Open gas Fire to efficient gas stove?

positron

We have an open gas fire that is only good to look at. You can't feel any head unless you literally stick your face inches away from the flames. We call it our 'heat proof' gas fire. :cool:

I was looking into replacing it with a solid fuel burning inset stove, but would it be easier / cheaper to install one of these 'high efficiency, glass fronted gas fire stoves' (if that's indeed what they are called?).

Is there a good site / page / thread where I can read up more about this. Anyone here with experience of doing such a change?

Thanks a million!

Bof No1

Hi Positron, we had a basket type open gas fire in the front room for the past 7 or 8 years and made the decision to change to an insert stove last January. It's the same as a stove on legs, just inserted into a hole in the wall. We put in a bigger output stove than was needed for the room, our idea being that we would leave the room door open when it was lit, so the heat would travel all over the house, (dormer bungalow). To say that we're delighted with the results so far, would be an understatement, it's brilliant and exceeds our expectations by a large margin. One of the main things we've learned, is to use kiln dried wood. It is dearer to buy, but you gain with the amount of heat put out into the room. Hope this helps, cheers, Bof.

positron

Thanks Bof. I was initially looking at the solid fuel stove like yourself, but then I started reading up on 'glass fronted gas stoves' which is supposed to be 80% or so efficient.

Like these: http://www.thegascompany.ie/iopen24/fires-high-efficiency-efficiency-fires-slim-c-1648_1234_1413_1585.html

This is what I am looking for now - meaning I won't have to worry about (and have no space for) logs, coal etc.

Comfreycream

I had mine recently installed and will never look back. It's brilliant, safe reliable, efficient and doesn't require the fireguard business. Make sure you go to a good reliable source.

positron

Comfreycream, which model of the gas stove did you go for, and how expensive was it? Did it fit into your existing normal fireplace, or was it the flueless type? Thanks!

kennyb3

How does a gas stove compare to a multi fuel stove?

i.e whats the most cost efficient going forward?

I assumed people went for multi fuel as it's cheaper then gas?

positron

Kennyb3, these are the facts that I am also trying to find out.

After googling and reading thru various discussions in UK based forums like moneysavingexpert etc, the general consensus seems to be that unless you can get free firewood (own land, friends with land and trees etc), good dry firewood is expensive and combined with the initial installation costs + maintenance (handle wood/coal, clean the ash etc) makes multi-fuel stoves more expensive over all compared to gas stoves. This is what I read, however today I was speaking to a local shop dealing with Gas stoves and the sales person there reckons multifuel stove would be cheaper to run, and that gas stoves would cost about 50c an hour. So I am lost to be honest.

Another aspect of going multifuel is that you wouldn't be dependent on gas for everything. So if something goes wrong with the gas supply, you could still keep the house (or at least a room) warm until gas gets fixed etc.

High efficiency gas stoves costs about same as the multifuel stoves. This one set of stoves I came across - the glass fronted "Logic HE" type stoves costs €800 and above apparently. Plus installation as usual.

http://brochures.stovax.com/brochures/pdf/gazco-inset-fires.pdf

positron

Substantially cheaper options (UK website though, not sure if this brand is available here).

http://www.superiorfires.co.uk/products/gas-fires-high-efficiency-12/

Comfreycream

kennyb3 wrote: »

How does a gas stove compare to a multi fuel stove?

i.e whats the most cost efficient going forward?

I assumed people went for multi fuel as it's cheaper then gas?

I had it put in a few months back so far I'm happy with it. It looks good, fitted into my existing open fire, no flue liners as my chimney is in fairly good condition I suppose. The open fire/solid fuel hasn't a patch on the stove. Most of the heat goes up the chimney, as opposed to the stove it's 75% efficient and you know it in the room. Price wise, I forget!! I'll get back to you on that, but was reasonable from what I remember. Pay back time, a wild guess, could be in the region of 2/3 years. It needs the standard opening again I'm trying to think, 20" x 16". Need marble (which I have) back surround or something non-combustible. . Hope this makes some sense!

Comfreycream

POSTITRON
Mine is non back boiler, but I have another one with the back boiler which heats all of the house.
The one here I'm discussing is the Blacksmith, glass front.
I had it put in a few months back so far I'm happy with it. It looks good, fitted into my existing open fire, no flue liners as my chimney is in fairly good condition I suppose. The open fire/solid fuel hasn't a patch on the stove. Most of the heat goes up the chimney, as opposed to the stove it's 75% efficient and you know it in the room. Price wise, I forget!! I'll get back to you on that, but was reasonable from what I remember. Pay back time, a wild guess, could be in the region of 2/3 years. It needs the standard opening again I'm trying to think, 20" x 16". Need marble (which I have) back surround or something non-combustible. . Hope this makes some sense!

ted1

Comfreycream wrote: »

POSTITRON
Mine is non back boiler, but I have another one with the back boiler which heats all of the house.
The one here I'm discussing is the Blacksmith, glass front.
I had it put in a few months back so far I'm happy with it. It looks good, fitted into my existing open fire, no flue liners as my chimney is in fairly good condition I suppose. The open fire/solid fuel hasn't a patch on the stove. Most of the heat goes up the chimney, as opposed to the stove it's 75% efficient and you know it in the room. Price wise, I forget!! I'll get back to you on that, but was reasonable from what I remember. Pay back time, a wild guess, could be in the region of 2/3 years. It needs the standard opening again I'm trying to think, 20" x 16". Need marble (which I have) back surround or something non-combustible. . Hope this makes some sense!

Is your gas? Any chance if a photo ?

Comfreycream

No, I forgot to say, it's solid fuel, sorry (I put in turf my own)

Comfreycream

I don't seem to have the facility to post the image, but I have just googled images and it's there. It's an inset one. 2nd row, 4th & 5th image

positron

Comfreycream wrote:

No, I forgot to say, it's solid fuel, sorry (I put in turf my own)

Thanks. Solid fuel stoves seems to be more common. I wonder why gas stoves are not that popular!