Flueless gas fire or wood burning stove?

jenny-wren

We are about to get some building work done and intend to rip out the old fashioned victorian style fireplace. We're fed up with the draughts and dirt from the chimney.

As we are getting plastering done and putting a wooden floor down we decided it would be a good time to put in a new fire.

We can't decide between getting the chimney board boarded and plastered and putting in a Smeg retro flueless gas fire (we would have to lay pipes for bottled gas as we don't have piped gas & the cost of the fire and piping would be around £1100) - or getting the builder to tidy up the hole where the open fire was and put in a wood burning stove. This will mean getting the chimney checked and probably re-lined (cost £1000 to line the chimney plus the cost of a wood burning stove).

If we went with the stove idea would we need a hearth? The room is approx 3m x 3.5m but has double doors that can be opened into another room that is 3m x 4m (if ventilation is likely to be an issue).

Would we need a vent close to or behind the fire that vents into the chimney? A chimney sweep said we would, a builder said we wouldn't!

Anyone got any opinions / advice?

sunshinetours

You will almost certainly need a vent with a flueless fire which I am not sure you mnetion? Although I am not against flueless fire like some on here, but if we had a decent chimney I would choose a real wood burner every time and it will throw out a lot more heat than any flueless fire. If the chimney is sound then you may not need a liner.

Downside is cleaning and you need a supply of wood. if you have access to free wood then woodburner even more so as cost over next 5/10 years will be far less than bottled gas whoch will only be going up in price

Gloomendoom

Why use a flueless gas fire when you have a flue?

jenny-wren

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Why use a flueless gas fire when you have a flue?

Because we will most likely need the flue to be relined which would add an additional £1000 on top of the £1100 to install the gas piping and buy the fire. We wouldn't be spending anywhere near amount that on a flueless gas fire installation or wood burning stove.

sunshinetours

Just to add I wouldn't buy a Smeg anything having seen your first post again. If they are like their kitchen appliances then they are style over substance and I wouldn't trust anyone who doesn't purely make flueless fires for instance (try someone like Burley if you want to go that way)

Other option could be a balanced flue gas fire if you don't want to keep the chimney open

Personally if I was you I would definitely be going wood/multi fuel burner route

EthanTrod

You have to look at the bigger picture. The running costs on a wood burner will be about 70% more than a flueless gas fire "for the same heat output".

The downside of the wood burner is to benefit from the best wood prices you need to buy it in tonne batches so where are you going to store it to keep it dry? It is highly likely the chimney will need lining. The chimney must be swept every year to ensure it is not blocked.

The wood burner needs a CO monitor in the room as, unlike the flueless gas fire, the emissions are a lot higher and it does not have a safety device to shut it down when there are problems. It is worth also noting recent studies have shown burning wood is bad for your health (do a search on particles given off when opening the door and cleaning out). Before going ahead I would also look up the running costs and safety aspects of the wood burner. Look for independant web sites.

I have a flueless gas fire in my house and its the best decision I have made. It is open flamed without glass or filters and CE approved. It heats my whole house up and my energy bills have been slashed.

gas4you

EthanTrod wrote: »

I have a flueless gas fire in my house and its the best decision I have made.

You can have that as your epitaph then!

EthanTrod

The flueless gas fire I have fitted in my home is fantastic and has won an energy efficiency award and has featured on Grand Designs and the Homes Show TV programs so I take that as a good referral.
My fire was fitted to the instructions and it works great.

My Epitaph would be "Dont take any notice of old wives tales"

lochetive

EthanTrod wrote: »

The flueless gas fire I have fitted in my home is fantastic and has won an energy efficiency award and has featured on Grand Designs and the Homes Show TV programs so I take that as a good referral.
My fire was fitted to the instructions and it works great.

My Epitaph would be "Dont take any notice of old wives tales"

Hi there - what is the make and model of your flueless gas fire? As I'mthinking of getting one. I live in the sticks and there is a fare amount of "sticks"/logs around. We also have an existing chimney (presently sealed), any advice greatly appreciated. Live in Scotland and we're not on mains gas.

Thanks

Al

John_3:16

We have fluless gas fire I won't have it on as it gives off a horrible smell although the heat output is good. Its comming out soon.

lochetive

lochetive wrote: »

Hi there - what is the make and model of your flueless gas fire? As I'mthinking of getting one. I live in the sticks and there is a fare amount of "sticks"/logs around. We also have an existing chimney (presently sealed), any advice greatly appreciated. Live in Scotland and we're not on mains gas.

Thanks

Al

Forgot to add - we're obviously also thinking about a wood burning stove - hence the info abou the wood availiability - wood burner "v" fluless gas "v" simple electric. Any pointers folks???