Are Decoflame fies any good for heating up a room in winter?

[newfireplace]

Thought about installing a fireplace and either a gas or electric fire, but instead of all the hassle would instead now prefer just getting one of these Decoflames and simply attaching it to the wall. Very modern looking and runs on biofuel.

Thinking about getting this one http://www.johnlewis.com/230666349/Product.aspx Its expensive but will add a nice decorative touch to the living room as well. But still, the most important thing is whether it will provide sufficient heat during the winter as my living room gets really cold.

 

[conny]

For 2k I'd want it to heat the whole flamin' house!
Plus you have to buy the fuel from the OEM???
Seems a bit steep for what basically looks like a metal trough for burning the equivalent of paraffin with a glass panel.

 

[sooey]

And no flue, for a fuel burning appliance.....fook that.

 

[conny]

And no flue, for a fuel burning appliance.....fook that.

Plain English!
I like that!!

 

[nickso]

Pretty sure the bioethanol could be bought elsewhere.

Two thoughts, Does it need a whacking great vent in the room like most flueless appliances? Will that glass go cloudy and crap looking like all glass on fires does after a few years?

 

[newfireplace]

Yes its very expensive, but I figure a nice fireplace and a good fire would cost in excess of £1000 and another £200 for installation. Do you think something like this is safe?

Another option would be this one http://www.johnlewis.com/230666210/Product.aspx This one sticks out a bit and would look nice inserted into the wall.

You say its basically a place to burn gire, but isn't that what all fires are?

I do agree though its very expensive and a price point of £1000 or so would be more relaistic. But I guess you pay a premium for name and design.

 

[newfireplace]

Pretty sure the bioethanol could be bought elsewhere.

Two thoughts, Does it need a whacking great vent in the room like most flueless appliances? Will that glass go cloudy and crap looking like all glass on fires does after a few years?

My understanding is that its very safe and does not require ventilation. It ventilates into the air inside the room. Whether it messes the glass up in a year or two I don't know.

 

[sooey]

That would be the same air that you're breathing then right?

 

[Corgigrouch]

It is not a heating device... As its name suggests, it is for decoration only. Granted it will give off some heat but the fact that they do not quote its heat output suggests that the heat given off is pretty low

 

[gasbanni]

Forget it you'd be tied in to a specialized fuel .........

A gas fire is definitely your best option......flued, balanced flue or flueless even !

 

[merlin50]

looks like an expensive candle to me, there is no way that is going to give out much heat and will cost a lot to run

 

[pred]

Yes its very expensive, but I figure a nice fireplace and a good fire would cost in excess of £1000 and another £200 for installation. Do you think something like this is safe?

Another option would be this one http://www.johnlewis.com/230666210/Product.aspx This one sticks out a bit and would look nice inserted into the wall.

You say its basically a place to burn gire, but isn't that what all fires are?

I do agree though its very expensive and a price point of £1000 or so would be more relaistic. But I guess you pay a premium for name and design.

Get off the fence will you, quote; "a nice fireplace and a good fire" BUT its not a good fire is it!!!! Why not buy a big screen tv with a taped coal fire or log fire, i'm sure you could chop and change at your whim. SIMPLES

 

[newfireplace]

I also think a gas fire will best for me both from a cost and heating standpoint. However, I have no idea which type to get. There appear to be several types. I have a standard chimney that you see on top of houses in many parts of London (class A type I think).

I also know there is the flue type gas fires which require ventilation to the outside, but since I want the gas fire placed on an inside (the wall that divides the house between my house and next door), how do I go about choosing which one? How would the installer create ventilation to the chimney (bearing in my I don't have an existing fireplace)? I do have standard small air vent on the same wall near the top.

The wall that I want the fire to go on looks exactly like this. Its a structural wall http://www.fireplacefactorydirect.co.uk/gallery/images/128/large_Walton-Marble-Fireplace.gif that sticks out a bit.

I am not sure if I want a fireplace, just the fire because most of the fireplaces look very traditional, although I have seen one that looks very modern, but is very expensive. Here http://www.hotprice.co.uk/gavin-scott-rimini-fireplace

Here is another contemporary looking one but a good deal cheaper http://www.fireplacefactorydirect.co.uk/gallery/images/128/large_Walton-Marble-Fireplace.gif

But I think I might forget about a fireplace alltogether and just go with a very modern looking fire that I can recessa into the wall so only the fronr is showing.

 

[gasbanni]

The best thing would be to fit the fire on the chimney breast you'll need to get a gas fitter in to test the flue. Best to think of balanced flue or flued .....
flueless are not recommended as the sole source of heating.

Vents are needed for flueless but not reqd (in most instances ) for the other two.

 

[newfireplace]

The best thing would be to fit the fire on the chimney breast you'll need to get a gas fitter in to test the flue. Best to think of balanced flue or flued .....
flueless are not recommended as the sole source of heating.

Vents are needed for flueless but not reqd (in most instances ) for the other two.

Thanks for that. I am reading here that flueless fires can be dangerous and some fitters won't even touch them.

If I get a balanced or flued fire, how does the fitter get access to the chimney? I have no idea how these things work? Also, will the fitter recess the fire into a structure bearing wall? How does the fitter hide the gas pipe that will need to connect to the fire?

I am thinking something like this http://www.fireplacemegastore.co.uk...s/verine-frontier-he-high-efficiency-gas-fire recessed into the wall fully as shown in this image.

There is another type called hole in the wall like this http://www.fireplacemegastore.co.uk...platonic-hole-in-the-wall-smartscape-gas-fire

By the way, do you have any idea how much these typically cost to install? I know prices vary upon inspection, but roughly how much might I expect to pay?