Replacing gas fire - but what with?

rustyboy21

If not impolite, you certainly have a 'brusque manner in your comments.

''understatement of the year !!!!!
Electricity costs 3 times as much per kWh as gas.............. ''

''That is a completely specious argument !!! Or to be blunt - sheer rubbish ''

among others

However lets get back to your argument

''A 50W halogen bulb produces almost 50W of heat - that is why they get incredibly hot. The LED lights in my kitchen ceiling produce 7W of heat (and the heat is better managed in an LED fitting)that is why they are barely warm to the touch. According to your line of argument, my lights should be one seventh as bright.
My Dyson gets hot when I use it - do you think it should run cold ? The 1200W of electricity that it consumes is magically transformed into "suck" ???
MY TV gets hot.
My electric drill gets hot.
My PC gets hot.
The compressor on my fridge gets hot (perhaps it should get cold !)''

A candle gives off heat, would you class them as a relaible form of heating your house?
The heat output of an electric fire does not state that heat comes from these elements of the fire. If so a 2kw fire would be classed as being 2.05kw or even more if you added the fan units electric usage.

A fire will only give heat out from the heating elements which are the only useful part of the fire for with any importance to the consumer.

1. The fire is 100% efficient. (near as dammit!)
2. You DO get heat from the other items which consume electricity.
3. It would appear from your comments on your sales prowess that you are a shop assistant - which explains your total lack of understanding of anything to do with electricity. Currys - perhaps ?
4. As you previously mentioned politeness - my name isn't "buddy" !

1 &2. as stated above taking into account the use of the fan and the lighting( which will not give any useful heat from either) the fire is not 100% efficient
3. My comments are not from prowess, I am not an sales assisitant, I own my own very succesful fireplace showroom, which I have done so for the past 25 years. I am happy to sell electric fires until they come out of my ears alongside gas fires. It just irks me when people slag off gas fires as inefficient, when there are lots out there which will give more heat output than an electric one at comparable if not cheaper running costs. I do not work for curry's and I do have some technical experience when it comes to electric fires, maybe a slight bit more than you do, unless you are in the same business as me, or work for a fire manufacturer.

4. would ' old chap' be more suitable?

At the end of the day all of our argument is purely based on semantics, anything can be written in a way to either persuade or disuade purchase of a product or service. Electric fires are good for what they do, but if you want something to warm your feet by on a cold winter night, there is nothing better than a gas fire or solid fuel.

BTW
''............a modern efficient gas fire !!

The latest ones are about 90% efficient - which trumps anything other than an electric fire.

http://www.valor.co.uk/1797.htm ''

Agree with you wholeheartedly ! I sell loads of them and offer a free 3 year P&L warranty to boot, better than you can get from any internet trader !

puffin9888

Thanks.
I have looked at the electric and gas fires, and have decided that I prefer real wood, and am considering getting a multi fuel stove installed. The cost of the wood doesn't really bother me too much.
First I need to remove the current gas fire, before I can check the chimney/see what space I have. Can anyone recommend a gas engineer in the portsmouth/fareham/southampton area, who can come and cap it off for me?
Thanks again for all your help.

Taadaa

I would have a real fire over a gas or electric anyday, even if it isn't as efficient - it just makes everything more cosy automatically! Increasing the capacity of it so you can get more logs on it will help. Sorry I can't help with the other question. Glad you didn't decide on an electric one, they are far too expensive although they have quite a good heat output. But it's heated air that is drying and can irritate delicate chests.

What a shame your string was hijacked by the 'I know better than you' 'No, I know better than you!' brigade - there are so many posters on here determined to show off their 'intelligence' these days...

puffin9888

thanks taadaa - couldn't agree more!

Gloomendoom

puffin9888 wrote: »

Thanks.
I have looked at the electric and gas fires, and have decided that I prefer real wood, and am considering getting a multi fuel stove installed. The cost of the wood doesn't really bother me too much.
First I need to remove the current gas fire, before I can check the chimney/see what space I have. Can anyone recommend a gas engineer in the portsmouth/fareham/southampton area, who can come and cap it off for me?
Thanks again for all your help.

I know you've made up your mind but my sister has a cast iron Morso multifuel type stove that runs on gas. When it is lit, you would be hard pressed to tell that it isn't burning wood. It puts out loads of heat, never runs out of fuel and is completely clean in operation.

Looks like this...

sugarwalsh

Ooh, I really like that fire. It's a good replica indeed and no need to find wood to burn, places to store it or for it to create lots of dust, which real fires do. I'd seriously consider that one, Puffin!

Megan

Ps - couldn't agree more with the whole hi-jack affair, next they will be arguing about who has the biggest dad...

puffin9888

I really like the look of that fire actually.
At the moment I'm being tempted by the burners on ebay for around £200-£300 mark. If my chimney doesn't need a liner, I reckon another £100 on the registration plate and other bits - so £400 max for a 6kw wood burner installed (will do-it-myself).
Sounds too good to be true - what have I missed?

sugarwalsh

We did that in our old house and got a gorgeous fire. It was small, but suitable for the room. My OH fitted it - but since then he has worked with a plumber who fits fires and there are so many rules and regs we should have stuck to!! To be safe you really should have it fitted properly. It is worth it for peace of mind, if nothing else. I'm sure you will find someone who will fit a fire supplied by yourselves.

Personally I'd still look at the Morso fire, mainly because I am a big fan of Morso!

Megan

EthanTrod

Gas is the cheapest form of secondary heating "per kw of heat". At least 70% cheaper than electric and wood.

puffin9888

Well, I'm several steps closer to having my wood burner.
Got the gas capped off and chimney inspected by a local corgi chap for £20. Removed the gas fire and surround, etc...
Bought a half decent 7KW wood burner for £299, a length of flue pipe for £25, and fire cement. Next step is to draw up the regester plate, and I've found someone on ebay who will make it to order for £70.
whole lot for just over £400! Can't wait!