Gas fire replacement

b56c

I need to replace my mum’s gas fire before winter really kicks in. The fire is in the room she spends most of the day in and over most of autumn, winter and spring would be on all day from about 8am to 10pm as she really feels the cold. 

Her current fire is 10+ years old - she/we can’t remember when it was bought - and is an open-fronted, slide-control, living-flame fire. We are undecided whether to stick with what she knows (more modern open-fronted should still be more efficient than her current one we’d guess) or go for a glass-fronted model. Glass-fronted fires cost more upfront but, due to their improved efficiency rating, should cost a bit less to run, but how much?  (I’ve had conflicting opinions from salespeople.)

She had a fall recently and so we are also more concerned now from a personal safety point of view - falling coals, naked flames versus hot metallic/glass frontage. We think that if we do decide on an open-front - and maybe even with a closed-front -  we’d get a fire-guard to minimise risk. 

What are your thoughts particularly re perceived cost-savings with a closed-fronted fire and any safety concerns? 

FreeBear

Which ever option you go for, please, fit a Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm. Even if you retain the existing fire, fit one anyway.

A room sealed fire would be the safest option, but that may not be possible depending on the layout of the property.

b56c

There is a CO monitor there already. Thanks for the reminder though as everyone should have one. 

She’s in an old-style property with traditional chimneys and we wouldn’t want to have to do any building work to accommodate a room-sealed fire. 

Thanks for replying. Appreciate it.