Energy Efficiency is not just about the efficiency rating of the fire. There are many factors that need to be taken into account. You need to ask yourself why are you are looking for energy efficiency is it to save money or to get more heat into your room? Energy efficient fires can be split into two types - No Chimney fires with an open flame or Chimney fires with a glass front.

Heres an example of saving money while having the same heat in the room.

If you have a 6kw open flame inset fire this will cost you 27p/hour to run and provide 1.5kw of heat into your room. If you replace this with a CVO high efficiency inset fire like the Glamour it will only cost you 9p/hour to run and still give you 1.5kw into the room. Thats a saving of 67% on running costs.This because the glamour has a 2kw burner and is glass fronted with 77% efficiency.

Here is an example of saving money and also getting more heat into your room.

If you have a 6kw open flame inset fire this will cost you 27p/hour to run and provide 1.5kw of heat into your room. If you replace this with a CVO high efficiency wall mounted fire like the blade it will only cost you 21p/hour to run but will give you 3.9kw of heat into the room. Thats an additional 150% of heat with 22% less cost. This is because the blade has a 4.6kw burner and is glass fronted with 84% efficiency.

Now you can understand why choosing the right fire for the right reasons is critical!

Here is a quick guide to gas fire types and efficiency:

FLUELESS GAS FIRES [100%]
These are 100% energy efficient, running costs are generally low - 3p to 8p per hour. Most models are either wall hung or are as part of a traditional suite with surround hearth etc. The gas burner is generally very clean with low emissions and this combined with an air vent in the room means the fires are safe. They also include a safety device to shut the fire down if required. The flueless gas fires manufactured by CVO are unique as they do not have glass on the front. Read more about flueless gas fires

HIGH EFFICIENCY INSET GAS FIRES [75-85%]
These have an efficiency of 60% to 85% and use an existing chimney, pre cast flue or a flue liner. These gas fires are typically glass fronted, especially the higher efficiency models. No air vent is required in the room as long as the power rating is below 7kw. There are many styles and they tend to range from cheap to expensive depending on brand and quality. Running costs are typically around 10p/hour. I am currently designing 7 new high efficiency gas fires which will be launched in the winter of 2011. Read more about high efficiency gas fires.

OPEN FLAME GAS FIRES [25% to 50%]
These have an efficiency of 25% to 60% and use an existing chimney, pre cast flue or a flue liner. These gas fires are open flamed and no air vent is required in the room as long as the power rating is below 7kw. The beauty of open flamed gas fires is that they are visually pleasing and are able to be custom made to customer specification. With open flame fires options are unlimited. The cvo range includes many styles of open flame gas fireplaces from small 2kw designs to large 20kw ribbon fires. Running costs can be between 4p/hour to 30p/hour depending on size. Read more about chimney fires.

BALANCED FLUE GAS FIRES [60-85%]
These have an efficiency of 60% to 85% and use a special flue liner which has two pipes. The first brings air in from outside the other takes away the emissions. Generally these fires are expensive to install due to the construction of the burner. All balanced flue gas fires are glass fronted. No air vent is required in the room, but a flue pipe is required to be put through the wall. The running cost depends on the Kw rating of the fire and can be up to 60p/hour. The downside of BF fires is the high purchase price and the high cost of installation [building work and the flue pipes]. Read more about balanced flue gas fires.

BIO-ETHANOL FLUELESS FIRES [100%]
These should be seen as a last resort when choosing a fireplace. There are serious considerations for health and safety that must be understood. These fire depend on the appliance being filled with liquid fuel. They have running costs of over 20x more than a gas fire for the same heat output and can generate a considerable amount of condensation if not used in a well ventilated space. Read more about bio-ethanol fires.

All of the gas fires mentioned above include safety devices, gas fires are strictly controlled and monitored to ensure they are 100% safe. If in doubt please call us to discuss your requirements 01325-301020

All CVO gas fires are designed to operate on Natural Gas or LPG and carry full CE approval. Call 01325-301020 for help, advice and more information. Or email your enquiry here

• Flueless (No Chimney) Gas Fires
• Gas Fire Bowl Collection
• Fire Ribbon Fireplace Suites
• Hole in the Wall Fireplaces
• High Efficiency Gas Fires
• Balanced Flue Gas Fires
• Double Sided Fire Ribbon
• Double Sided Fire Bowl
• Open Table & Canopy Designs
• Traditional Fireplace Suites
• Eco-Friendly Gel / Ethanol Fires
• Bespoke Designs
• Bronze Fireplaces

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