Gas fires were developed and launched in South Africa about 25 years ago. These fires imitated the look of real coal fires or log fires, with glowing embers and lovely flickering flames. They offered heat at the flick of a switch and an amazing visual effect.

These realistic flame effects, however, produced exhaust gases, which needed to be vented up a chimney to make them safe to use. At the time, gas was much cheaper than it is now, and these units became very popular and were installed in the homes of many thousands of happy clients.

Since then, the price of petrol, diesel and gas has risen significantly and, as a result, the running costs of these fires have become prohibitive and new sales of these appliances are now almost zero. These outdated gas fires have been replaced with newer technology: flue-less gas fires.

These newer gas grates burn gas differently and create a wonderful modern flame effect with very little in the flame path. Changes in the combustion process mean the emissions from these units are so low that these fires can safely be installed in open-plan living areas without the need for a chimney. They are three times as efficient as the old, flued gas fires, making them powerful and economical.

Built-in units

Classic and Slimline Gas Fires from Infiniti Fires are designed to be built into a brick structure, such as an existing chimney breast. Alternatively, a fake chimney breast can be built to accommodate the firebox.

Wall-mounted units

The Concept, Symphony and Picasso units from Infiniti Fires are designed simply to bolt onto a wall and have a gas connection installed to the grate. With no messy or more costly building work, these units are easy to install. If the unit is on an external wall of the house, it may be possible to simply feed the gas line into the grate from outside and connect the fire. Symphony units from Infiniti Fires create a wonderful reflection of the flames in the brushed stainless steel back panel.

Drop-in units

Drop In Grates from Infiniti Fires are designed to simply drop into a hole in a slab, very much like a kitchen hob drops into a kitchen counter. The slab can be made from any non-combustible material such as concrete, granite or Caesar Stone. It is important for the grate to allow adequate air to be supplied to the underside of the slab for the unit to operate properly. A simple wall vent on the underside of the slab is generally adequate.

Conversion units

These grates are designed to enable the easy conversion of an existing steel or brick fireplace into a flueless gas fire. If you have an open wood- or anthracite-burning fire, it is as simple as sealing up the chimney opening to prevent heat loss up the chimney, running gas to the fire and connecting a flueless grate. No more lighting of solid fuel fires, no more smoky smell in the house, no more cleaning out of ash. Instead, you have all the heat you require at the flick of a switch. If you have an existing flued gas fire, it is generally even easier to install a flueless grate form Infiniti Fires: simply remove the flued grate, seal up the chimney flue and fit the flueless grate to the existing gas line. In most cases, it takes just an hour or two. A flueless grate from Infiniti Fires is three times more efficient than most flued grates. That is a lot more heat for your home at no extra cost, or the same amount of heat with a huge reduction in running cost.