Buyer's Guide

Slow Combustion Fireplaces

fireplace & chimney specialists | hyper fires

factors to consider

when choosing a SLOW
COMBUSTION fireplace

When looking to buy a slow combustion fireplace you will need to consider the four factors below to determine the correct fireplace for your needs.
Price for slow combustion fireplaces in cape town

Fireplace Price

calculate your budget

When purchasing a slow combustion fireplaces first determine what you would want to spend. Remember that all prices on closed combustion fireplaces are quoted excluding the flue kits, cowling and installation; this will still be added on top of your wood burning, slow combustion fireplace price.

Our online quote request will indicate the flue kit cost based on the finish selected and and the installation site. The installation labour price and extras like floor plates and roof seals are not included.

CLOSED COMBUSTION FIREPLACE Heating Capacity

determine your kilowatt output requirements

Take the volumetric size of the room you wish to heat into consideration to determine the kilowatt output of the slow combustion fireplace you need to buy. In layman’s terms you would require 1kw for every 10m² if your ceiling height is 2.7m. We normally recommend that you choose a fireplace that is 2kw over the required room size to compensate for heat loss through poor insulation. Remember that if you have an open plan living area you should also allow for the adjacent rooms in your calculation. In South Africa the maximum heating capacity is always indicated for a fireplace, in Europe they use the nominal heating capacity since they pay carbon tax per Kw. The nominal heating capacity is in between the minimum and maximum heating capacity [mean average]

Determine the required kW output to heat your room!

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Select a fuel type

WOOD OR MULTIFUEL FIREPLACE

Choosing a type of fuel to burn

You need to determine if you wish to burn anthracite in combination with wood before purchasing your slow combustion fireplace.

Most of the slow combustion fireplaces available in South Africa are wood burners only. The kilowatt rating supplied on the fireplaces is all determined based on burning wood; the heating capacity of wood is greater than that of anthracite and it gives a much nicer flame effect.

The dedicated anthracite burning fireplaces are normally top loaders, these units give off less heat than the wood burners but they can be burnt continuously for long periods on end. 

FREESTANDING OR BUILT-IN

Slow combustion collections

The big deciding factor in existing houses between freestanding and build-in is normally price. The freestanding units work out cheaper to install than the build-in units. In newly build houses clients tend to go for the build-in option rather than freestanding due to cost of building being incorporated into the overall building cost of the house. The advantage of the build-in option is that you can change the look of the fireplace by adding a mantle-piece or painting the fireplace structure whereas with the freestanding your look will remain the same.  

When choosing your freestanding fireplace you will be faced with two options [1] Radiant units – body of the fireplace releases the heat [2] Convection units – hot air is moved through a double layer of steel. The benefit with a convection fireplace is that you would be able to position the fireplace much closer to combustible materials such as furniture. 

Select your preferred style of fireplace

how to use your slow combustion wood burning fireplace