H/03 · Gas log fires & feature heaters · Melbourne
The fire that anchors the room, beautifully installed.
Premium gas log fires, freestanding heaters and electric flame fires designed and installed for considered Melbourne homes — from the Mornington Peninsula through bayside to the north-east. Architectural statement and serious heat output in one piece.
Escea · Heatmaster · Dimplex Opti-V · Real FlameSealed combustionArchitectural finish
Project — Hawthorn living room, 2025
Built-in Escea gas log fire installed in a heritage living room renovation — coaxial flue routed through the original chimney, new stone surround coordinated with the architect, ceramic log media matched to the interior.
Feature space heaters, in short
One fire. One room. The architectural focal point of the home.
- →Built-in gas log · sealed combustion, realistic flames
- →Freestanding gas · hearth-mounted, single flue
- →Electric flame · 3D LED, no flue required
What are feature space heaters?
Single-room heating, as the architectural focal point.
Feature space heaters are single-room heating appliances — gas log fires, freestanding heaters, and modern electric flame fires — that warm one defined space rather than the whole home. Unlike ducted or hydronic systems that distribute heat across every room, a feature heater anchors a single space: the living room, the family room, or the open-plan kitchen-living that’s the heart of the home.
For premium Melbourne homes, the feature heater is rarely about heating efficiency alone. It’s the fire you sit in front of in winter, the focal point above the mantel, the design piece that defines the room. Modern fires deliver realistic flames, serious heat output, and clean built-in or freestanding installation that integrates with the architecture rather than fighting it.
For homes that already have whole-of-home heating, a feature heater adds warmth and atmosphere ducted systems can’t deliver. For smaller homes, holiday houses, or rooms occupied seasonally, a quality feature heater can be the primary heating on its own.
If you’re weighing options, see our ducted gas heating and hydronic central heating pages.
When a feature heater is the right choice
A feature heater is a deliberate addition, not a default.
For the right space — the room that anchors the home — a feature heater is the piece that defines it. Here’s when we recommend one.
01
Living room centrepieces
Toorak, Brighton, Hawthorn, Kew, Mount Eliza — where the fire is the architectural focal point of the main living space, designed in from the start.
02
Heritage open-fireplace upgrades
Replacing inefficient open hearths with modern sealed-combustion gas log fires — retaining architectural character while delivering 75–85% efficiency.
03
Open-plan living areas
Where ducted heat alone doesn’t deliver the focused warmth and atmosphere people actually sit around in winter.
04
Peninsula weekenders & holiday homes
A quality feature heater is the right primary heating for occasional-use homes — easy on arrival, atmospheric, not running when no one’s home.
05
Renovations adding a fire
Built-in gas log fires installed against an internal or external wall with the right flueing arrangement — a fire added to a previously fireless room.
06
Electric flame for new builds
For new builds where Victorian gas regulations prevent new gas connections — modern electric flame fires deliver convincing flames without combustion.
A feature heater complements rather than replaces whole-of-home heating in most premium installations — the fire is the focal piece, with ducted or hydronic handling the bedrooms and back of the home. We’ll help you specify the right combination at the consultation.
Heater types
Three feature heater types, matched to the space and the energy source.
There are three primary types of feature heater, chosen to match the architecture, the room, and whether the energy source is gas or electric. Most premium installs land on built-in gas log fires for existing homes, and built-in electric flame fires for new builds.
Existing fireplace cavity
Built-in gas log
Inserted into an existing cavity or purpose-built recess, framed by mantel and surround. Realistic ceramic logs or designer media, sealed combustion with external flueing. Escea, Heatmaster, Jetmaster specialise in this format.
Hearth-mounted
Freestanding gas
Sits clear of the wall on a hearth with a single flue rising through the roof or out a side wall. The right choice without an existing cavity — or where the heater itself is the architectural piece. Regency and Real Flame for premium options.
No flue required
Electric flame
3D LED projection and water-vapour systems delivering convincing flames without combustion. Installs almost anywhere, lower heat output, aligned with Victorian policy for new builds. Dimplex Opti-V is the benchmark.
How to choose
The right one for your project
Existing home with established gas? Built-in gas log fire, almost always. No existing cavity? Freestanding gas. New build in Victoria? Electric flame — the only option for new gas-free homes, and now convincing enough to anchor any room.
The fire defines the room. We spec the heater to the architecture and how the space is actually used — not the brand brochure.
Sealed combustion, realistic flames & modern controls
Three upgrades transformed feature heaters. Sealed, realistic, smart-controlled.
Sealed combustion draws air from outside and exhausts gases outside through a coaxial flue, with the fire itself sealed behind glass. The result: dramatically higher efficiency (modern gas fires reach 75–85% vs 15–25% for old open fireplaces), no indoor air drawn out the chimney, no draughts, and substantially safer operation.
Realistic flame appearance has been the other revolution. Premium gas log fires use shaped ceramic logs, glowing ember beds, and burner designs that produce convincing flame patterns. For electric fires, 3D LED projection and water-vapour systems deliver visuals that genuinely surprise people. Add modern smart controls — remote thermostats, app integration, scheduling, voice control — and the fire that lights itself before you arrive home is no longer a novelty.
75–85%
Efficiency
Sealed-combustion gas fires vs 15–25% for old open fireplaces.
3D
Flame realism
Ceramic logs, ember beds, LED projection — a long way from 20 years ago.
5
Year warranty
Standard on premium units — extended manufacturer cover available.
Brands we install
Premium feature heaters from manufacturers we trust.
Smart Climate installs premium feature heaters from manufacturers we trust to perform and stay supported. We also install Jetmaster, Regency, Cannon and Real Flame Electric — the right fire depends on the architecture, the room, gas service availability, flue routing, and how the fire reads in the space.
Built-in gas · Australian/NZ
Escea
Australian and New Zealand designed and built — the architectural benchmark for built-in gas fires in considered Melbourne homes.
Built-in & freestanding gas
Heatmaster
Australian premium — strong range across built-in and freestanding options, with serious heat output and clean finish.
3D electric flame
Dimplex Opti-V
The benchmark for premium 3D-flame electric fires — flame visuals that routinely fool first-time viewers.
Gas & electric range
Real Flame
Broad premium range across both gas and electric — matching the fire to the brief whether it’s combustion or projection.
We don’t push a single brand. The right fire depends on the architecture, the room, gas service availability, flue routing, and what the fire needs to look like sitting in the space — that’s a specification call.
How we install feature space heaters
Premium installation isn’t about the unit alone — it’s the work around it.
A feature heater install isn’t a unit drop-in. It’s framing, flueing, gas connection (or electrical), surround and the architectural finish that makes the difference. Here’s how a Smart Climate fire install actually runs.
i.
Site visit & specification
We look at the proposed location, assess wall structure, flue routing, gas service availability, and the architectural intent. We’ll propose unit options that suit the space — not just our supplier list.
ii.
Trade & build coordination
For new builds and renovations, we work alongside the architect, builder, plumber and gasfitter to integrate the fire into the build cleanly. Built-in fires need framing and flueing right from the start.
iii.
Gas connection
All gas work carried out by licensed gasfitters with full compliance certification. Existing services are pressure-tested; new connections installed to current standards where permitted.
iv.
Flue installation
Sealed combustion flues routed through the roof or out a side wall, fully weatherproofed and signed off. Routing is planned at design stage — late changes are expensive.
v.
Outdoor unit placement
Considered for airflow, drainage, neighbour acoustics, and how it reads from gardens and outdoor living areas.
vi.
Clean handover
Site cleaned. Controller and app paired. You’re walked through how to run the system properly — including the zoning logic — not handed a manual.
Compare options
Weighing alternatives? Start here.
H/01
Ducted gas heating
Fast, even whole-of-home gas-fired warmth through concealed ducts — the companion to a feature fire in most premium homes.
Explore service →
H/02
Hydronic central heating
Silent, radiant whole-of-home heating via underfloor and radiators — the premium pairing for the rest of the home around the feature fire.
Explore service →
T/01
Find your system
A short guided tool that asks about your home and how you live in it, then suggests the right system — split, ducted refrigerated, or ducted gas. Two minutes, no commitment.
Open the tool →→
Space heater installation · Melbourne
From the Peninsula to the north-east.
We install gas log fires and feature heaters across premium Melbourne suburbs. If you’re not sure whether we cover your area, give us a call — we usually do.
Mornington Peninsula
Mt Eliza · Mornington · Mt Martha · Portsea · Sorrento · Flinders
Bayside
Brighton · Hampton · Sandringham · Beaumaris
Inner East
Toorak · South Yarra · Armadale · Hawthorn · Kew · Malvern
North-East
Balwyn · Canterbury · Doncaster · Templestowe · Eaglemont
Space heater FAQs
Questions we hear, answered honestly.
If your question isn’t here, call us on 1800 577 522 — we’d rather have a five-minute conversation than send you a brochure.
Can I still install a gas log fire in Victoria?
Yes, in most existing owner-occupied homes with established gas connections. New homes requiring a planning permit cannot have new gas connections (since 1 January 2024), and from 1 January 2027 all new residential buildings must be all-electric. For new builds, we’ll specify a premium electric flame fire instead.
Gas log fire or electric flame fire — which is better?
Gas delivers serious heat output and the most realistic flames. Electric installs almost anywhere (no flue required), has lower running costs, and aligns with Victorian policy direction for new builds. For existing homes with gas, gas is usually the answer. For new builds, electric is the answer. Both can look genuinely impressive.
Can I replace an old open fireplace with a gas log fire?
Yes — this is one of the most common premium specifications. Old open fireplaces are typically 15–25% efficient (most of the heat goes up the chimney); modern sealed-combustion gas log fires reach 75–85% efficiency while preserving the architectural character of the room. The existing flue can sometimes be reused; sometimes we’ll re-line or replace it.
How realistic are modern flames — both gas and electric?
Modern gas log fires with ceramic log media produce flames most people would recognise as a real fire. Modern 3D-flame electric fires from premium brands like Dimplex Opti-V routinely fool first-time viewers. Both have moved a long way from the early gas fires and basic LED units of 20 years ago.
How much heat does a gas log fire actually produce?
A premium built-in gas log fire typically delivers 5–9 kW of heat output — enough to comfortably heat a large living room or open-plan space. Electric flame fires typically deliver 1.5–2 kW, suitable for taking the edge off a room rather than primary heating.
Do I need a flue or chimney?
Gas log fires: yes — sealed combustion fires need a coaxial flue routed through the roof or out a side wall. Electric flame fires: no flue required, which makes them installable almost anywhere.
Open-fronted vs sealed-glass gas fires?
We strongly recommend sealed-glass for new installations. Vastly more efficient, safer, no draughts, no indoor air loss. Open-fronted fires are an older specification with significant efficiency penalties.
How long does installation take?
A like-for-like replacement of an existing gas log fire typically runs one day. A new built-in install with flueing and surround coordination runs two to four days. New-build installations are coordinated with the construction program.
What’s the maintenance?
Annual servicing for gas fires (recommended for safety and warranty). Glass cleaning every few months. Electric flame fires need minimal maintenance — occasional dust and lamp replacement over time.
What’s the warranty?
Five years on most premium units, with extended manufacturer coverage available on selected ranges. Our installation work is covered separately.
Project — Mount Eliza weekender, 2025
Built-in Heatmaster gas log fire installed as the primary heating for a Peninsula weekender — framed into a new feature wall, coaxial flue routed through the roof, river-stone media specified to suit the coastal interior.
Talk to Smart Climate
If you know what you want, we’ll quote it. If you’re working it out, we’ll help you get there.
The fire in your living room is one of the few pieces of your home you’ll sit in front of every winter. It’s worth getting right — we’d be glad to help.
Or pick up the phone:☎ 1800 577 522