Gas fire only supplementary heat

Ray Palmer

I was in my mothers house and her house is a bit cold. It is generally a lack of insulation but she had a Baxi gas fire in the living room and was warm in there. About 3 years ago she replaced her fire place and got a new gas fire. She now says that when she did this she asked for the warmest gas fire they had. Once it was in she found it wasn't as good she went back and the salesperson said the fire was only a supplementary heater.
She never told me this happened but now I know I find this was her been taken advantage of. Is this normal now? I get they probably told her the BTUs but that wouldn't mean anything to her.

Wearb

I usually find that sales people sell you what you ask for or caution you that it might not be what you want but might do. I suppose at that point, you need your plumber or elictricians advice. As you mentioned, btu might have been mentioned, but not have had much meaning to your mother.
When buying something from a reputable retailer, they usually take the time to ask enough questions to find out your needs. I suppose it depends on the retailer, but mostly I have found the well established ones very good.

antoinolachtnai

Gas fires are just a very expensive way to use gas. The heat all goes up the chimney. They don’t sell really big ones anymore because they are just inefficient. They are mainly for show.

It is quite possible the sales person sold her the largest gas fire they had and it still wasn’t very big. The sales person was probably correct to say that it was not intended as the main heat source.

The fault at least equally lies with whoever installed this. It should have been obvious to them that this would produce a lot less heat than the old system.

Is there any other heating in the house?

Ray Palmer

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

Gas fires are just a very expensive way to use gas. The heat all goes up the chimney. They don’t sell really big ones anymore because they are just inefficient. They are mainly for show.

It is quite possible the sales person sold her the largest gas fire they had and it still wasn’t very big. The sales person was probably correct to say that it was not intended as the main heat source.

The fault at least equally lies with whoever installed this. It should have been obvious to them that this would produce a lot less heat than the old system.

Is there any other heating in the house?

There is central heating but her house just doesn't hold heat. The radiator are too hot to touch but also under the windows. She likes and wants the fire

Water John

House really needs an upgrade on insulation etc. Worth looking at Warmer Home Scheme.

Possibly a case of them selling what they wanted not what you needed, yes fires are supplemental but the installers needed to match the input supplemented by the original fire and not as seems from your OP fit a fire with a reduced heat supplement.

antoinolachtnai

Is it a bungalow? What is the attic insulation like?

An extra radiator on the other side of this room might be the most economic way to improve things. One of those tall radiators will throw out a lot of heat. Changing the window and insulating this one room from the inside wouldn’t be that expensive but might make a big difference.

She should certainly keep the fire if she likes it but it is more for optics and the warm feel than anything else.

Impugning the installer and dealer is not likely to do much good to help make the room warmer.

antoinolachtnai

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

Gas fires are just a very expensive way to use gas. The heat all goes up the chimney. They don’t sell really big ones anymore because they are just inefficient. They are mainly for show.

It is quite possible the sales person sold her the largest gas fire they had and it still wasn’t very big. The sales person was probably correct to say that it was not intended as the main heat source.

The fault at least equally lies with whoever installed this. It should have been obvious to them that this would produce a lot less heat than the old system.

Is there any other heating in the house?

The main type of gas fire fitted in Ireland would be exactly as described above bum warmers for pidgins there not designed with efficiency in mind, there are gas fires that are much more efficient (80-90%) are not as pretty but are functional, radiant gas fires like the Robinson Wiley firegem have been fitted in homes in the UK since the 40s in one guis or another often as the primary heat sources.

For some reason the gas fire of choice in Irish homes are decorative gas fires (clues in the name)which are as little as 25-30% efficient and are only usually found in pubs or very very rich peoples homes in the UK.

Given a choice I prefer gas stoves as the chimney is sealed with the door shut.

antoinolachtnai

Can this type of gas stove be gotten at all in Ireland?

antoinolachtnai

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

Can this type of gas stove be gotten at all in Ireland?

Absolutely.