A conventional flue gas fire uses an existing chimney or suitable flue system to take combustion gases safely away from the room. These fires are commonly installed into traditional chimney breasts.

A balanced flue gas fire is room-sealed and vents directly outside through an external wall. It is a popular choice for homes without a chimney, as long as the fire can be positioned on a suitable outside wall.

A flueless gas fire does not require a chimney or external flue. Instead, it uses a catalytic converter and must meet specific room size and ventilation requirements. Always check suitability before purchasing.

An inset gas fire is designed to fit into a fireplace opening, chimney breast or suitable surround. It sits partly recessed into the wall or fireplace cavity for a neat, traditional appearance.

An outset gas fire sits proud of the wall or fireplace opening rather than being recessed. These fires are often chosen for strong heat output and practical everyday heating.

HE stands for high efficiency. A high efficiency gas fire is designed to capture more heat and lose less energy up the chimney compared with many older open-fronted gas fires.

A glass fronted gas fire has a sealed or fixed glass panel in front of the flame. This often improves efficiency and helps provide a cleaner, more controlled flame picture.

A DEFRA approved stove, sometimes called a smoke control area approved stove, can be used to burn wood in many UK smoke control areas when operated correctly with suitable fuel.

An Ecodesign stove meets modern efficiency and emissions standards. These stoves are designed to burn cleaner and more efficiently than many older wood burning appliances.

Nominal heat output is the average tested heat output of a stove during normal efficient operation. For many UK living rooms, a 5kW stove is a popular choice, but the correct size depends on the room.

kW stands for kilowatt and is used to measure heat output. The higher the kW rating, the more heat the appliance can produce. Choosing the right output is important for comfort and efficiency.

A multi-fuel stove is designed to burn more than one approved fuel type, usually wood and authorised smokeless mineral fuels. It commonly includes a grate and ash pan to suit different fuels.

A wood burning stove is designed primarily for burning seasoned logs or kiln dried wood. For best performance, always use dry wood with a low moisture content.

An airwash system directs air across the inside of the stove glass to help keep the viewing window clearer during burning. It does not mean the glass never needs cleaning, but it helps reduce soot build-up.

An external air supply allows a stove to draw combustion air from outside rather than from the room. This can be useful in modern, well-insulated or airtight properties.

A media wall fire is usually a modern electric fire designed to be built into a feature wall, often below a television. Many can be installed as one, two or three-sided displays.

An inset electric fire is designed to sit recessed into a fireplace opening, wall cavity or suitable surround for a neat built-in appearance.

A wall mounted electric fire fixes directly to a wall, often with little or no building work. These fires are popular for quick installations and contemporary rooms.

Flame effect only mode allows an electric fire to display the flame picture without using the heater. This is ideal for ambience throughout the year.

Many modern electric fires use LED technology to create realistic flame visuals with low energy consumption, long life and adjustable colour settings on selected models.

A thermostatic remote allows you to control the heater and set a target room temperature. The fire can then adjust operation to help maintain comfort.

A hearth is the base area beneath a fire or stove. Depending on the appliance, it may need to be made from a suitable non-combustible material and meet minimum size requirements.

The surround is the decorative fireplace frame around a fire opening. Surrounds can be made from marble, limestone, wood, stone, micro-marble or other materials.

A back panel sits behind the fire and within the fireplace surround. It helps create a finished fireplace appearance and may need to be suitable for the chosen appliance.

The rebate is the depth between the wall and the front of the fireplace surround. It helps determine whether a fire will fit correctly within the fireplace opening.

A flue liner is fitted inside a chimney to provide a suitable route for combustion gases. Stoves often require a suitable flexible flue liner depending on the chimney and installation.

Gas Safe registered engineers are legally qualified to work on gas appliances in the UK. Any gas fire installation or gas-related work should be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

A HETAS approved installer is trained and registered to install solid fuel appliances such as wood burning and multi-fuel stoves in accordance with relevant standards.