Advice Needed - Buying Gas Fire

linni

Hi

I'm looking at buying a new gas fire to replace my Tortoise Firebox.

I'm looking at the Kinder Oasis HE, the Oasis Plus, or possibly the Valor Petrus.

Can anyone advise me whether these are good fires or which is better? I hadn't heard of Kinder before so would I have trouble getting it fitted & serviced? I've seen it in a local showroom but it is way too expensive so will buy it online and get it fitted by an approved fitter.

Do the HE models need the glass cleaning regularly and what would I use to clean it?

I've head that Valor are not very good when you need parts and also they are being bought out by Dimplex so would this could any problems?

Any advice welcome.

rustyboy21

Valor has been bought by Dimplex for over 12 months now. No real issue with getting parts, so don't know hwere you heard that from.

Kinder is owned by BFM. They started as Flavel, then bought Cannon, all of their fires are similar. Kinder is supposed to be their showroom only, non internet brand, so you may have issues with warranty coverage, if you buy off the internet. If you buy valor off internet you get 12 months, if buy from a shop who is signed up as a valor centre, you get 3 years P&L free

Regarding quality/workings. If you are after a slide control version, valor is better. They have a tried and trusted, patented slide control system which has been out for over 20 years. Kinders is done by a brake cable system ( like on a bike ) which can loosen with use and continually needs tightening up, which may take a gas engineer to sort. Engineer call out wise, both are as bad as each other, which is a lot better than others TBH. Don't expect either to be out in 24 hours, more like 7 days.

Glass cleaning. Less likely on a valor fire than kinder. This is due to valor having a solid fuel set, so coals won't move, so keep away from the glass. Kinder uses loose coals, if one moves against the glass it will mark it permanently. Valor warranties it's glass, Kinder doesn't. That is a big plus. If you get any marks on the glass, Valor one is easier to remove and clean with hob brite etc, just 2 clips at bottom.

Parts issues. Yes it is true valor are having issues with parts at the mo. It is only temporary as a new parts centre is being set up. Kinder have always been a nightmare, so no change there. It is easier to get parts from valor than BFM.

Hope this helps.

linni

Thank you rustyboy1. This is really helpful. Sounds like Valor might be the better deal then, especially as I do have a local Valor Shop to buy it from, and who will fit and service it etc. The 3 year guarantee would be a good too.

I did prefer the loose coals but I can see your point about the moving coals and I do think the Valor coals look good even though they are fixed.

Valor has been bought by Dimplex for over 12 months now. No real issue with getting parts, so don't know where you heard that from

The salesman in my local gas showroom told me this, along with another tale or two (which I didn't believe either!).

If you get any marks on the glass, Valor one is easier to remove and clean with hob brite etc, just 2 clips at bottom.

I wondered how you removed the glass to clean it so that answers another question.

I didn't realise there was so much to think about when getting a fire!