Gas fire efficiency explained

Temperatures are falling and your heating bill is going to rise. So what uses most gas, central heating or a gas fire? Is it cheaper to use your gas fire or central heating? It depends mainly on the type of home and heating system you have.

How is your house heated?

If your house has good insulation and a modern boiler, central heating is usually the cheaper and better option. Condensing technology, heat exchangers and a balanced flue all add to a boiler’s efficiency. Temperature controls and smart devices let you maintain constant heat and warm specific rooms without wasting energy on empty spaces.

The main alternatives are storage heaters and electric fires, where the perceived advantage is using off-peak electricity. With this method it can be cheaper to use a gas fire in one room, as long as you keep the doors and windows closed.

How big is your house?

In a small, high-ceiling or open plan home, heating the whole house is usually cheaper and more efficient. In a large house, if the room with the gas fire is less than 25% of it, heating just that room could be advantageous, though insulation quality matters.

Where is your gas fire?

If the gas fire is in a room you use for most of the day, heating just that room could be beneficial. The downside is that trips to the kitchen, bathroom or other rooms will be cold.

Conclusion

Central heating is usually the best option if you have an efficient system. A modern central heating boiler is around 90% efficient, meaning 90% of the energy goes to heating your home and 10% is lost. Gas fires can be as low as 50% efficient, because they need a constant supply of fresh air and that ventilation removes warm air whether the fire is on or not.

If you think you could get more from an efficient central heating system, our team can advise.