden

The fireplaces that were used to combine with inset gas fires were often wooden fire surrounds with a marble back panel and hearth. Common sizes were 54" wide (1370mm) and they worked well on a standard chimney breast. Another new design that became popular around this time were hole-in-the-wall fireplaces. These were normally made from marble and included brass detail and fitted well into interior trends of that era. Gas was relatively cheap and the main emphasis with manufacturing was to produce a fire that looks as much like a real coal fire as possible with little regard on running costs.

Current fireplace designs offer a wide selection of styles that will suit any interior. We are now seeing a strong increase in the popularity of high efficiency products and space saving fireplaces. Hole-in-the-wall designs are ideal for modern homes as subject to be fitted to manufacturers regulations, they do not require a hearth which will save valuable space in smaller rooms. Sleek designs featuring black glass and chrome and the best selling appliances have a glass-front which allow the gases produced by the fire to provide extra heat before going up the flue which therefore results in a higher heat output combined with lower running costs.

Hearth mounted fireplaces are now available in a host of materials such as:

• Timber - Popular woods now are Oak, Beech, Walnut  & Pine

• Cast Iron - traditionally found in bedrooms, cast-iron fireplaces are now purchased for classically inspired living room and the polished option can work well in a contemporary setting

• Marble - With a large range of finishes, marble is a excellent material for a fireplace as it's easy to clean, luxurious and hard-wearing

• Stone - Stone types such as limestone fireplaces and sandstone will always prove a popular choice with ageless appeal

For help and advice on any question regarding fires & fireplaces, please contact the HotPrice team on 0845 0000 080 or visit our website where you will find a vast selection of quality fireplace products with delivery available throughout the UK.

New models of Electric Fires & Wood Burning Stoves from Dimplex

Dimplex are synonymous for high quality products, amazing electric fire effects and huge product range which have resulted in them becoming the largest electric fire manufacturer in the world. Constantly looking at the the latest innovations and striving to introduce electric fires to suit current design trends, Dimplex have recently introduced a selection of new products which are now available to purchase from HotPrice Fireplaces.

Dimplex Chevalier Electric Stove

 The Dimplex 'Opti-Myst' effect is regarded as the most realistic flame effect available. This stunning visual effect uses water vapour to create a unbelievable flame that most customers find virtually identical to gas fires and real, open fires. Available in both inset electric fires that are designed to be fitted into a fireplace or in a wall-mounted style which offer a modern solution to contemporary homes and apartments, the Dimplex Opti-Myst flame effect has to be seen to really be appreciated.

The HotPrice showroom in Middleton, Manchester displays a selection of Dimplex fires with both the original Optiflame effect and the new Opti-Myst effect. These include the Dimplex Chevalier free-standing electric stove in it's modern gloss white finish, the Dimplex Danville inset electric fire and the wall-mounted Dimplex Tahoe which can simply be fitted on to any flat wall without the need to be inset.

Dimplex Danville Opti-Myst

 Electric fires offer a simple solution to create a warming feature within any room. There is no restrictions on flue types of a property as electric fires do not require any outside flue. They can be enjoyed throughout the year as the flame effect can be used independently of the heater. They are also a popular choice with home-owners who live in properties that do have a flue or chimney as with modern constructed houses which feature central heating and double glazed windows, they want the fire for mostly effect and with some of the range of Dimplex Fires now featuring low energy. LED bulbs, running costs of the flame effects will be very low.

Most electric fires in the Dimplex product range feature a 2kW fan heater. This can be used on a 1kW or 2kW setting and many models also include a thermostatic control which will cut the fire out once the room has reached a desired temperature. Whilst it is not likely that a electric fire will be used as a main heating source, they are ideal to provide instant heat to take the initial chill off the room before the central heating warms up or for a bit of extra warmth when it's not too cold outside.

Dimplex Selborne Multi-Fuel Stove

As well as a fantastic range of premium electric fires, Dimplex now offer a selection of wood burning stoves. These have proved very popular as current trends have made the option of heating your home with a carbon neutral method such as wood burning has become the choice for many people. As a iconic brand, you can rely on the fact the the range of Dimplex stoves have the advanced technology and attention to detail that Dimplex incorporate in their electric fires. The wood burning stoves include two models that have DEFRA approval which allow you to burn wood even in smokeless zones.

For friendly, impartial advice on the full range of Dimplex fires and stoves, contact HotPrice Fireplaces today on 0845 0000 080 or visit the website at www.hotprice.co.uk where you can browse all products.

Gas Fire Home Installation Surveys

HotPrice is one of the UK's Premier online supplier of gas fires, electric fires, fireplaces and stoves. They offer fast, free delivery direct to your door throughout Mainland UK. Based in Middleton, Manchester, they also have a large showroom where the display a large selection of popular products - some that you won't see online.

HotPrice Fireplace Showroom in Manchester

HotPrice can offer a Gas Safe registered installation service on their products throughout the Greater Manchester area. If you're thinking of replacing your existing fire for a high efficiency gas fire, moved into a new house and unsure about the condition of the chimney or just looking for ideas for a new feature fireplace, we can offer a free home survey by one of our registered gas fire experts.

A home survey will normally consist of checking the condition of the flue/chimney,  looking at sizes of the chimney to determine whether your chosen appliance will fit, assessing whether you have the correct chimney pot & cowl and advising on estimate fittings costs. We always recommend having a home survey as whilst you may have located your dream fireplace, unfortunately, it may be that your existing flue may not be suitable for it.

From a straight forward fire swap to constructing a twin-wall flue system for a wood burning stove, our experts can carry out all work to approved standards. We have both Gas Safe and HETAS registered approved installers that can carry out work in your home with all work completed given the necessary certificates. Call into our showroom or contact our sales team for more information if you are interested in a free, home survey.

The Heat Depot
Harpoon House
Sharp Street
Middleton
Manchester
M24 1AD
Tel: 0161 653 2183

High Efficiency Gas Fire Video

A short video by Sarah at HotPrice showing the popular Kinder Oasis HE high efficiency gas fire. This model is very popular with home-owners who are looking to reduce their heating bills without compromising on heating performance. The Kinder Oasis is offered with a unique 7 year manufacturers warranty for total piece of mind.

HotPrice offer a huge range of high efficiency gas fires suitable for all flue types including Pre-Cast flues. Most of these types of appliances feature a glass front and can be supplied in a variety of colours. Contact HotPrice today and enjoy lower running costs on a fire that will provide ambience and a warming feature.

http://youtu.be/L_w-7rwUz1U

Gas Fire Reviews

If you're looking for a new gas fire, we have put together a list of ten popular models that we believe offer excellent value combined with impressive performance. No matter what type of flue your home has, there is a model on the list that will be suitable. Buying a new gas fire can prove to be a wise choice. With rising energy prices, many homes still feature an older gas fire which may look realistic, but will be losing around 50% of the heat produced up the chimney or flue. New, high efficiency gas fires boasts energy efficiency ratings of up to 94% whilst providing excellent heat output.

Gas Fire Reviews

Win a Wood Burning Stove Competition Winner Announced

After a fantastic response to our Facebook 'Win a Wood Burning Stove' competition, we are pleased to announce that the lucky winner is Mrs Louise France. After a tense 2 week period of us struggling to get hold of Mrs France, she contacted us a few days ago to claim this fabulous prize.

The competition prize was the popular Cast Tec Norvik 5 multi-fuel stove. Cast iron construction, 5kW nominal heat output and full controllability result in the Cast Tec Norvik 5 being the ideal stove for most homes. The Norvik 5 also benefits from DEFRA approval so even home-owners living in smokeless areas can burn wood legally.

As well as this stove which normally sells for £595, we included a 1 metre length of stove pipe, a steel register plate, tub of fire cement and a heat resistant glove which, apart from a flexible chimney liner, should be everything Mrs France needed to fit the woodburner to current regulations.

The competition was incredibly popular. Wood burning stoves have been at the forefront of most peoples minds when it comes down to reducing heating bills in the home. We have carried out research on various social networking sites and the majority of voters have advised that they would replace their existing gas fire with a wood burning stove given the chance. They offer incredible heating performance and noting competes with a real fire for ambience however, a woodburner will only prove to be a cost-effective way of reducing heating bills as long as you are prepared to collect & store wood or have a constant supply of dry wood.

We plan to host more competitions with some amazing prices including more stoves, gas fires, electric fires and fireplaces. Keep an eye out on all of our social network accounts for updates!

Fitting a Fireplace Below a TV

With the growing popularity of flat screen televisions, more home-owners are looking for a solution to combat the fireplace competing with the TV as the focal point in their living room. We often get asked from customers on whether this is possible and this guide is offered to give you information on this subject including a selection of popular gas fires that will be suitable.

The first point to remember is that the literature supplied with televisions normally advises that the TV is never fitted above a heat source. With this in mind, this information is a guide only as to fireplaces that we are aware customers have fitted below TV's without any issues. It is ultimately your responsibility should you decide to fit a TV above any fire and fireplace. A small number of gas fire manufacturers do offer installation advice on their products within the instructions on fitting the fire below a TV. This normally consists of minimum clearances away from the fire of at least 300mm and should be followed carefully.

The only types of fires that are worth considering fitting below a TV are models that are designed more for effect rather than a heat source. A common gas fire that falls within this category is open-fronted, hole-in-the-wall gas fireplaces. Due to their design, this type of appliance looses a lot of the heat up the chimney and is best suited to people who are looking for a ambient focal point and not relying on it to heat the room. Basically a gas burner in a steel box enclosure, models such as the open-fronted Gazco Studio gas fire (pictured) are a popular choice for installation below a TV. Gazco also offer glass-fronted versions of this model which produce a high heat output and would not be suitable as the heat is likely to cause damage to any electric appliance fitted above.

Other popular gas fires that we are aware of customers fitting below TV's are; The Verine Vertex XL, Verine Atina (not HE model) and the Crystal Fires Jewel Hole-in-the-Wall Gas Fire. All of these models are classed as 'decorative effect' only and would not normally cause any issue when mounting a TV above as long as they are fitted to manufacturers instructions and into a well performing flue.

We have been told from customers and had images sent to us of customers that have fitted televisions above high output fires and even wood burning stoves. This is something that we would not recommend and entirely the customers choice if they take that risk. Some have claimed that they have not experienced any issues and others have fitted custom made shelves above the fire in a attempt to diffuse the heat away from the TV. Others have inset the TV into the wall. These have all been fitted with the customers being aware of the implications should the TV end up with damage. Any warranty claims for damage to the TV due to heat damage from the fireplace are likely to be void.

Electric fires are also a popular choice for fitting below TV's. Most people who have purchased electric fires do so mainly for the effect rather than heat. They can be enjoyed as a ambient feature throughout the year without the need to use the heater. Most electric fire manufacturers are aware that due to current interior design trends, it is popular to fit fires below a TV and due to this, they are now producing most wall-mounted models that have the heater positioned at the bottom. This is ideal as when you do decide to use the heater, the fan blows the heat down and away from the fire so it wouldn't go anywhere near any objects fitted above. Other models blow the heat produced from the side. There are still models that have the heater positioned at the top. If you do have a electric fire of this type and often use the heater function, we would advise on using caution and not fit a TV above.