Category: Electric Fire Suites | Published: 14 Dec, 2017
How easy is it to fit an electric fire to replace a gas fire?
Replacing a gas fire with an electric fire is a more affordable way of heating the home. Electric fires are more energy efficient and cheaper to run than their gas counterparts. You will also avoid the hassle of collecting wood and building up a fire from scratch every time.
ELB Fireplaces have a massive range of electric fires – from flame effect to coal and pebble bases – meaning that there will be plenty of choices to suit your home, whether it’s a period property, new build or mid-century.
In terms of easiness, this job is fairly straight forward – you just need the experience and confidence to work with gas and electrics. If you’d rather get an expert in, call the team at ELB Fireplaces – we carry these kind of jobs day in and day out, so we’re experts in the field.
However, when it comes to fitting an electric fire to replace a gas fire, one of the best things is that the job works with pretty much any size fireplace cavity. You’ll need a few basic tools including a pair of groove joint pliers and a pipe wrench.
In order to have a clear space for the electric insert, you will need to remove the gas fire and seal the gas supply. It’s advised that if you’re dealing with gas, you should be Gas Safe registered. Gas is highly combustible and dangerous to work with, so it’s important to get the services of certified gas engineer for this stage.
Disconnecting a gas fire from the mains
- Turn off the gas supply to the property.
- Remove the trim surrounding the fireplace.
- Disconnect the gas line from the wall and the fireplace.
- Remove the gas fireplace from the wall – it may need a little wiggle to come loose.
- Plug the gas line with a safety cape and apply pipe sealing around this to ensure a complete seal. This is extremely important to prevent gas leaks.
- Turn the gas supply to the home back on. Check for leaks. You can do this by applying a mixture of water and washing up liquid around the cap – if bubbles come out, there is a gas leak. Reseal and tighten if this occurs.
If the fireplace is vented, it needs to be sealed by closing the damper or blocking off the vent with a metal sheet or plywood to prevent warmth from escaping upwards. This will make your electric fireplace more efficient.
Connecting an electric fire
Electric fires will need their own power outlet – don’t double up with another appliance and don’t use an extension lead.
Make sure you’ve chosen a fire insert that fits into the existing cavity. Do a test run by turning it on and checking the settings. You want to be able to see that there are no problems before you fit it.
Most electric fires require a simple fit and switch on. If the product is a bit more elaborate than most, your fireplace salesperson should give you advice on fitting.