electric versus gas fire

[janela]

I am about to replace my freestanding gas fire with an inset one. I have been looking at both gas and electric but cannot work out how much the gas costs to run versus the electric. It used to be said that never heat a room with electric it is too expensive but what the ridiculous price of gas these days I wonder if it is still true. I have gas central heating so the fire is used only as extra heat on very cold days to supplement the heating, and for a little heat in the summer when the heating is not on. Any advice out there from people who have had both and which is preferred.

[gucciman]

hi janela

i'm a corgi registered gas engineer

we fit a lot of inset gas fires and most of them are like yours in that it will only be used for a bit of background heat on very cold days or until the central heating kicks in. we even put a lot of insets in for people who just want them as a focal point in the room and have no intention of turning them on.

i think you will find that electric fires do not kick out a lot of heat and will never look as good as a real flame.

[Postdog]

Just to add, whatever kind you get, it is worth getting the room (the house actually) as insulated and draught free as possible.

I had my whole house done a year or so ago, and though I only have central heating, it is paying for itself as I don't need the heating on so high or for long. I too have to sometimes (in winter obviously) do a "heating burst", and in the old days I would probably have to leave it on for longer than I do now.

[showcatbenga]

I have used both gas & electric fires. Gas wins every time hands down.

[gucciman]

i find that when i turn our central heating on for the winter that the rooms go very dry and i get a sore throat, i use the old method of a little dish of water near the radiator.

and gas fires will not dry a room as much as one of the products of combustion is water vapour, most should go up the flue but some probably keeps the room moist.

[terambulan]

My gas CH comes on for 1hr morning & evening.

I collect my combustible rubbish..plastic milk bot, polythene wrapping, spam-mail, left overs & peelings in my fireplace and on chilly eves (like last night) I light the lot. Quick burst of heat, less rubbish in land-fill etc.

Open up your fireplaces! You're allowed a 'controlled fire'!