Fireplaces - Gas or Electric

Boba_Fett

Hi All

i had to gut my first home and took out the old gas fireplace and even though im fitting central heating i did want to put in a focal fireplace, would you recommend gas or electric nowadays??

i would love an old fashioned coal fire but i dont believe you can anymore can you??

thanks in advance

rustyboy21

There shouldn't be any problem with fitting an old coal fireplace if you want to. The only restrictions would be if you live in a smokeless zone, you should burn smokeless fuel. Just make sure if you go down that route that any back panels and hearths are slabbed up on concrete with expansion joints in them. A local fireplace shop should be able to help you out.

With reagrds to gas or electric, it depends whether you want some heat to back up your CH or for chilly summer nights. If you do, gas would be better and cheaper to run, especially if you buy one of the glass fronted HE fires like this....

http://www.valor.co.uk/1901.htm

You first need to know what type of flue you have in your home. This will determine what the correct fire type would be. If you have an oldish house with chimney stack,potts and chimney breast, you will have a class 1 flue, which means you can have everything really. If you have a raised ridged tile or a metal flue out of your slates, you will need a class 2 fire, which is still ok but not as much choice as a class 1.

In all cases I would recommend you getting a sweep out first to clean your flue and smoke test it to make sure you have an operating flue, before you buy.

If everything is ok, then the sky is the limit !

Any questions, please feel free to ask or PM if you want.

cheers

cyclonebri1

You can still use a coal fire provided the correct grade "coal is used.
There is also the necessity to fit a flue liner.

They are very expensive, daughter had one fitted last year and I know she paid around £1200 for the fire alone.

The local authority will also insist on a completion inspection as it comes under building regs now.

Definitely the most expensive option. :money: not

rustyboy21

OP

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