With the cost of living crisis, it’s more important than ever to consider what type of fire to choose; that’s why we’re helping you out with our guide to heating costs, which will allow you to make a complete and informed decision when buying your new gas fires!
Both the fireplace type and energy source are important factors if you’re trying to keep the utility bills low, so check out our guide to heating costs below and compare the efficiency and running costs of different fuel types and styles of fire. Many people aren’t sure what the most effective way to heat their home is, so is bioethanol cheaper than gas or is there a more cost-effective solution?
Per Kw of Heat:
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If saving energy and reducing your utility bills is important then the choice of fireplace type and the type of energy source it will use is critical. Regardless of all the hype about gas prices increasing, gas is still the cheapest way to heat your home per KW of Heat provided.
Here is a quick comparison based on 1KW of heat burned by the appliance (dependent on tariff):
| FUEL TYPE | AVERAGE PRICE PER KW OF HEAT | LINK TO RANGE |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 10p | VIEW ALL GAS FIRES |
| Electricity | 20.11p | |
| Wood | 33p | |
| Bioethanol | 74p | VIEW ALL BIOETHANOL FIRES |
The next issue to consider is the efficiency of the appliance. The appliance will cost the same to run regardless of what the efficiency is. All the efficiency does is decide how much of this burnt energy heats your home. The only way to maximise the energy you buying is to buy either a 100% efficient appliance like a flueless gas fire, an electric fire or a bio-ethanol fire.
Here is a quick comparison of 100% efficient appliances based on the same heat output (dependent on tariff):
| FIREPLACE TYPE | AVERAGE PRICE PER HOUR | LINK TO RANGE |
|---|---|---|
| 2.7kw Flueless Gas Fire | 15p | VIEW ALL FLUELESS FIRES |
| 2kw Electric Fire | 40p | |
| 2kw Bioethanol Fire | 65p | VIEW ALL BIOETHANOL FIRES |
All other types of heating [gas, wood or oil] waste heat by losing heat up the chimney or flue. So if you want to make sure you get the best deal for your home and your wallet before buying a fireplace you should ask:
- What is the heat input rating of the appliance.
- What is the efficiency of the appliance.
- What is the cost “per KW” of the fuel I will be burning in that appliance.
You must compare like for like based on the KW “input” rating of the various appliances. Then you can do a simple calculation to compare your costs of running the different appliances and how much you are really spending.
- RUNNING COST = HEAT INPUT OF APPLIANCE x COST PER KW
- COST OF HEAT IN THE ROOM = HEAT INPUT OF APPLIANCE x COST PER KW x EFFICIENCY RATING.
- WASTED MONEY = RUNNING COST – COST OF HEAT IN THE ROOM
Remember that Gas is the cheapest way of heating – its a fact when compared “like to like”
Is Bioethanol Cheaper Than Gas?
If you’re looking for the cheapest option to heat your home, then gas is the way to go. However, there are certainly benefits of other types of fire, such as the authentic appeal that wood burning fires offer or the convenience of electric fires – you can even have a genuine flame without an overcomplicated process with one of our bioethanol fires. If you’re eager to get your own, we have some suggestions depending on your needs. A great choice for an easy set-up would be flueless gas fires, which don’t require flues or chimneys; gas fire bowls also provide this with a different aesthetic. If economic implications are your priority, then high efficiency gas fires are a good pick, and if you’re in the market for a fire to save space and even connect spaces together, we would recommend double-sided fires, or hole in the wall fires to help you achieve this. So even if gas fires are the most economical choice, there are plenty of other styles which can give you the look and function that you desire!
All our contemporary 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 e-mail your enquiry here.