Best Gas Fires 2021 – Our Guide
Install a flueless gas fire instead of an electric fire and you will save 70% in running costs.
When considering fireplace efficiency you need to consider the appliance type and the fuel you will use to figure out the best gas fire for you. Most high efficiency gas fires use glass on the front to stop heat escaping from the room up the chimney or flue system, including our range of inset gas fires. The alternative is a flueless gas fire, a bio ethanol fireplace or an electric fire all of which are 100% efficient. The difference is that gas is 70% cheaper per Kw than electric or bio ethanol. READ ABOUT FIREPLACE TYPES
To compare the true running costs of different types of gas fire you need to compare them “like for like” using the “input kw rating” of the appliance and the efficiency rating. The table below summaries the different types of gas fires available and compares them with the same heat input to find out the best UK gas fires.
- The heat input rating (Kw) of the appliance is the “running cost”.
- The efficiency rating of the appliance decides how much of the heat you pay for ends up in the room.
“By installing a Blade HE Gas Fire in my home I reduced my overall gas bills by 46% saving £170 between Jan 2013 & April 2013” Read how installing a modern, CVO, high efficiency gas fire can help reduce your overall heating bills.
The table below summarises the different types of fireplace and compares appliances with the same heat input and examples of the best gas fires for sale. The heat input is your running cost. The efficiency of the appliance decides how much of that heat ends up in the room.
| Example Appliance |
Efficiency Rating |
Heat Input |
Heat that comes into Room |
Running Cost per Hour |
Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flueless Gas Fire |
100% |
2.0Kw |
2.0Kw |
9p |
£32.40 |
| High Efficiency Gas Fire |
85% |
2.0Kw |
1.7Kw |
9p |
£32.40 |
| Balanced Flue Gas Fire |
75% |
2.0Kw |
1.5Kw |
9p |
£32.40 |
| Electric Fire |
100% |
2.0Kw |
2.0Kw |
28p |
£100.80 |
| Bio-Ethanol Fire |
100% |
2.0Kw |
2.0Kw |
140p |
£336.00 |
|
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Conclusion. The most cost effective way to add extra heat is to use gas. If you need 4kW or less heat you should choose a flueless gas fire, if you need more than 4kW of heat then you should choose a balanced flue gas fire. The amount of heat you require depends on the size of the room and how well insulated your house is. If you’re unsure then please call us and we can help advise you on the best solution. To give you an idea of what 4kW is like, imagine a room with two extra radiators.
Are you looking for energy efficiency to save money on your heating bills or to get more heat into your room?
Energy Efficiency is not just about the efficiency rating of the fire. There are other factors that need to be taken into account. The most energy efficient product you can buy today will use gas and will either be a flueless gas fire that doesn’t need a chimney, or a high efficiency inset gas fire which uses an existing chimney and upgrades it to high efficiency or a balanced flue gas fire which need a special flue system. All other forms of heating may provide heat but will cost you more for that heat. It’s an established fact that gas is the cheapest fuel per Kw of heat.
Here’s an example of saving money while having the same heat in the room.
If you have a 6kw open flame 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 fire like the Bailey it will only cost you 9p/hour to run and still give you 1.5kw into the room. That’s a saving of 67% on running costs. This is because the bailey 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 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. That’s 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:
What are Flueless Gas Fires?
What are Balanced Flue Gas Fires?
What are Open Flame Gas Fires?
These should be only considered if heat is required periodically. These fires operate on liquid bio ethanol fuel which is filled into a burner tray from a bottle which is then lit with a match. The heat generated is maintained in the room and the amount of heat depends on the strength of the burner. They have running costs of over 20x more than a gas fire for the same heat output which is why they should be used periodically. If heat is required all the time a gas fire should be chosen. Read more about our bio-ethanol fireplaces.
If this is an open flame wood burner the efficiency is very low, whereas glass fronted wood burners have higher efficiency and will provide a good amount of heat. The downside to these fires is the cost of buying and then storing the logs. Unless you have access to free wood, running costs can be 10x that of a gas fire hence why lots of customers are now converting back to gas. Whereas a stove may appear glamorous, the use ability and safety aspects should be considered. For instance the CO given off by a flueless gas fire is only about 2% that of a wood burning stove hence why, by law, you must have a CO monitor in your room. This is not a requirement of a flueless gas fire as the gas fire has a safety device that wood burning stoves don’t. There have been recent news articles claiming that burning wood is potentially hazardous due to particles in the air. Read more about our wood burning fireplaces.