economical gas fire

2012paddy2012

Hi. I had a gas fire fitted years ago..like a lot of people I got rid of it..I have an open fire in the sitting room at the mo I light a real fire now and again...I just wondered has there been any improvement in these gas fires. It would be handy just to be able to flick on the fire for a bit of heat as and when you need it...if I was to get one I would have to have it connected to those large gas cylinder bottles thks paddy

If I were me I'd look at a gas stove 82%+ compared to 30-40% of a decorative fire.

2012paddy2012

Funny you say that I was looking at one on a site earlier they seem ideal for what I need. I wonder do you know if they can be connected to gas bottles and are they odour free ( had an open one years ago there was always a hint of gas around the place) lastly! Are they reasonable value for money to use
Paddy
Thks

2012paddy2012

2012paddy2012 wrote: »

Funny you say that I was looking at one on a site earlier they seem ideal for what I need. I wonder do you know if they can be connected to gas bottles and are they odour free ( had an open one years ago there was always a hint of gas around the place) lastly! Are they reasonable value for money to use
Paddy
Thks

If you ever smell gas, switch off at the bottle/meter and report it.

The bottle needs to be outside, there should be no smell other than dust or lint burning off, with a clean flue and a good vent a stove works perfectly.

Decorative fires are only good at heating pigeons bums where a stove or some in built fires can be much more economic, so if you wish to use LPG you can get some pretty decent gas appliances with little wastage ..

2012paddy2012

Oh thks LPG bottles I take it ...would you recommend any particular type of stove? I was in a pub the other evening and there was one there fab looking job..I'm just a bit concerned that they be very heavy on the gas ( PS are you an installer)

2012paddy2012

2012paddy2012 wrote: »

Oh thks LPG bottles I take it ...would you recommend any particular type of stove? I was in a pub the other evening and there was one there fab looking job..I'm just a bit concerned that they be very heavy on the gas ( PS are you an installer)

I am a gas service engineer and have in the past fitted gas fires and stoves.

I can't recommend and particular stove but any stove will be more efficient than a decorative fire.

Heating a pub is different from heating your home, LPG can be more expensive but I am taking out my solid fuel stove and fitting a LPG stove because it's cleaner and easier to deal with.

2012paddy2012

Many thanks ...thats a good recommendation if your installing one. I have gas for central heating but prefer Lpg as I can.... say ....have two full cylinders connected together outside and when one empties I cam replace one while using other..I prefer thst way rather than a big gas bill looming down the road!!

wing52

Valor excelsior do a fine insert stove. Doesn't stick out too much to the room. Needs a battery to ignite,which can be a bit of a bugger to change. 4 kw max output about the same as a decent double radiator.

2012paddy2012

2012paddy2012 wrote: »

Many thanks ...thats a good recommendation if your installing one. I have gas for central heating but prefer Lpg as I can.... say ....have two full cylinders connected together outside and when one empties I cam replace one while using other..I prefer thst way rather than a big gas bill looming down the road!!

If you have piped gas it would be criminal to use LPG as piped gas is much cheaper.

http://www.seai.ie/Publications/Statistics_Publications/Fuel_Cost_Comparison/Domestic-Fuel-Cost-Comparisons.pdf

2012paddy2012

OK with stay with piped thks a mill

2012paddy2012

Cant really follow that comparison thing..have been at 3 different large solid fuel/ gas shops all 3 have said that there is very little ,if any difference between lpg or mains gas...now getting or hoping to get gas fire hot box type fire....paddy

2012paddy2012

2012paddy2012 wrote: »

Cant really follow that comparison thing..have been at 3 different large solid fuel/ gas shops all 3 have said that there is very little ,if any difference between lpg or mains gas...now getting or hoping to get gas fire hot box type fire....paddy

Nat gas is cheaper, Nat gas is safer and should be a simpler install.

2012paddy2012

Why do you say that. Is it not a simple hose to connector or regulator to lpg. ? Bow to your experience but I would have actually thought lpg would be handier

Only reason I say that is I had central heating on a mobile home before using lpg...it was good value and very easy to change bottles.

2012paddy2012

2012paddy2012 wrote: »

Why do you say that. Is it not a simple hose to connector or regulator to lpg. ? Bow to your experience but I would have actually thought lpg would be handier

Only reason I say that is I had central heating on a mobile home before using lpg...it was good value and very easy to change bottles.

Hoses need replacing every five years as LPG corrodes them, LPG installs are rarely given the respect for safety they deserve as homeowners usually don't like paying to do it properly when their just thinking of rubber hoses and hose clips instead of the copper that should be used, LPG is heavier than air so if it leaks it can hang around in voids and drain pipes below ground, bottled gas is twice the price of Nat gas(if I'm reading the information on the above link right).

Nat gas is safer because it's lighter than air so if it leaks it disperses to atmosphere, if you already had a fire the pipework should be easy to reuse.

LPG is only normally used when there is no access to Nat gas and given a choice I wouldn't mix the two as it can lead to confusion if somebody assumes the fire you fit is Nat gas as you have it already piped.

Now you may do what you wish different strokes for different folks but it's not something I'd do in my own house or is it something iv seen in 30 years of gas fitting, so you'd be unique.

2012paddy2012

That's very interesting thanks. I have open fire and its would be a new fit. I wouldn't do it any other way than the correct way. If the gas regs state copper is the required way to connect to LPG I presume a registered installer would do it that way. I am very taken aback about your comments as regards LPG hanging around voids and drain pipes. Sounds like they should be banned.

Yeah , I will have to look into the price difference that sounds excessive and would seem idiotic to use LPG when I have Nat gas!
thank you.

Paddy