Electric Fires - Noisy? Expensive?

elephant83

I am looking to install a fireplace in my lounge as it is looking rather bare without one. I am undecided which is the better option gas or electric.

I am currently swaying towards electric - as it is safer to have on around a toddler. Prices seem to be lower, plus I don't NEED heat, just an ornament in the room.

Does anyone have an electric fire? Are they noisy? Do they look a bit naff?

zaax

Not noisy, but costs 45p per hour (£2.24 a day) to run at full blast

Chunks

Down to personal taste, of course. If I installed one in my (late 1980s build) house it would have to be 'real'.

Since you referred to the ornamental aspect got me thinking of the electric flame effect fires from my youth, which were naff. Here's an example of a more up to date version (also naff in my view and, this type, not silent if you go for the heat option):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Large-Black-Flatscreen-Electric-Fireplace-1-8Kw-Simulated-Log-Burning-Heater-Fan-/221145844860

Good luck.

Errata

Leccy fires that have a fan, and most do, will drive you nuts with the noise.

Idiophreak

We have had something like this in our house for the last few months:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4154237.htm

It looks really quite smart, is quite mesmerising when it's turned on and makes very little noise. Even at full blast, you get a whirring noise from the fans, but that's about it.

When you put the heat on, it's instantly hot and will noticeably warm our living room (c 12x24ft) in around half hour.

Very happy with it.

Jonesya

Bearing in mind that electric is around 3 times the cost of gas, if you're using it regularly for heat then gas every time.

Some of the electric ones now look quite realistic, pretty amazing what they can achieve:
http://www.dimplex.co.uk/products/fires_surrounds/what_is_the_optimyst.htm

Ben84

There are more than a few choices in both gas and electric models. It's hard to broadly compare the two as there's so many exceptions. Gas for example is cheaper than electricity, but there's a wide range in gas fire efficiency and some may cost more to use than the electric equivalent.

One broad difference does stand out though. If you don't need the heat often, I doubt you'd want to use a gas fire much and it may sit unused. Some electric fires however let you turn on the light bulb below the fake coals without turning on the heater. If you want the look without the heat most the time, I'd go with electric.

As for safety, electric fires vary. Electric bar fires give out the best heat I think, but their elements are every bit as much a burn hazard as a real fire. They're also often exposed live parts. A fire guard is just as essential for these with children around. You should also use a fire guard for pets and people with epilepsy.

I use both gas and electric fires around the house. The bedroom has an electric bar fire as gas is not a good choice in a bedroom. The dining room has another bar fire as it's quick to heat up and ideal for a room that's used for short periods of time in the morning and evening. The sitting room however has a gas fire (it's part of the back boiler), which is a good option there as it's used for much longer and being gas this saves money. The boiler behind it also already needs a chimney and annual service, so there's no extra costs there. I also appreciate it working when the power is out, which happens a lot here in winter. Having some alternative heating source is important, so if you're totally dependent on electric for heating and running the boiler controls, gas may be the best choice despite other downsides.

sniggings

zaax wrote: »

Not noisy, but costs 45p per hour (£2.24 a day) to run at full blast

a 3kw electric heater would cost about 45p an hour to run...IF on full power but that's unlikely as 3kw is a lot of heat for all but the biggest of rooms, and in the OP's case it's just to look at, so the cost of the light to run at most.

Some of the new electric fires use water for the flame effect, which can be a pain to fill, and they also add water to the room, so if you have a condensation problem in your house, they would just be adding to the problem.

If you have the choice, gas is the better option imo, cheaper to run, if you ever do need it, and looks much much better.

Not sure why you think electric is safer than gas, for a child, both get hot?

rustyboy21

If you want a quiet electric fire, even when the heater is on, you cannot go for anything better than this....


http://www.valor.co.uk/product_details/05850N1.htm?ref=/catalogue/Valor-Centre/index.htm


Only has 1 fan unit on it, to run the ribbns and any heat convection, is silent running, is only 3'' deep, but looks over 10'' deep due to holographic technology.


I sell loads of them, there is a model to suit you on their website and best of all, for us retailers, only available in your local showroom, not via the internet, with most of them.

adandem

We had a similar quandry last year. Never really found an electric one that convinced me and some gas ones don't look fantastic when unlit.
In the end we retiled our fireplace and filled it with logs, we light candles at night and it looks lovely.

jessie15

rustyboy21 wrote: »

If you want a quiet electric fire, even when the heater is on, you cannot go for anything better than this....


http://www.valor.co.uk/product_details/05850N1.htm?ref=/catalogue/Valor-Centre/index.htm


Only has 1 fan unit on it, to run the ribbns and any heat convection, is silent running, is only 3'' deep, but looks over 10'' deep due to holographic technology.


I sell loads of them, there is a model to suit you on their website and best of all, for us retailers, only available in your local showroom, not via the internet, with most of them.

Looks lovely, how much are these roughly?