Gas fireplaces come in a wide variety of styles and produce the incredibly cosy feeling of relaxing by the fire on a chilly day. They have changed a lot since the 1960’s and still compete against wood stoves and electric fires. Here are a few facts to help you decide if a gas fire is right for you.
Pros
• Low running cost- using gas to heat your home is relatively cheap, cheaper than using electricity, and is less of a hassle than buying/storing logs.
• Good source of heat- gas fires can proved up to 6kW of heat output, about three times as much as electric fires.
• Efficiency- gas can be up to 90 percent efficient, depending on model.
• No need for a Chimney- you can get a ‘balanced flue’ fire which vents through an external wall or a flueless model.
• More realistic- most gas fires look more authentic than electric.
Cons
• Professional Installation Costs- installation requires a registered Gas Safe engineer.
• Expert Maintenance- the fireplace will need to be serviced annually for safety.
• Carbon Monoxide- a carbon monoxide detector will need to be present to detect gas leaks.
• Flue/Chimney Cleaning- unless the appliance is flueless, the flue/chimney will need cleaning twice a year.
• Less location options- many styles of gas fires need to be places within a chimney or against an outer wall for ventilation.