Gas Fire Cost

By Kim
Last updated 12th June 2024 - Reading time: 13 mins
At a glance
  • The average cost of installing a gas fire is around £500
  • The job will take approximately 2 - 3 hours to complete
In this article, you'll discover the following:
  • A complete pricing breakdown which includes types of gas fires to consider, along with what such a task usually involves
  • How long the job should approximately take and a general overview of what kind of jobs can be performed
  • How to find and hire a heating engineer

Looking to have a gas fire fitting in your home?

How much to fit a gas fire?

Installing a gas fire will usually cost around £500 on average, but this will depend on the gas fire you choose (such as a modern gas fire and surround) and if you need any additional building work.

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Read our handy cost guide to discover everything you need to know about installing a gas fire.

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Average Cost to Install a Gas Fire:

Depending on the complexity of the job, it usually takes: 2-3 hours

£500

How Much to Fit a Gas Fire?

The average cost to install a gas fire can vary depending on the price and model of your chosen gas fire and whether or not there is any extra pipework involved with installing your gas fire.

Your location can also affect the cost; however, despite all of the rising costs involved, mains gas is one of the cheapest ways to heat your home.

The labour costs for installing a gas fire in your home is usually around £50-£100 in total, and a typical installation will usually take about 2-3 hours.

Before you use your new gas fire, it’s essential that you have a gas engineer inspect all of the lines, flues, and wiring to ensure that it is completely safe first.

The total cost for the job, including the price of the fire and labour, will typically be somewhere around £300-£700.

I'm in the market for a new gas fire but im not 100% sure what the differences are between flue and flueless fires? What do I need in my fireplace? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

"Hi. If you have a chimney you are able to have a flue gas fire. However, If there is no chimney in your property then you will have to have a flueless gas fire. The flueless Gas fire will require a vent. Hope that helps."

Gas Fire Prices

Below are the estimated costs for hiring a tradesperson to fit mid-range (£25/m2) floor tiles in different sized rooms.

Job Description Duration Cost
Gas fire fit 1-2 hours £50-£100
Remove gas fire and install flueless fire instead 2-3 hours £100-£150
Remove gas fire and cap it off 1-2 hours £50-£100
Carry out an annual service on gas fire 1-2 hours £60-£100
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Supply Only Costs

Below are the average costs per square metre for different types of floor tile.

Fireplace Type Cost
Inset £250-£450
Outset £300-£600
High efficiency £400-£1500
Flueless £450-£1000
Balanced Flue £700-£1500
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Additional Costs

There are several additional costs to consider when it comes to having a gas fire installed. Below is a list of those extra costs that you may need to consider:

Labour Costs and Timescales

The average cost for a heating specialist to install a gas fire is around £50-£100.

On average, a heating specialist will charge around £150-£200 per day. The job of installing a gas fire at your home will usually take approximately 2-3 hours, and so, therefore, the contractor’s price will reflect this amount of time.

The prices may vary as some jobs will be more difficult than others and so will end up taking longer.

Those located in London can expect to pay around £20-£60 more for labour than those located in the North or other parts of the UK.

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Cost Factors of Installing a Gas Fire

There are several things that can affect the overall cost of a gas fire installation. Below is a list of things that may affect the price of the job:

Type of Fire

There are many different types of fire, and each of them varies in cost. The price you pay for the fire itself can depend on the kind of fire you choose, the manufacturer, and the variety that you choose.

As with any home appliance, you can get some fires with extra features or better materials that will cost more.

Location of property

The location of your property can affect the overall price you pay for your gas fire installation. Those located in London can expect to pay around £20-£60 more for labour than those located in the North or other parts of the UK.

Size of Fire

The larger your fire, the longer it is going to take to install. Therefore, you can expect larger labour costs for fires that are bigger in size. A typical engineer will charge around £20-£40 for each additional hour they have to spend on the job.

Extra Work

You can expect to pay more in labour and materials if any extra work is needed on things such as the chimney or flue. In most cases, an engineer will come out to inspect your current situation and will come up with a price based on exactly what is needed for your particular job.

Can Install a Gas Fire Myself?

Installing a gas fire is not a simple job and isn’t a job that should be attempted as a DIY project.

A gas fire installation requires a gas safe registered engineer to perform the installation for safety and legal reasons.

Although you may think you can install a gas fire by yourself, it is definitely not recommended. If you are not gas safe registered, it is illegal and dangerous to attempt the job yourself.

Building Regulations for a Gas Fire

There are a number of different building regulations that need to be adhered to when installing a new gas fire. These will depend upon the type of fire that you are having installed.

The easiest way to ensure you’re complying with all of the correct building regulations about your new fire and your chimney is to ensure that you have the work carried out by a registered installer.

To make sure your new fire installation is able to meet all regulations, you should hire a HETAS certified installer. If you have the work carried out by an engineer that isn’t registered, you will need to have it inspected by a building control officer.

You can also get in touch with your local council and give them a brief explanation of the work you’re having done. They should be able to advise you on the correct building regulations for your particular job.

Planning Permission for a Gas Fire

For the gas fire itself, you don’t need to worry about planning permission. However, there are some rules that you need to adhere to when it comes to the flue.

Work on the flue or chimney is usually considered as permitted development. This means that they don’t require planning permission as long as the flues on the rear or side elevation are to a maximum of one metre about the highest part of the roof.

If your building is a listed building or in a conservation area, it is always best to check with your local council on whether or not you need planning permission for a particular job.

A registered installer will be able to advise you best on whether you need planning permission. If you are unsure at any time, you should always check with your local council before having the work carried out.

Choosing a Gas Fire

There are a number of different types of gas fires. Below is a list of the different types of gas fire that you can get:

Open Front Gas Fire Cost

This type of fire comes with several controls and different decorative options. This means that you can choose a style that suits you.

Pros

  • ✔ Aesthetically pleasing
  • ✔ Come with a number of control options

Cons

  • ✖ Less efficient than other gas fire models

Outset Living Flame Gas Fire Cost

These types of fire protrude out of the wall and sit on the hearth. This type of fire usually gives off a lot of heat because the body of the fire heats up, and this converts heat around the room quite efficiently.

Pros

  • ✔ Give off a lot of heat
  • ✔ Feature large controls that are easy to handle

Cons

  • ✖ Takes up a lot of room

Glass Fronted High Efficiency Gas Fire Cost

Glass-fronted high-efficiency fires tend to have an efficiency rating of around 80-90%. It uses technology to increase the energy efficiency above the efficiency of a regular gas fire.

Pros

  • ✔ Highly efficient

Cons

  • ✖ May not give off as much heat as traditional gas fires

Flueless Gas Fire Cost

Flueless fires are designed for people who don’t have a chimney in their home. It is a clean-burning device which has a catalytic converter built right into it.

The catalytic converter cleans the air that passes through it and removes any harmful emissions before safely releasing it into the air.

Pros

  • ✔ Don’t require a chimney
  • ✔ Highly efficient

Cons

  • ✖ Relies on the catalytic converter to release safe air

Balanced Flue Gas Fire Cost

This type of fire is designed for people who want all the benefits of a gas fire but don't have a flue or chimney built into their home. It comes with its own flue that leads directly through an external wall.

Pros

  • ✔ Allows you to have a fire without a chimney
  • ✔ Very efficient

Cons

  • ✖ Could be difficult to install in some cases

Gas Fire Maintenance Cost

A gas fire requires an annual gas safety check. This is designed to ensure the fire works efficiently. A gas safe inspector will check for the correct pressure, supply, safety, and will also check the flues and chimney to ensure everything is working correctly.

Your gas fire will also need to be serviced regularly. This is different from a gas safety check. It essentially involves inspecting each part of the fire. It is not essential to have your gas fire serviced, but it is beneficial. The service will check for potential safety hazards which could be dangerous if not spotted quickly. Only a gas safe engineer can perform a gas fire service.

Servicing your gas fire regularly can save you money in the long run as small issues can be highlighted and corrected before they become a much bigger problem. A gas fire service will also increase the lifespan of your fire.

A gas fire service typically costs around £40-£60 and will take around 1-2 hours.

Gas Fire Removal Cost

In some cases, you may want to remove an old gas fire to make way for a new one. Or perhaps you want to remove a fire to create more space in the room. If that’s the case, the gas elements of your fire should be removed by a gas safe registered engineer as they can safely remove your fire correctly.

The cost to disconnect your fire and make the remaining gas pipes safe will usually cost around £80-£160. The timescale for this part of the job should usually be around 0.5-1 day.

Once the fire has been removed, you will likely want to redecorate the area where the fire once was. This may require hiring someone to decorate for you. If that’s the case, the cost for the entire job could increase to around £100-£400.

Hiring Someone to Install a Gas Fire Checklist

There are a few things you will need to consider before hiring someone to install a new gas fire for you. Below is a list of some of the main things that you should consider when looking for the right contractor for the job:

  • Does the engineer offer any guarantees with their work?
  • How much is the work to complete? – Ask for a breakdown of costs so you can ensure you are paying a reasonable price for each element of the job.
  • What type of fires does the company offer?
  • Do you need to supply any materials yourself, or is it all included in the overall price for the job?
  • Is the engineer experienced in fitting the type of fire that you are purchasing?
  • How many years’ worth of experience does the engineer have in fitting new gas fires?
  • Is the engineer on the Gas Safety Register?
  • How many contractors will carry out the job?
  • Will the contractor fix any issues that may arise?

FAQs

How much does it cost to run a real flame gas fire?

A real flame gas fire will typically cost around 5p per KW to run.

Do you need a guard for an open gas fire?

A fire guard is highly recommended for any open fires to protect your children and pets.

Do gas fires require an electricity supply?

Not all gas fires require an electricity supply; however, some do. More often than not, gas fires won’t need an electrical supply. Some gas fires will have a remote control which requires batteries to operate, but it won’t require a mains supply.

Do I need an air vent for my gas fire?

Most gas fires with a flue don’t require any further ventilation. However, all flueless fires do require additional ventilation. The gas safe registered engineer that installs your new gas fire should have all the knowledge needed to install the correct type of ventilation for your particular fire.

Do I need to have my current chimney lined?

This will depend on the condition of your current chimney. The best course of action is to ask the engineer that is installing your fire for advice. They will be able to inspect your current chimney and make a decision based on the condition of your chimney.

Sources

https://victorianfireplacestore.co.uk/fireplace-building-regulations
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/22/flue_chimney_or_soil_and_vent_pipe
https://www.realflame.co.uk/blog/is-a-gas-fireplace-worth-it
https://www.fireplacestoreonline.com/fireplace-installation-guide

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