When choosing a gasfire or woodstove its capacity is a determining factor. Many people are unaware that an average living room space only requires 3 to 4 kilowatts (kW) to heat it; especially in today's well-insulated homes and given the fact that many homes already have CH and the fire is often just used for additional heating.

Yet consumers often go for a too high a capacity, with the risk that they subsequently use the fire for a brief time or can only burn at a low degree. Simply as otherwise it would become too hot in the living space. With woodstoves this results in poor combustion, black panes and high emissions. With gasfires it particularly means you don't get to enjoy the lovely flame effect these fires have to offer.

Calculating the capacity needed to heat the space you have in mind is very easy. The graph shows the capacities indicated in kWs. The space to be heated is indicated in cubic metres (m3). The number of cubic metres is determined by multiplying the length, width and height of the space. You can then read the capacity you require at the intersection of one of the three lines. Which of these three lines you select depends on the degree to which your home is insulated.  

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