Gas Fire or Electric?

Lucy_Lastic

I live in a new 4 bed house with no chimney and no flue.

I have gas central heating but no fireplace or focal point in the living room.

I would like to have a fireplace and fire installed, both as a focal point and a bit of extra warmth, possibly to save putting on the central heating when it is not really cold enough to warrant it.

My preference would be for a living flame gas fire, but with no flue how could this work? Maybe I should just settle for an electric fire.

What would be the difference in running costs?

Any suggestions?

Ken68

Settle for an electric living flame fire. Don't actually put on the electric bars just the rotating flame. Or use the television as a focal point, or a pretend fireplace with red paper in the grate, aka some shop window displays.
Given sufficient insulation and draughtproofing your central heating should heat the house ok.

Lucy_Lastic

Thanks Ken, I am sure that the central heating will heat the house very well, but I am thinking of times when I don't want to fire up the system, when I just want a bit of warmth in the lounge for a couple of hours.

Is there such a thing as an electric living flame fire? I really don't fancy one with bars.

Does anyone know about running costs - electric v gas fire?

tarajayne

Gas is much cheaper to run and warmer, you can also get flueless gas fires with a living flame which can be put anywhere within a room but I seem to remember certain fires needed certain size rooms. Very common now.http://www.internetfireplaces.com/acatalog/Flueless_Gas_Fires.html
Just make sure you shop around for best price!

Lucy_Lastic

Thanks tarajayne. I have looked at that website and sent them an e mail query. I think there may still be some sort of venting required as they sell a plastic vent thing to be used with flueless fires. Not sure if ducting is required to an outside wall.

The ones that just look like a flat screen TV are lovely, but a tad expensive!

Anyone got one of those?

Terrylw1

Hi Lucy,

If there is plastic venting it sounds like you will need to attach that to a window or create a hole to add it to. It's sounds like the ones you get with say a timble dryer where people tend to either hang them out of a window or make there own flue for it so it doesn't rely on a fixed position to a chimney.

Thats just a guess though...

Lucy_Lastic

If I was clever enough I would insert a picture of the vent, but it appears to be quite short and not like a tumble drier one, so not sure how it works.

Here it is:

http://www.internetfireplaces.com/acatalog/vent.jpg

Edit: At least the link works, I just tried it. Maybe I can progress to pictures......

Terrylw1

Certainly worth waiting for their email response about that.

I reckon that it's like an air vent and one end goes outside. It would be pretty unsightly sticking out of the fire so maybe it is meant to attach to the back and then one end stick out of the wall since it would be short enough to go through an outside wall.

The ends look like an air vent we have in our pantry.

I've never seen one on a fire before though so maybe the company can advise how you fit it? I would have thought that they would offer it fit it if any drilling were required.

david29dpo

Plenty of gas fires about with "cats" no flue needed, how easy is it to get gas to the fire?

Lucy_Lastic

There is a gas point (short pipe sticking up from the floor) right where you would want a fire place to be, so no problem there.

Do you mean a catalytic converter? I think it's the need for some sort of ventilation that seems to be the sticking point. The fire would be about 8ft from the nearest outside wall.

JonoDean

I believe that with a flueless fire you need a minimum size room of about 30m3 and a air vent in the room. We looked at them but the flames were really small and some showroom told us they produce a 'smell'

We've just gone for a Balanced Flue Verine Marcello. The fumes go outside via a pipe through the wall. Its really hot and looks like a real fire

From www.hotprice.co.uk who had it far cheaper than anyone else

http://www.hotprice.co.uk/2118/750/products/verine-marcello-wall-mounted-balanced-flue-gas-fire.html