When considering a new fireplace for the home, the tendency is to focus on the design of the fireplace and how it will look in your property. Whilst this aspect of selecting a new gas fire is absolutely important, there are also a lot of other factors to consider before you go through with the final purchase and installation.
There will likely be a variety of labour costs included in the installation of a new gas fire, in addition to the cost of the fireplace. You should be aware of these labour costs when you’re beginning to budget with the hope of eventually purchasing a new gas fire.
Gas fires can add cosiness to your home, without the burden of needing to purchase new logs and keep regularly maintaining the ash waste of a wood-burning fireplace.
Our guide takes a closer look at gas fires, including what affects the costs of installation, how you can save money and the best way to find a professional installer for your own gas fire.
Topics
How Much Does a Gas Fire Cost?
Prices for a gas fire installation can vary dramatically depending on the size and type of gas fire you want. The table below breaks down the most common types of gas fire and the estimated supply and labour cost for their installation.
| Type of Fireplace | Estimated Supply Cost | Estimated Labour Cost | Time Required | Total Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open front | £200-£400 | £100-£350 | One to three hours | £300-£750 |
| Flueless | £600-£1,000 | £100-£350 | One to three hours | £700-£1,350 |
| Outset living flame | £250-£800 | £100-£350 | Two to three hours | £350-£800 |
| Glass fronted high efficiency | £600-£1,000 | £100-£350 | Three to four hours | £700-£1,350 |
| Balanced Flue | £750-£1,500 | £100-£350 | One to two hours | £850-£1,850 |
| Power flue | £1,000-£2,000 | £100-£350 | Three to four hours | £1,100-£2,350 |
Gas is quickly becoming one of the cheapest ways to heat your home and these fires have the added benefit of heating much quicker than an electric heater.
The table above demonstrates that prices typically range from £200-£2,000 for the installation of a new gas fire, depending on the type and the size.
Keep in mind that mains gas appliances will need to be installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer for health and safety reasons. It is illegal to hire someone to connect up a gas fire if they are not Gas Safe registered.
If you’re looking for a Gas Safe registered engineer to fit your new gas fire, use HouseholdQuotes to easily compare quotes and find the right engineer for you!
Click To Get QuotesWhat Affects the Cost of a Gas Fire?
As mentioned, there are lots of factors that will have an impact on the final cost of any new gas fire installation. We take a look at the most common factors that will determine the final cost below.
Size of the Gas Fire
The gas fire market has a whole host of gas fires in a huge range of different sizes. This is great for a homeowner considering a new gas fire because it means it’s quite likely you’ll be able to find the gas fire you desire within your budget.
It does mean, however, that there can be a big difference in pricing between gas fires that you should be aware of.
If you’re looking to buy a gas fire from the store, and then only pay for the labour costs of installing it, you could pick up a small gas fire for between £200-£350.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a larger and grander gas fire to fit inside a larger room, you can find extravagantly sized gas fires for between £3,000-£5,000.
Size does make a difference in pricing, so make sure to decide beforehand what kind of size you want to look at.
Type of Gas Fire
Along with the huge range of gas fire sizes, there is an incredible number of designs and types of gas fires to choose from. Make sure to do your research on the type of gas fire that would meet your needs and be most appropriate for your home.
Open Front
Open front gas fires have a timeless quality to them and are a traditional choice for lots of homeowners. The heat from the fire comes from the confected air underneath the fire and is let out through the upper canopy.
If you’re looking for a more classic choice of fireplace that will create a cosy and intimate atmosphere in your home, the open front gas fire is a brilliant choice.
Open front fires are a great choice for smaller budgets as you can purchase one within the range of £200-£400.
Flueless
Flueless gas fires are a great modern invention that operates without the need for a flue of any kind and instead use catalytic converters to change harmful gas products into harmless vapour.
Flueless gas fires are worth considering, particularly if you already know that your home has no flue system but are still after the warmth and ambience of a fireplace.
Slightly more expensive than an open fire due to the complexity of its build, you can purchase a flueless gas fire for £500-£1,000.
Outset Living Flame
Outset living flame gas fires are a hugely popular choice! They’re incredibly efficient fires that sit in front of your fireplace, on the hearth and allow more heat to be released into the room.
Like open front fires, they’re more traditional in appearance but not necessarily in design, as some have remote control features to make turning them on and off easier. This is a great option for elderly or differently-abled homeowners who may not be able to continuously bend and stretch to turn a fireplace on and off.
An outset living flame gas fire is likely to cost £250-£800.
Glass Fronted High-Efficiency Gas Fire
Glass-fronted high-efficiency gas fires are sleek, modern designs that are built into your home’s wall. They release heat through the glass front, hence the name.
This type of gas fire, as well as looking appealing, has the benefit of fewer toxins and harmful fumes being lost within the chimney. If you’re concerned about the health impacts a fire can have but are still charmed by its appeal, you could consider investing in a glass-fronted high-efficiency gas fire.
Glass-fronted high-efficiency gas fires are also a more expensive option of gas fire and can range between £600-£1,000.
Balanced Flue
Balanced flue gas fires are gas fires that connect to the outside of your property through a concentric flue. Waste fumes are expelled through this flue which connects to the top of the fire and is inserted through the outside wall.
This is a popular choice of gas fire for the health-conscious homeowner, who wants to spend their time watching the fire, but not having to breathe in any combustion fumes.
The fire is room-sealed – so very safe – and can be seen through the glass front. This is, again, a more expensive gas fire option at between £750-£1,500.
Power Flue
Power flue gas fires use a fan to move the gases of the fire through the outside wall. They are a great option for homes that want a gas fire but don’t have a chimney.
Power flues are popular because of the versatility they can offer in terms of placement and in terms of house, or even flat, type. By not depending on a chimney, this gas fire gives a lot more options to homeowners considering buying one.
Power flue gas fires do tend to be a more expensive gas fire option and you can expect prices to range between £1,000-£2,000 for a power flue gas fire.
How Can I Save Money on a Gas Fire?
Firstly, you should consider the size and type of gas fire you want to purchase. If you’re hoping to cut costs, you will be better off opting for a smaller open front or outset living flame gas fire, as these are the cheaper options.
Try to be realistic when looking at potential gas fire sizes – it’s worth measuring the size of the wall you want the gas fire to go in or on so you can see the dimensions you’re working with and shop accordingly!
Secondly, it is highly unlikely you will keep the costs of a gas fire installation down by doing the job yourself. Not only is it dangerous and illegal to try and connect a gas appliance without being Gas Safe registered, but it involves seeking a certificate from Building Regulations and having an in-depth knowledge of the process.
Do not attempt to install your gas fire as it will cost you more to have a tradesperson or engineer fix any mistakes you could make trying to install it yourself without the correct knowledge.
Thirdly, you should be aware that with a process as potentially dangerous as installing a gas fire, it sometimes is better to go for the accredited and slightly more expensive installer, who will be able to safely and correctly install the gas fire in your home.
Finally, use HouseholdQuotes and find a registered Gas Safe engineer to install your ideal gas fire!
Click To Get QuotesAre Gas Fires Better Than Wood-burners?
It can be tricky trying to decide what type of fireplace is the best option for your home. Gas fires aren’t the only option available, as you can look at electric heating and wood-burning fireplaces.
You should make sure to consider the practicality of each heating option, as well as any aesthetic requirements you might have.
The table below takes a look at the advantages and disadvantages of gas fires and wood-burners.
| Fireplace Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Gas fires | -Easy to turn off and on -Low maintenance -Safe -Environmentally friendly | -Limited ambience -Requires natural gas collection -Cost of installation may be higher |
| Wood-burners | -Great ambience for noise and aroma -Doesn’t depend on electricity -Choice of wood to burn | -Needs constant supply of logs -Potentially dangerous -Waste ash needs proper disposal |
As the table demonstrates, there are advantages and disadvantages for each choice, but it largely depends on your budget and the amount of maintenance you’re willing to put into taking care of the fireplace once it has been installed.
What’s Involved in Installing a Gas Fire?
The installation process for a gas fire is relatively straightforward but does include some dangerous aspects which need to be carried out by a professional with experience in the field.
You need to ensure that your gas fire is installed by a Gas Safe engineer to make sure that it’s installed safely and that the dangers of carbon monoxide are dealt with properly. This will give you peace of mind once the fire has been installed and you begin to use it regularly that your health, and the health of any other residents, won’t be impacted by the new instalment.
Firstly, if you don’t already have one or depending on the type of gas fire you have purchased, a flue system may need to be installed in your property to expel the combustion fumes released by the gas fire.
The professional hired will come and see where your gas fire needs to be installed and go through any other work that may need to be done with you before beginning the installation.
The wall of choice or previous fire will then be ripped out. If you need to have a previous fire removed, this is likely to cost between £100-£400 depending on the size and system of the fire.
You should include the cost of removing any previous fires in your budget as they will need to be disassembled and taken away before your new gas fire can be installed.
The fireplace will then be installed in the hole in the wall, with the hearth firstly placed and then the inset, fire and surroundings.
Once this is completed, the area surrounding the gas fire will then be ready to be decorated. This may be done by the service you’ve hired, or you may need to hire a separate decorator for the finishing touches of your fireplace, including painting and sealing.
Make sure you find out whether the decoration is included in the final price of the service, or if you need to budget for an additional cost of decoration.
If you have some experience in painting, consider taking on the job yourself to cut costs!
All waste removal should be done during the final stages of installation but do make sure that you speak to the installation company or individual about what is included in their quote.
How Do I Find and Hire a Professional?
Talk to your friends, family and surrounding neighbours and see if they have recently had a gas fire installed in their property.
Use HouseholdQuotes to find the right professional for you!
Click To Get QuotesEnsuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
It’s good to make sure you’ve got the right questions ready to ask that will verify the tradesperson’s abilities. We recommend you ask them:
- For a written quote. Make sure to find out if scaffolding and rubbish removal is included in the final quote.
- For their experience. It’s best to go with a tradesperson who has experience in this field.
- For their references. If they can provide you with references you can be sure of their ability and may even be able to see some of their previous work.
- If they and their tools are insured. This can protect you from lawsuits if they or your property is damaged when they come to your home.
Final Checklist
Use this checklist to make sure you have got everything you need before starting the process to install a gas fire:
- Determine the size of gas fire you want to be installed.
- Determine the type of gas fire you want to be installed.
- Consider what work may need to be done in your property to install a gas fire.
- Seek recommendations from friends, family and neighbours.
- Use HouseholdQuotes to find the best tradesperson to come and install the gas fire for you.
Click To Get QuotesFrequently Asked Questions
How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Gas Fire?
If you’re having moisture problems, your chimney stack or fireplace is damaged or you need an upgrade, then you will likely need to remove the gas fire in your property.
To remove your gas fire, the chimney gas line will need to be switched off and disassembled. This is a job that must be done by a qualified professional as it could be very dangerous to attempt yourself.
Do Gas Fires Need Electricity to Work?
Most gas fires do run off mains, however, so make sure to do your research into what kind of gas fire you want installing beforehand.