If you have just bought a new house or are renovating your own then heating will be an important matter, especially as the cold winter months draw near. The options for a heating solution can be bewildering, ranging from traditional antique fireplaces and basket fires to gas and electric, wood burning and multi-fuel stoves. Choose one that will compliment the style of your house and fit your finances.

Not so many years ago fireplaces had only one function, to keep the house warm and heated, now days they also provide decoration and appeal to a home along with warmth and heat. Adding a fireplace to your home can offer higher heat efficiency and enhance the room with a strong focal point, many home buyers view a fireplace as an appealing and unique feature and an attractive fireplace can make your home more valuable.

A real wood burning fire is seen as romantic, cozy and traditional. It not always so glamorous however, as there can be a lot of preparation and maintenance in building up a fire and keeping it lit. With the hectic lives people endure today, with work and children, means there is less time to pay attention and take care of a real fire. If your home doesn't have a chimney, you live in an apartment or just want to add a useable fireplace to your current home without paying out large sums of money; it is worth looking into purchasing a gas or electric fireplace. This is a much easier and convenient option and there are many attractive designs to choose from out on the market.

Both gas and electric fireplaces can appear very realistic with glowing coals and logs, glistening flames and heat. Electric fireplaces can be added to a bedroom, play room, dining room or even the kitchen, as there is no need for a chimney. There are also safety benefits if you have children as electric fires aren't hot when touched, so are particularly good for young families.

An electric fire can be given a traditional design with a cast iron effect or if you prefer, a very modern design using black glass and mounted on the wall. Surrounds can include rich wood tones, brick, stone and marble. Depending on the brand, an electric fireplace can be fitted just for decoration and to add to the overall look of the room, whilst others can provide as much as 10,000 BTUs of heat.

Electric fireplaces are carefully tested to UL standards and have an automatic shut off feature to prevent over-heating. Another advantage that comes of choosing an electric fire are running costs, regular usage will cost you around .02 per hour if only the flames are in function and .14 per hour when the heating elements comes in use.

If your house has a wood burning fireplace already fitted, it is simple to convert it to a gas fireplace. Gas fires utilize natural gas or propane and are economical in time and money, there is no need to buy coal and wood and no cleaning up. Many cities by this day struggle with a serious problem, pollution and have therefore introduced smoke controlled areas whereby you are only permitted to burn smokeless fuel. A gas fireplace is a very good alternative as gas burns much cleaner.

Gas fireplaces come in all types and models, traditional models incorporating modern technology, black cast iron or stainless steel and natural woods of birch, oak or pine to name just a few options. They have a realistic fa?ade and hold in the heat so the house becomes warm very quickly.

A gas or electric fire has many advantages including reduced heating bills, a cleaner burn, increased fire control safety aspects and time efficiency. The only disadvantage to not having a real fire will be the smell of wood burning and the sounds of crackling logs.

HotPrice.co.uk is a fireplace warehouse trading in all types and models of fireplaces, including gas and electric fires. Buying directly from the warehouse can many times save you money compared to high street prices. They have a selection of inset, wall-mounted and outset gas fires, traditional inset or wall mounted contemporary electric fires and a huge range of full fireplaces in natural wood, natural limestone, and stone effects.

When selecting a fireplace for your home, consider the features of each model and ensure it suits your lifestyle. As well as adding value, a fireplace will be a central point of the room and remarked upon by everyone welcomed in.