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Thinking of swapping gas inset fire for an electric one.

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Ten years back we had an inset gas fire fitted, which we became disillusioned with, and now the company is not much in favour, because of parts supply problems and expensive Lithium batteries that do not last as long as hyped.

Rather than carrying on , or paying for a new expensive gas fire, we are considering an inset electric replacement.

Can anyone suggest what the cost of removal might be?

For the electric fire, we shall require an additional point (spur) fitting near the fireplace with "concealed" access to the fire's connector through between wall and fireplace. What might that cost?

Ideas, please!

Location near S.W Hants and Dorset border,

Comments

  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    An electric fire will probably cost you somewhat less than a good gas coal one, but you will pay the difference in a relatively short time, because electric is the most expensive fuel. That's unless you are just having a focal point fire and relying on the central heating instead, in which case be sure your radiator in that room can cope..

    I had an efficient gas coal fire for years and never paid a penny for batteries, as mine had piezo ignition. I needed no spares either. Just because you had a bad one doesn't mean they're all like that. Rustyboy, who often posts on this board may advise.

    Removal should take very little time - an hour at the most.

    The difficulty of getting an electrical point into place depends upon too many unknown factors, like what your floors are made of. Drilling the hole for the cable though a chimney breast shouldn't be too difficult, however, judging by the size of drill bits electricians have been using in my house.
  • oldwiring
    oldwiring Posts: 2,452 Forumite
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    edited 17 October 2015 at 9:55AM
    The usage would not be heavy, more a back up for those very cold days.
    Our 3-bed link detached had improved improved roof insulation, and the walls were insulated a few years back. Our annual gas went from 19000 to 12000 KwH. Elec power costs are offset by need for gas servicing, aren't they?
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
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    oldwiring wrote: »
    . Elec power costs are offset by need for gas servicing, aren't they?

    In the case of a gas fire, no, probably not. There isn't much to service. I used to clean mine annually and inspect the flue; that was all.

    But I accept that cost differences may be less important than other considerations, and there are more convincing electric flame-effect fires out there now.

    From a personal perspective, I'd rather have something with real flames, but I'm happy with an easy-care Karndean floor, which is fake, so we all have different thoughts about these things!
  • oldwiring
    oldwiring Posts: 2,452 Forumite
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    I was surprised to find that open inset gas fires are now claimed by manufacturers to be 70% efficient. I understood efficiency to be nearer 30%. True or massaged figures?:undecided:question:
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
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    An electric fire will cost about 300% more to run than a gas one. There's no requirement to have it serviced annually, but if you have it done as an add on to a gas boiler service then the extra is probably no more than about £30.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • Keep_pedalling
    Keep_pedalling Posts: 20,913 Forumite
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    A gas fire is better for back up than an electrical one. A power cut knocks out the central heating and your back up.

    We are on the point of changing out our 20 year old gas fire, and we're going to go down the electric route, but could not find anything that looked anywhere near as good as a nice modern glass fronted gas fire, so we are going gas again. Only potential issue is the current fire only has a 8mm pipe feeding it so probable will need replacing to meet modern safety specs.
  • oldwiring
    oldwiring Posts: 2,452 Forumite
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    @ macman
    That's an interesting point about combining the service with that of CH. As too the 300% more to run, how are you allowing for the difference in efficiencies?
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
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    oldwiring wrote: »
    I was surprised to find that open inset gas fires are now claimed by manufacturers to be 70% efficient. I understood efficiency to be nearer 30%. True or massaged figures?:undecided:question:
    I've no idea about open fronted fires, but I'm sure the glass fronted ones can do around 70% in efficiency. My old one was glass-fronted, which meant cleaning the glass too in its annual 'once over.'

    Now I am 10 miles from gas, so have a wood burner, which is of course glass-fronted. That needs a clean once every week.
  • oldwiring
    oldwiring Posts: 2,452 Forumite
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    Throughout I have considered doing whatever I decide at RRP with a retail specialist. However there are online suppliers, whose offers are well discounted. Provided the discounts are on genuinely current ranges, can you foresee problems with buying and getting local tradesmen deal with fitting?
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