gas fire or electric fire ? that is the question.

[timmy toad]

hi all. in our lounge we have a Gas Fire that we have never used in 30 years (it is about 35 years old) my missus wants to get a new one "it looks too old fashioned".

So i am wondering, should i replace it with a Gas or Electric fire, is there any information available regards which is more economical ?????

tim

 

[stem]

If you don't use it, then either will be just as economical to run!

Gas would normally be the cheapest to run, however if you do use it very rarely, the cost of annual servicing and the initial higher cost of a gas fire plus specialist installation may mean an electric fire could be cheaper for you over all.

If you don't use the fire you have now, that suggests that the room doesn't need extra heating, so you probably couldn't have a gas fire on for very long before getting too warm.

With electric fires, you can have the flame effect on without any actual heat being generated. The flame effect has improved on electric fires since the symmetrical flame patten created by rotating discs above a couple of red light bulbs. But it's still not the real thing.

 

[Corgigrouch]

That depends on the gas fire really... Generally speaking, the cheaper type of decorative flame effect fires are useless for heating but the more expensive fires can be 70-80% efficient... In most cases your flue will be open and so your room has a direct opening to the outside allowing the heat in your room to escape...

There are some very attractive electric fires these days, the advantage is that you can have the flickery flame effect without having to heat the room and your flue can be reduced to a vent, thus reducing heat loss

 

[maltaron]

As you almost certainly have a flue, you could have a "proper" fire!

 

[timmy toad]

As you almost certainly have a flue, you could have a "proper" fire!

cheers buddy, by a "proper" fire do you mean a coal fire ?, or am i missing something, LOL.

My missus tells me that the radiators alone arent enough to keep her warm, she has put up with being cold long enough, she just turns up the the room themostat (in the Hall) to increase the heat in the lounge, but i am sure the radiators should only be a "background" warmth.

So she tells me she will leave the room stat alone and use the fire, if/when i get one.

As regards a Gas Fire, it does seem they are cheaper to run BUT they arent very efficient, with as you chaps point out a lot of the heat goes up the flue.

So because of this Electric looks favourite, i also believe that with a flickering flame to look at she will "feel" it is warmer in the room than it actually is. Plus of course they are far easier to fit !. I like the sound of Easy to fit, not having to get a Gas fitter in to connect it up !.

I can see the exsisting Gas Fire pipe has a Valve on the pipe that sticks out from the brickwork, i assume that to remove the old gas fire (and replacing it with a new electric fire) i wouldnt need to get a Gas fitter to DIS-CONNECT it ????, simply turn the valve off and undo the nut !!!!

tim

 

[expertgasman]

Stems reply was very concise and accurate, although he was slightly misled by the OP, and so assumed that heat wasn't an issue.

If you are going to use the fire regularly, then without question gas is best. Electric may be more "efficient", but is more expensive, We could debate the "efficiency", as the electric has to be generated!

Anyway, in my business we remove a lot of electric fires for disatisfied clients, (noisy fans, and limited to Kw) and install open gas fires. Modern open flame fires achieve in excess of 60% efficiency, but avoid "inset trays" or "baskets".

Glass fronted fires are even more efficient, but the glass (ceramic) WILL discolour, and this is a negative to most folks.

Visit a "proper" fireplace showroom, and explain your concerns, and approach it with an open mind.

 

[OwainDIYer]

I can see the exsisting Gas Fire pipe has a Valve on the pipe that sticks out from the brickwork, i assume that to remove the old gas fire (and replacing it with a new electric fire) i wouldnt need to get a Gas fitter to DIS-CONNECT it ????, simply turn the valve off and undo the nut !!!!

tim

The valve is okay for turning off the gas to the fire while servicing, but it is NOT acceptable to rely on the valve if the fire is removed. The pipe needs to be capped off, and a pressure test done on the pipe to check it's gas-tight.

 

[kevplumb]

The valve is okay for turning off the gas to the fire while servicing, but it is NOT acceptable to rely on the valve if the fire is removed. The pipe needs to be capped off, and a pressure test done on the pipe to check it's gas-tight.

close

 

[stem]

She tells me she will leave the room stat alone and use the fire, if/when i get one.

Eh??? but you do have one.

In our lounge we have a Gas Fire .

 

[timmy toad]

thanks lads, for your most sensible and informative help/advice, not sure what a couple of you are talking about (LOL) but i certainly get the feel for replacing our old gas fire with another gas fire, thanks.

i can happily say my queries have now been fully answered, thanks to all.

tim

 

[OwainDIYer]

The valve is okay for turning off the gas to the fire while servicing, but it is NOT acceptable to rely on the valve if the fire is removed. The pipe needs to be capped off, and a pressure test done on the pipe to check it's gas-tight.

close

Okay, so how do I get the cigar as well?

 

[kevplumb]

all thats needed is a 1/4 plug in the restrictor elbow
then a TT

 

[OwainDIYer]

One advantage of the leccy fire is that you can wire it through a push button timer so Mrs Toad can't leave it running for hours and hours ...

 

[OLLIE20]

Electric, all day no arguments to put forward

 

[timmy toad]

One advantage of the leccy fire is that you can wire it through a push button timer so Mrs Toad can't leave it running for hours and hours ...

Hey buddy, what a bloomin good idea, Mrs Toad probably wouldnt realise what i've done either LOL

tim