Gas or electric fire ?.

JOHNNY_LOVES_JAZZ

I'm getting a new fireplace and fire and can't decide what fire to get.
We have a gas fire at the moment but with gas getting more and more expensive I'm wondering whether electric might be a slightly cheaper option,fuel wise.
I only use the fire for about four hours in the evening when we sit in that room and the one thing that appeals to me is that with the electric you can have the fire glow independant of having heat.
So even when I don't need heat I can still have a cosy glow.
Anyone got any experience of gas versus electric.
I have to make a decision in the next day or so and just can't make up my mind.
Thankyou.

spadoosh

Electric fires genereate noise (fan, not loads but a humm) and heat output is normally considerably lower (obviously depends on which you go for) most case an electric will be about 1.5 to 2 kw which if you have a small living room would be fine anything bigger than 14 x 14 (there abouts) and you will probably need other heat sources. Not sure on costings but electric is also getting more and more expensive

Personally prefer gas but then on top of that would look at log burners, alot more economical than they used to be and often you can source wood at cheap rates, plus they carry a bit of romance about them

jcb208

Most gas fires are only about 50% efficient so half your heat is going up the chimney.Electric is a lot dearer per Kw then gas so they proberbly even them selfs out.I used to use a gas fire a lot then stopped and just used the central heating and my gas bills actually came down as modern boilers are 90%+ efficient

Ben84

You can get high efficiency gas fires now and the cost per Kw is normally much less for gas than electric, so for long term running costs gas is better. However, gas appliances need installation by a professional which adds to the initial cost.

Despite this, for me gas would always win as if you buy the right type of fire you can still use it when the electric goes out. Your electric fire obviously won't work and nor will the gas boiler that depends on electric for the controls and pump, so having a gas fire could be very useful one day as the gas at least tends to keep being supplied even in the worst of weather. Also handy if the boiler breaks down as otherwise you'll be depending on an extremely expensive to run electric fire.