Hyper Fires Buyers Guide

When looking to buy a slowcombustion fireplace you will need to consider the following factors to determine the correct fireplace for your needs.

PRICE

When looking at slowcombustion fireplaces first determine what you would want to spend. Remember that all prices on slowcombustion fireplaces are quoted excluding the flue kits, cowling and installation; this can still add a further R7000, 00 on top of your slowcombustion fireplace price. 

HEATING CAPACITY

Take the volumetric size of the room you wish to heat into consideration to determine the kilowatt output of the slowcombustion fireplace you need to buy. In layman’s terms you would require 1kw for every 10m² if your ceiling height is 2.7m.
Wood or multifuel

You would need to determine if you wish to burn anthracite in combination with wood before purchasing your slowcombustion fireplace. Most of the slowcombustion fireplaces available in South Africa are wood burners only. The kilowatt rating supplied on the fireplaces is all determined burning wood and the heating capacity off wood is greater than that off anthracite, 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 BUILD-IN

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 looking to buy a gas fireplace you will need to consider the following factors to determine the correct gas fireplace for your needs.

VENTED OR FLUE LESS

Two types of gas fireplace are available in the market, vented [requires chimney to outside] and flue less [no chimney required to outside]. Vented gas fireplaces as a rule are much heavier on gas due to their extended flame affect. Their heating capacity however is not as high as the flue less gas fireplaces due to the fact that about 35% of the heat generated is lost through the chimney to the outside. On the other hand flue less gas fireplace is 99% efficient due to their flue less nature and that all heat generated is kept inside the house. These units burn the gas much more efficiently and the co2 emissions are virtually nonexistent, thus it does not soot like vented gas fireplaces.

Depending on the brand of flue less gas fireplace you buy the co2 levels emitted will vary. With some brands the emissions are much higher than others causing a “burnt gas” smell in your home, so be sure to ask for the co2 emission ratio on the various units before buying. You would be able to determine if a grate will have high emissions simply by comparing their heat output and gas consumption with each other, for example: 
Grate 1 – 6.5kw @ 1.1kg/h on max [high emissions will give smell] 
Grate 2 – 9.5kw @ 640g/h on max [low emissions virtually no smell] 

HEATING CAPACITY

You need to be sure that the gas fireplace you buy would be able to heat the area you plan to use the unit in. With most houses being open plan you are required to take any adjacent room which cannot be closed off by a door into account as well. As a rule of thumb you can say that for every 10m² at normal ceiling height of 2.7m you require 1kw of heat to warm the room.

GAS CONSUMPTION

Depending on the brand of gas fireplace you buy the gas consumption will vary. This is important to take into consideration when determining what size gas supply should be installed. The municipal bylaw in Cape Town states that no property my exceed the maximum amount of 38kg of gas without gas plans being submitted. So if you are going to install an appliance which gas consumption exceeds 700g/h on maximum setting or are planning to use more than one appliance at a time you will need to submit gas plans to council. We would take you through the design and setup of the gas installation when purchasing your new fireplace.

EMISSIONS

All gas fireplaces must by law be tested by the SABS and have the LPG safety SA approval. Flue less gas fireplaces will receive a co2 emissions rating from the SABS, this will vary from brand to brand depending on how efficient the product is set up. It will also vary depending on the grate size. These co2 emission ratings should be taken into account when determining the room size you want to install the flue less gas fireplace into.

When looking to buy a gas braai you will need to consider the following factors to determine the correct gas braai for your needs.

TYPE OF MATERIAL CONSTRUCTED OUT OF

When looking at material you need to consider whether the gas braai will be indoors or outdoors. If the gas braai is going to be outside especially the coastal areas you need to consider a higher grade of s/steel like 304 instead of the most commonly found 430 s/steel on gas braai’s. This will ensure a longer life for the product. The benefit of having an s/steel gasbraai apart from the life expectancy id the ease with which it cleans.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU CATER FOR

Sizing on your gas braai will determine not only for how many people you would be able to braai for but also what accessories can be used and in what combination they can be used. Various accessories are available and you should consider what you would like to do with the gasbraai before choosing the correct product.

WHAT DO YOU MOSTLY BRAAI

Gas braai’s come fitted with different styles of cooking surfaces; these surfaces in combination with the amount of heat generated from the burners will determine what meat is better suited to be cooked on the different gas braai’s. Some gas braai’s deliver very high heat and are better suited to cooking steak, others have lower heat and differently styled grids to lead the fat away from the fire so that there are less flames for cooking meat and chicken.

So be sure to mention what you will be cooking on your gas braai when enquiring about the various brands.

When looking to buy a build-in braai you will need to consider the following factors to determine the correct braai for your needs.

TYPE OF MATERIAL CONSTRUCTED OUT OF

When looking at material you need to consider whether the braai will be indoors or outdoors. If the braai is going to be outside especially the coastal areas you need to consider an s/steel like 3cr12, 304 or 316, instead of mild steel on braai’s. This will ensure a longer life for the product. 

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU CATER FOR

Sizing on your braai will determine not only for how many people you would be able to braai for but also what accessories can be used and in what combination they can be used. Various accessories are available and you should consider what you would like to do with the braai before choosing the correct product. Standard sizes that are available are 800mm, 1000mm, 1200mm & 1500mm.

WOOD OR GAS OR A COMBINATION

Most South Africans prefer to braai with wood or charcoal but that is now changing over to gas. Often it is required to do a quick steak in the middle of the week; this is where the gas option comes in handy. Making wood fires and waiting for coals takes up to much time. We have a special range of Combo build-in braai’s which houses both a wood and a gas section which all works on one chimney and can be used individually or as a unit. 

DELUX VS. SUPER DELUX

• Delux one grid & Super Delux three grids
• Delux flue size is 300mm² & the Super Delux is 500x350mm, so the Super Delux has a much stronger draw the Delux and are less likely to smoke
• The Delux braai is 100mm lower than the Super Delux braai, this makes it difficult to be able to turn a hand held grid inside the braai.