Warming up your living room with a fireplace has been a common tradition in homes across the world for hundreds of years. However, more recently, gas fireplaces have increased in popularity to become the most widely used fireplace in domestic and commercial environments. This article will detail the history of the gas fireplace, looking at why it has become so popular, and the developments it has seen over the course of its existence.

Gas fires first came into prominence as a popular alternative for wood burning fires due to their efficiency and cleanliness. Wood burning fires created a lot of smoke and ash, whereas gas fireplaces removed these by-products entirely; providing a cleaner, more efficient fireplace. The relative speed of which the gas fire could alight was a great improvement on the gradual lighting of a traditional fireplace. The first gas fireplace is estimated to have been produced as early as 1895, using the method of heating a cast-iron carcass that projected heat out into the room.

Although gas fires may have suffered from a lack of aesthetic authenticity compared to the beautiful natural flames of a wood burning stove, recent developments of the gas fireplace have provided homeowners with realistic-looking ‘living flame’ fires. Although they still don’t provide genuine flames, the mock-flames look incredibly realistic and add an extra layer of atmosphere and authenticity to gas fireplaces. As well as the fires themselves, there are now countless surrounds for gas fireplaces that enhance their appearance and help them become the focal point of a room.

As with a lot of new innovations, the price was originally a sticking point for a lot of people as it was relatively expensive compared to traditional fires. However, over time, the price of these fires has dropped quite considerably, making them much more affordable and therefore more common in domestic and commercial environments.

Here at The Fireplace Studio, we are proud to stock a wide range of beautiful gas fires and surrounds to suit any need. We stock a variety of fireplaces, including both inset and outset models, plus balanced flue fires. Our team of experienced, Gas Safe Registered professionals can install your fire quickly and efficiently, ensuring that you can enjoy the benefits of your new fireplace as soon as possible. For more information about our range of gas fires or any of our other fireplaces, browse our website today or visit our showroom and talk to one of our friendly, helpful staff.