Fireplaces

Featuring the best fireplaces in New Zealand

Fireplaces are spaces where open fires are maintained indoors, often used for keeping the house warm during winter and adding a cosy feeling during winter. Aesthetically speaking, it serves as a central focal point in a room, enhancing the aesthetic appeal and adding a touch of charm and elegance. Regardless, this is just one of many options for your home's heating, cooling, and ventilation needs to improve your daily life.

Benefits of fireplaces

Cosy fires

Everyone loves the cosy warmth of a roaring fire and nothing captures that better than a fireplace. Whether it's a traditional wood fireplace or a modern gas fireplace, you’ll enjoy the heat and ambience during those cold winter nights. 

Warmth during power outage

When a storm hits, there is always the risk of a power outage. If you have a fireplace inside the home, you can keep yourself warm while the power is out.

Power saver

Fireplaces can serve as an additional heating source, helping to reduce energy bills by allowing you to lower the thermostat and heat specific areas of your home. Additionally, in the case of a wood-burning fireplace, purchasing firewood is often cheaper than heating the house using various other utilities in New Zealand.

Types of fireplaces

Wood

The traditional wood fireplaces provide cosiness, heat, ambience, and a tinge of nostalgia. These conventional heaters burn wood to create an irreplaceable multi-sensory experience, such as the smoke and crackle of the fire. 

Gas

These are an energy-efficient and inexpensive alternative. Like wood, many gas fireplaces use chimneys and fireboxes to ventilate and burn natural gas. They can be easily installed into an existing insert or set up as a free-standing structure.

Electric 

Another cost-effective option is flameless electric fireplaces. These use a fan and coils to distribute heat and typically involve a flickering fake flame replicating the traditional chimney. However, they ignite with the flick of a switch and require no kindling.

Bioethanol

Bioethanol fireplaces are an eco-friendly alternative that burns ethanol inside a container to form a real flame. Since no smoke is produced with bioethanol, ventilation is not required. 

How to choose a fireplace

Choosing the right fireplace in New Zealand involves several considerations. First, decide between wood-burning, gas, electric, or bioethanol models based on your preferences for traditional feel, convenience, installation ease, or environmental friendliness. Determine if your priority is for heating, ambience, or both to narrow your options. Consider the installation location, ensuring it meets safety and ventilation requirements, and choose a model that fits your room's size and decor. Check heat output and efficiency, opting for high-efficiency models to save on energy costs. Ventilation is necessary for wood-burning and gas fire pits, while electric and ethanol models are easier to install without it. Factor in your budget, including purchase, installation, maintenance, and fuel costs. Prioritise safety features like automatic shut-off and cool-touch glass. Ensure compliance with local building codes and obtain any necessary permits. By considering these factors, you can choose a fireplace that fits your needs, enhances your home, and provides warmth and comfort.

Care and maintenance

Proper care and maintenance are crucial for ensuring the longevity and efficiency of any fireplace, whether it’s electric, gas, wood, or bio-ethanol. For electric models, regular dusting and checking for electrical connections are essential to maintain safety and functionality. Gas fireplaces require annual inspections by a qualified technician to check the gas lines, burner, and ventilation system for any leaks or blockages. Wood-burning models demand the most rigorous maintenance, including frequent cleaning of the chimney and firebox to remove soot and creosote, which can be fire hazards. Bio-ethanol fireplaces, while cleaner, should still be routinely checked for fuel leaks and the integrity of the burner. Overall, each type of fireplace has its specific maintenance needs, but all benefit from regular checks and cleaning to ensure they operate safely and efficiently.

Other heating, cooling, and ventilation products to consider

If you’re undertaking home renovations, you may be interested in several other products for your heating, cooling, and ventilation. For example, solar heating has become a popular option due to its friendliness toward the environment and energy cost savings. However, if you want a system with more versatility, you can opt for central heating and cooling. You can also consider other methods, such as high-quality fans, to manage the heat in your home.