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Flueless gas fires were once a popular option for customers who wanted a real gas flame in rooms where a conventional gas fire wasn’t practical. We sold flueless gas fires for many years, so we’re familiar with the reasons people choose them and the questions that come with them. We don’t sell them anymore. These days, we’d normally point customers towards electric or bioethanol instead. Electric gives you a huge amount of choice, while bioethanol still gives you a genuine flame if that’s important to you. Flueless gas fires do have some advantages, but there are also a few drawbacks worth understanding.
A flueless gas fire burns gas without using a conventional chimney or flue to take the combustion products outside. That makes it different from a traditional inset gas fire, which normally relies on a suitable chimney or flue. Because there isn’t a flue removing combustion products from the room, the correct ventilation and installation requirements are particularly important. If you’re considering any gas appliance, we’d always recommend having the room and proposed installation checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
This was always the biggest attraction. A flueless gas fire gave customers another way of having a real gas flame where a conventional chimney or flue wasn’t available. That made them particularly useful in newer properties or rooms where a traditional fireplace had been removed.
For some people, this is still the main appeal. An electric fire can create a very convincing flame effect, but it isn’t a real flame. A flueless gas fire burns gas, so what you’re looking at is genuine fire. If having a real flame is important to you, that’s one of the reasons we’d now suggest looking at bioethanol as an alternative.
There isn’t a chimney or conventional flue running from the fire through the property. That removes one part of the installation, although it doesn’t mean the fire can simply be fitted anywhere. The room, ventilation and appliance requirements still have to be suitable.
A flueless gas fire still burns gas inside the room, so the correct supply of fresh air is essential. The ventilation requirements depend on the appliance and installation, so this isn’t something we’d guess at or work out from a general online guide. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and have the installation assessed by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Burning gas produces water vapour. With a conventional flued fire, combustion products are taken away through the flue. With a flueless appliance, that isn’t happening in the same way, so increased moisture in the room can be one of the drawbacks. That can be more noticeable in some homes than others.
You still need a suitable gas supply, professional installation and ongoing maintenance. For customers starting from scratch, this is one of the reasons electric and bioethanol have become more attractive alternatives. Neither requires a gas supply.
The fire itself has specific installation and ventilation requirements, so you have to choose the fireplace around those requirements. With electric in particular, we can offer a much wider choice of traditional fireplaces, complete suites, inset fires and larger contemporary fires without having to accommodate a gas appliance.
Yes, when a suitable appliance is installed, ventilated, used and maintained correctly. The important point with a flueless fire is that there isn’t a conventional flue taking combustion products away from the room, so the manufacturer’s ventilation and room requirements need to be followed. Never block required ventilation or install or alter a gas fire yourself. A Gas Safe registered engineer should check that the appliance and room are suitable and carry out the gas installation.
No. We sold them for many years, but they aren’t part of our range anymore. For most customers asking us about them now, we’d look at electric or bioethanol instead.
If convenience is the priority, electric is usually where we’d start. Modern electric fires give you far more choice than they did years ago, from traditional inset fires to larger contemporary models and media wall fires. Our electric fires include a wide choice of individual fires. If you want the complete fireplace rather than just the fire, have a look at our electric fireplace suites. These combine the electric fire and fireplace surround as one package, with both traditional and more contemporary designs available. For someone who simply wants a fireplace that’s easy to use, this is often the route we’d recommend.
If the reason you’re considering a flueless gas fire is because you want a genuine flame, bioethanol is worth a look. Bioethanol gives you a real living flame without needing a gas supply. We now have a large range of complete bioethanol fireplaces, including traditional fireplace packages and designs that can work against a suitable flat wall. This is probably the closest alternative we’d suggest to someone who liked the idea of a flueless gas fire mainly because of the real flame.
You might not need a completely new fireplace at all. If you already have an unused fireplace, grate or suitable stove that you want to keep, one of our bioethanol conversion kits may be an option. We have different burner sizes for existing fireplace openings, along with dedicated kits for selected cast iron fireplaces. This can be a good way to keep the fireplace you already like while changing how you use it.
We’d usually start with one question: Do you want a real flame? If the answer is no, we’d look at electric. It’s simple to use, gives you plenty of fireplace choices and modern flame effects have improved enormously. If the answer is yes, we’d look at bioethanol. You keep the attraction of a genuine flame without needing a gas supply. We no longer sell flueless gas fires, but if you’ve found this article because you’re trying to work out what will suit your room, send us a photo and some basic measurements. We’ll happily talk you through the electric and bioethanol options that would work with the space you have.
Phone
01773 718718
Email
sales@castfireplaces.co.uk
