So you’ve decided to buy a fireplace… a wise decision! But have you given much thought to what type of fireplace would best suit your home? There are electric and gas fireplaces, and then there are wood burning stoves. As one of Kingston, Leatherhead and wider Surrey’s most prolific fireplace showrooms, we have a large number of units that fit in all three categories.
Rather than look to sell you on a certain manufacturer or model, our fireplace installers have looked at the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of each type of fireplace. If you read the below and still feel confused about which to select, we urge you to give us a call on 0208 390 2211. A friendly member of our team, based in nearby Tolworth, will be more than happy to answer any questions you have.
We stock brands including:
Electric fires have been selling like “hot” cakes (apologies) ever since they were introduced into fireplace showrooms. They’re highly energy efficient and are less pollutant than gas fireplaces. On top of this, as their heating element is within the unit and the warm air is blown out into the room, they don’t get nearly as hot as gas fires or wood burning stoves. This makes them a safer choice for Kingston households with small children.
They can struggle to produce as much heat as gas fires or wood burning stoves, and many find that they don’t offer the same ambience that the aforementioned options do. This is largely down to personal taste, however.
Gas fires are a classic option, and there is a huge variety of these units available in fireplace showrooms, like our own near Kingston. Fireplace installers have kind words to say about how warm and inviting gas fireplaces can make a living room; they’re typically seen as providing a better ambience than electric units. While electric fires have a slight edge when it comes to how green they are, gas fires do burn quite clean, so you needn’t worry that you’re significantly increasing your carbon footprint by having one installed in your home.
One major disadvantage, for some, is that you require a chimney to make use of a gas fire. If you don’t have one, then it may prove very expensive to have one built. Typically, fireplace installers will recommend electric fires for those unwilling to shell out to have a chimney fitted (although doing so could increase the value of your home). They also get very hot to the touch, so they should be handled carefully.
If you’re searching for a warm and cosy atmosphere with dancing flames and hot coals, there’s only one authentic choice – wood burning stoves. They’re a delight for the senses, from the crackling sound of the fire eating into its fuel to the olfactory joy that the smoke brings. Other benefits include the fact that wood is a renewable resource, so it’s an environmentally sound option for heating a home.
As in the case of gas fireplaces, stoves that burn wood need a chimney to function. These are expensive to build and can also mean warm air inside exits your property if you don’t take care to insulate the area around the stove. Stoves that burn wood need more attention than the other options mentioned on this page. You have to light the fire and ensure it is not under- or overfed. However, for many, including our Kingston fireplace installers, this is part of the fun! Like gas fires, they get very hot – staff at our fireplace showrooms urge you to be careful when operating stoves.
