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A guide to what makes the best gas fires, from style and aesthetics to efficiency and 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.
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.
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
Most Cost Effective Fuel Types
So, what are the most budget friendly options if you're looking at different types of fuel to supplement your central heating?
Gas @ 4.5p per Kw/Hr
Electric @ 13.8p per Kw/Hr
Bio-Ethanol @ 275p per Litre
Annual Cost is based on 3 hours per night for 120 days (4 months).
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.
Some of our Best Gas Fires
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CVO Fire
Fire River 850mm Wide Ribbon Gas Fire
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CVO Fire
Fire Ribbon
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CVO Fire
Stela 1200mm Wide Ribbon Fire
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CVO Fire
Fire Wave 1500mm Wide Ribbon Fire
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CVO Fire
Firebreak 1600mm Wide Ribbon Gas Fire
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CVO Fire
Compact Fire Ribbon
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CVO Fire
Flagstaff Freestanding Bio Ethanol Fireplace
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CVO Fire
FR920 HE High Efficiency Gas Fire
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CVO Fire
Essence 520mm Wide Ribbon Gas Fire
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CVO Fire
Bordino 520mm Ribbon Gas Fire
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CVO Fire
Stela 1200mm Double Sided Ribbon Gas Fire
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CVO Fire
Stela 1200mm Wide Ribbon Fire
Testimonials
Read happy reviews from customers who think efficiency matters when you're looking for the best gas fires in the UK
"If you are looking for an efficient, great looking and safe fire that has all the benefits of an open fire with non of the hassles then look no further. Install one of these fires and listen to people say WOW!!!!"
Neal
"Really happy with my new flueless gas fire installed within my existing surround which has integrated beautifully and provides a 100% efficient heat source."
Dave
"I am more than happy with my new flueless fire - I have been using it for 6 weeks and can honestly say that it out puts more heat than my old fire"
Mo
"We have had many compliments from people who have seen it. The fire itself is very efficient, it doesn't need to be on all the time, it soon heats up the room"
Helen
"By installing a Blade HE Gas Fire in my home I reduced my overall gas bills by 46%"
Maria
What is Energy Efficiency?
Are you looking for energy efficiency to save money on your heating bills or to get more heat into your room? Whatever your reason, understanding energy efficiency is an important step towards choosing the best gas fire for your home.
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 a couple of examples of how you can save money and keep or even improve heat into 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.
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.
Best Gas Fire FAQs
If you're looking for the best gas fires and you're still not sure what to go for, find out more information about some popular options below!
What are Flueless Gas Fires?
Flueless gas fires are 100% energy efficient with generally low running costs – 5p to 10p per hour. Most models are either wall hung or are as part of a traditional suite with surround hearth etc. The gas burner is designed to have very low emissions and this combined with the ODS safety device and the air vent in the room means the fires are very safe and reliable. These fires are manufactured by CVO are unique as they don’t have glass on the front or filters.
What are Balanced Flue Gas Fires?
These have an efficiency of around 85% and use a special flue liner which has two pipes. The first brings air in from outside, and 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 with 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 chosen and care needs to be taken not to choose a high power appliance as the efficiency will mean too much heat is generated. Balanced flue fires have a higher purchase price and can have a high cost of installation [building work and the flue pipes].
What are Open Flame Gas Fires?
Open flame gas fires have an efficiency of around 50% 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 through our bespoke service. Our range includes many design 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.
Ventless gas fireplaces emit the highest amount of heat with 100% efficiency and are eco-friendly. They have the look and feel of a traditional fireplace, but don't require a chimney. Instead, heated air is recirculated around the room and back into the fireplace keeping the space warm and cozy.
Direct-vent gas fireplaces are recommended for their efficiency; 70 percent of the heat they generate remains in the house. Direct-vent units are much easier and less expensive to install than traditional wood-burning or gas masonry units, and there's greater flexibility in placement.
The Crystal Montana HE gas fire produces up to 4.0kW maximum heat output and comes with a coal fuel bed , pebble fuel bed or a log fuel bed and manual controls or remote control option.
A balanced flue gas fire is an efficient option as they don't need ventilation, but they can be expensive to buy. In spite of this, they are often cheaper to run as they can be as energy-efficient as condensing central heating boilers.
As well as the obvious aesthetic quality of the fireplace, functionality and efficiency are key to the effect your fireplace has on your finances. By replacing your current fire with a more modern, high-efficiency model, you can save up to 55% on your yearly gas bills.
The most likely explanation here is that not enough fuel is being burnt quickly enough to generate the heat output capabilities. When lighting the fire it is important to get the appliance very hot and to establish a glowing fuel bed before adding new fuel. This enables new fuel to start burning straight away.
There are several ways to increase heat output from your gas fireplace. Some methods include using a fireplace blower to circulate the air, installing a heat exchanger, placing a fireback behind the fireplace to reflect heat, and converting a gas fireplace to a gas insert.
Vent-free or ventless gas fireplaces are a great choice if you are looking for the highest heating efficiency possible. Since they are not vented to the outside, all the heat produced is realized in the living space making them a superb supplemental heat source.
Technically, gas fireplaces are usually cheaper to run than a furnace, but that doesn't mean they're better. This is because a furnace is better at turning gas into heat than a fireplace is. For the comfort of everyone in your home, it's best to use central heating.
If you are heating a small space, you can choose a model with a lower BTU output. If you are heating a large, open-concept living space, you will need a model that produces more heat. Choosing the wrong heat output can result in too little heating, or the room being much too warm when the fireplace is on.
The heat output of a gas fire is measured in kilowatts (KW) which indicates the amount of heat given out by the fire. For domestic gas fires, the heat output often ranges between 3 and 5 KW, however, the strength of heat output needed will depend on the size of the room you are dealing with.
To heat your average-sized room (Approx 4m x 5m or 13ft x 16ft) assuming you have central heating, your gas fire will want a heat output of 3-5kW. This is pretty standard on most gas fires.
When it comes to efficiency, gas fireplaces have wood-burning fireplaces and pellet fireplaces beat. The use of gas is just much more efficient than than having to burn wood or pellets, not to mention that a gas fireplace doesn't require electricity to run.
One of the benefits of a tepee fire is its easy maintenance — simply lean more sticks against the frame to feed the fire as it burns. Because a tepee fire burns through wood fast, it is generally used to warm up quickly or for small cooking tasks such as boiling water.
Direct vent fireplaces are the most efficient and cleanest-burning type of fireplace. They vent the combustion gases to the outside, so they don't produce any indoor air pollution. Direct vent fireplaces can be installed in any room of the house, including bedrooms and bathrooms.
Pellets are a type of fuel source used by, you guessed it, pellet fireplaces. Pellets contain compressed sawdust and tend to burn hot and clean. Pellet fireplaces are controlled via thermostat and contain blowers to circulate the heat generated. Pellets are more efficient than wood.
Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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