Gas vs Electric Fires: What You Need To Know
Curious about gas or electric home heating as an alternative to wood burning and multifuel stoves? Read on.
Ellere electric fire. Credit: @lockdown_livingGas v Electric Fires: How to choose?
The fireplace is the focal point of any living space, so if you’re looking for an alternative to a wood burning or multi fuel stove, or are not able to install one, then gas and electric fires are a fantastic alternative. From installation to maintenance, we answer your most common questions below.
Installation
The installation process for gas and electric fires varies greatly. A modern electric fire doesn’t require a chimney or a flue, just an electricity supply, and it can be fitted in a number of ways. From a recessed fireplace to building a TV media wall, an electric fire tends to be a much easier and more straightforward process. A gas stove is more similar to a wood burning or multi fuel stove and needs a gas supply, as well as a chimney or flue for installation. The stove will need to be fitted and signed off by a qualified professional, meaning the cost of installation tends to be higher.
Heat Output
Gas fires are closer to traditional wood burning stoves regarding heat output - with our Holborn and Ecoburn Gas Stoves so are better at heating larger room spaces than an electric fire. Electric fires will still offer a substantial and comfortable amount of heat but at a lower output, (the Ellere Electric Fire outputs at around 1.5kW).
The benefit of a gas stove or electric fire however, compared to a wood burning or multi fuel stove, is that the heat output can be altered with an easily controllable remote, allowing homeowners total flexibility and multiple settings to choose from.
Authenticity
Electric fires are an ideal option for contemporary homes due to their modern aesthetic. With literally dozens of setting options to choose from, the Ellere Electric Fire has easily adjustable flame height, brightness and colour effects at the touch of a button, allowing you to change the visual display to suit your mood. Gas stoves on the other hand are more in keeping with the appearance of a traditional wood burner with a steel body, large viewing glass and even a realistic fuel bed.
Maintenance
In comparison to wood burners, gas stoves and electric fires need very little maintenance than those that use other fuel sources. As they do not emit smoke particles, there isn’t any need to clean the glass or have the chimney swept as there isn’t any residue left over after each burn. A gas stove however will still require an annual service by a qualified engineer, while an electric fireplace simply needs an occasional cleaning or dusting.
What's the difference between LPG and natural gas stoves?
A gas stove can be a sufficiently effective way of getting the look and the heat output of a smaller traditional wood burning stove. Gas fuel for home heating and cooking is typically consumed as either natural gas or as Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Mains supply - natural gas
For the vast majority of homes in the built-up areas of the UK are connected to natural gas via the mains gas supply) According to the Office for National Statistics 2021 census, mains gas central heating was the most common method for heating a home, with three in four households stating that it is their only central heating source so a gas stove that runs on natural gas is the only choice.
Heating an 'off-grid' property
For remote or static properties where there is no main gas supply for logistical reasons, then LPG supplied to the property in pressurised bottles or tanks, is the only practical alternative for gas heating and cooking in that situation. LPG gas is available as either propane or butane. Their chemical compounds mean that each serve different needs. Butane is typically used for portable gas heaters. Propane has a much lower boiling point than butane. In the UK this lends propane towards outdoor storage in the UK, making the most practical of the two for home heating.
Cost of consumption
Even if you live in a mains gas-connected suburb you still have the option of running gas heating that is connected to a discrete LPG supply. But realistically the overhead of bottling and distributing LPG gas is passed on to the customer making the more expensive option. And - in times when the gas wholesale market is more stable - competition between UK energy suppliers means that the consumer always has the option to shop around and lock in competitively priced gas energy tariff for a long term.
The comparative benefits of gas vs electric fires
Gas (NG or LPG) heating postives:
- Instant-on heating with easily adjusted output. Often coupled with the added convenience of remote control.
- Heat output is quickly and easily controllable
- Built-in thermostat, or a timer for safe, automatic shutdown and built-in safety systems to prevent gas leakage
- Higher heat output is more practical for heating larger areas than an electric fire
Gas (NG or LPG) heating negatives:
- Sourcing and maintaining a regular supply of LPG gas is a consideration for consumers, and that is comparatively more expensive than mains gas
- NG and LPG are derived from fossil fuels and there aren’t any practical ‘drop-in’ green alternatives available to consumers yet
- Appliances must be installed by - and require annual servicing from - a registered Gas Safe engineer
- Little residual heat. Appliance all but stops radiating heat into the room after switching off.
Electric heating postives:
- No flue required, and no skilled professional required to install making it the cheapest and easiest appliance type to fit.
- No regular maintenance required
- Instant-on heating with easily adjusted output. Often coupled with the added convenience of remote control.
- Built-in thermostat, or a timer for safe, automatic shutdown.
- Some models have flame beds lit by customisable colour LEDs
- Can be powered by renewable electrical energy sources such as wind, solar – perhaps in tandem with modern domestic battery-storage systems
Electric heating negatives:
- Higher running costs. The heat output is lower than other heating options, making it less practical for heating large living spaces
- No residual heat. Appliance stops radiating heat into the room after switching off.
- Lacks the charm and atmosphere coming from a real wood burning flame
Get inspired
For more information, check out our gas stoves or Ellere electric fire models.
For ideas about how you could add Electric heating to your home, have a look at some of our favourite customer fireplaces below!
Ellere electric fire. Credit: @the_robinsonfamily
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Posted by Alexandra Newell
24th April, 2023.
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