Any helpful thoughts on swopping my gas lounge fire/fireplace?

moneyistooshorttomention

After the recent problems I have had with a couple of firms I've had doing jobs since moving here and I'm stuck permanently with 2 "double radiators" that aren't (they're single convector only) and a shower slider rail that is too high for "all the family" (eg myself) I am scared that there are things I shouldn't have to know (as the customer) but need to in case I got that bodged-up and that would be a 3rd firm landing me with an obvious permanent mistake in my home.

So, what I know I have to look out for to date is:

- Make sure my new fire surround isn't wood veneer or that fake material that looks like limestone (but isn't and therefore discolours after a while). I have decided it looks as if I need "real limestone" and not the fake.

- Make sure that its a "high efficiency" gas fire and that there are different percentages even under the HE banner and they vary between 60% and 89% and I want the 89% end.

- Check how many kilowatts the fire is (btw = how many kilowatts do I need it to be? I presume higher kw is better and therefore choose one that is 4 KW, rather than 3 KW if possible).

Is there anything else that it's not a "customers place" to know...but I'd better ..so that I can be on the alert to make sure this job is done properly (before they either muck things up or choose a different way to do things to what I would choose)?

Mr_Ted

Your the customer so you should dictate what you want after consulting an expert in whatever field is required for the job, and a QUOTE, not an ESTIMATE should be supplied by the contractor so that if they do something that you expected, was quoted for, and does not happen then you can stake a legal claim for breach of contract

For anything GAS you need to consult a reputable RGi individual or company registered with Gas Safe for the particular module relating to the job required, in this case GAS FIRES

moneyistooshorttomention

Will do.

Also wondering what anyone makes of the one that I like the look of most. That is the Valor Harmony Full Depth Homeflame.

Anyone got this particular one or installed it? Any thoughts on that one specifically?

rustyboy21

Glass fronted HE gas fires are the ones which will give you the 89% efficiency rating you require.

Anyone telling you that you can get 70%+ from an open fronted gas fire, needs to be disregarded, as there is a lot of aggro going on at present with the rating of gas fires. It will be sorted out soon, but in effect, the legislation recently was changed and it wasn't written properly, so it has been open to interpretation. Meaning it has been abused.

Valors glass fronted fires, like the one you mention, were rated by the older, more rigorous method and can be more relied on. It is a nice fire, less likely to mark the glass and as long as your fitter, fits it with the restrictor plate ( as told in installer guide ) and it passes the spillage check, then you will find it a good hot fire.

Make sure that the back panel of your limestone surround, is in 3 pieces. They normally are. The HE gas fires do build up a lot of heat around the opening and if it is in one piece, it can crack the stone, or marble.

Hope above helps

moneyistooshorttomention

Good point re the limestone surround in 3 pieces...will check.:T