Replacing a gas with electric fire

joannaemmas

Is it possible to replace a gas flue fire insert straight off with an electric one? The gas fire in the house we're moving to does not work and the gas has been cut off to it and is all safe etc.

We're more interested in getting a more efficient electric one but was wondering if anything had to be done with the chimney/flue?

EliteHeat

As long as you have a handy power supply then there are no problems. Electric fires need no flue and in many instances look just like a real fire.

Personally, I would rather have an electric fire in my home than an open-flued gas fire.

In fact, I won't fit them anymore.

webwalker

joannaemmas wrote: »

Is it possible to replace a gas flue fire insert straight off with an electric one? The gas fire in the house we're moving to does not work and the gas has been cut off to it and is all safe etc.

We're more interested in getting a more efficient electric one but was wondering if anything had to be done with the chimney/flue?

I take it that this is in a fireplace with a chimney and not a balanced flue going out of a side wall.

For a chimney type there are some steps to take, first ensure that the pot has a covering on it (cowl or mushroom), it probably has unless its an ancient gas fire the stack needs to be vented to prevent damp appearing on the chimney breast this only means putting an air brick or vent cover in the blanking off in the opening behind your electric fire to ensure the air in the chimney doesn't get stagnant.
I got this info from the BRE (Building Research Establishment) many years ago when the fashion was to close up old fireplaces and go for central heating, problems with damp on the chimney breasts was quite common even though the stacks had been capped off or reduced below roof level.