Having a fireplace installed in your home is unfortunately not as simple as choosing the style you like and installing it in your living room. As well as picking out your preferred style of fireplace, you must also take into account the type of chimney or flue that you have in your home, as this directly affects whether or not you can accommodate a certain type of fire. This article will detail the different chimneys and flues that are available, giving you the information you need to help you make the right decision when choosing a fireplace.

Brick Chimneys

Perhaps known as the ‘traditional’ chimney, these are the chimneys that you will see most commonly on houses throughout the country. Brick chimneys remove the combustion products from inside your home by letting the natural flow of air take the excess combustion products up and out of the chimney.

Pre-Fabricated Flues

If you see a small metal structure on a house roof where a chimney normally is, this is what is known as a balanced flue. Also known as a Class 2 flue, the flue itself is a metal box that sits behind the fire, which connects to a metal pipe situated on the roof via a series of interlinking metal flue pipes. They are normally 127mm in diameter, but they can also be 180mm, in which case they will fall under the Class 1 category.

Pre-Cast Flue

These flues are typically found in more modern homes and they are built using hollow concrete blocks that form a flue up through the property, with the exit point being a rectangular ‘ridge vent’ on the roof. This vent blends in well with the roof of the property, so does not affect the external look of the home.

No Chimney

With the advent of gas fires, it is not uncommon for modern homes to have no chimney whatsoever. A gas fireplace does not create any combustion product, so there is no need for a chimney or flue to ventilate the property. Having no chimney means that you can only use a maximum 2kw gas fireplace, or a flueless gas stove.

Here at The Fireplace Studio, we specialise in the supply and installation of a comprehensive range of beautiful gas fireplaces. Whether you want an inset, outset or hole in the wall gas fireplace, we have exactly what you need to ensure you get the perfect fireplace for your home. Our in-house team have a wealth of experience and knowledge when it comes to gas fireplaces, so we can advise and assist you on everything you need to know when choosing your fireplace. Our Gas Safe registered technicians can even install your fire for you, so get in touch with us today to find out exactly what we can do for you.