A crackling stove is a picture of winter cosiness - throwing another log on the fire and warming your toes is a classic image that most of us would love to come home to.

However, there are also some of us who aren't keen on the reality - mostly the cleaning and maintenance that comes with them! That’s why gas stoves are so popular. If you want the extra warmth a stove can offer without the labour of love that a wood burners demand, they are ideal.

Read our guide to gas stoves to find out more about how you can benefit from one, how to install one and which one to buy.

Why Buy a Gas Stove?

Gas stoves boast a number of benefits that may make them suitable for your home. In a nutshell, they are...

  • Clean. There is very little maintenance or cleaning required for a gas stove and no smoke or particles.
  • Cosy and warm. Gas stoves give off great heat and offer the same ambience as a log fire.
  • Authentic looking. Gas stoves can look just like the real thing, with realistic-looking artificial logs or coal and cast iron exteriors.
  • Quick and easy. You can light it with a button and control the heat without having to seek out fuel yourself.

Read on to find out more...

How Gas Stoves Work

Gas stoves work by sealing in heat with an airtight glass door or panel. This means the fire doesn’t waste energy by taking in air from the surrounding room. The heat generated is then radiated outwards through a glass panel and waste air is disposed of through a flue or vent.

Gas stoves work easily, and almost any home can have one fitted, so long as you are connected to a gas line. If you have a chimney, you can install a gas stove into it right away with our range of gas stoves for conventional flues.

If you don’t have a chimney, you can opt for a balanced flue gas stove instead. You can fit a balanced flue through an exterior wall easily, which works by pulling in cold air and providing an exhaust for fumes through a two-way pipe.

Related: How to Have a Gas Stove With a Balanced Flue

No possibility of installing a chimney or balanced flue into your home? You can still enjoy the benefits with a flueless gas stove! These work with catalytic converters that turn waste fumes into harmless carbon dioxide and release it back into your room through a vent. If you aren’t connected to the main gas line and use LPG gas, we also feature stoves that will be compatible for you.

Are Gas Stoves Efficient?

One of the biggest benefits of a gas stove is that they are highly efficient - some of our stoves boast ratings of over 80% energy efficiency! As they do not suck in unnecessary air, energy is not wasted, so more can be produced to heat your room.

Their cleanliness also means that a build up of soot or residue will not start to effect the burning of your fire. It is also kinder on the environment, as they do not give out dirty smoke into the atmosphere, meaning you won't have to worry about sweeping your chimney!

Are Gas Stoves Expensive to Run?

Gas stoves run on one of one of the cheapest fuels in the UK. In fact, 80% of energy used in the UK comes from gas thanks to its low cost, so you would not be alone in enjoying the price benefits of a gas stove!

Gas stoves are also fantastically easy to use and control. They can instantly be switched on with a button and the heat can be turned up or down as you like, meaning you can adjust your room temperature more accurately without running your bill up - some are even remote controlled, so you won’t even have to get up off the sofa!

Also, you can stave off your central heating if you would rather just cosy up in your living room with your gas stove for an evening. What’s more, as a gas stove is mains connected, you won't have to spend time and money on sourcing solid fuel.

We have a whole blog on how much gas and electric stoves cost to run with more information.

Are Gas Stoves Safe?

Some people may have concerns about fuels being emitted by burning gas. However, modern day fireplaces are incredibly safe and deposit gases outside, through your chimney or flue. Flueless gas stoves are incredibly reliable and all the air released back into your home will be clean and harmless.

If your gas stove was fitted by a registered Gas Safe fitter, you have it inspected annually and you have a carbon monoxide alarm in your home, your gas stove should be perfectly safe. Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete burning of natural gas, which can be caused by a badly fitted or unmaintained gas appliance.

For those with children and pets, a gas stove is one of the best options for a fireplace, too. There will be no embers or naked flames to worry about, plus you won’t need to keep any sharp tools around for stoking logs that could cause an accident with curious kids.

Gas Stove Installation

Many people wonder whether that can install their gas stove themselves. Unless you yourself are a registered Gas Safe engineer, the answer is no.

Whoever fits your gas stove is required by law to be Gas Safe registered. So, it’s important that you find a suitable fitter to do the job for you.

Find out more about gas installation safety with our guide to stove installation.

The cost and amount of work that will be needed to install your stove depends on the type of stove you choose, the chimney you have available and whether any changes need to be made to it.

For example, when installing a regular gas stove into a conventional chimney, you might want to fit a chimney liner first. These help protect you in the case you have a carbon monoxide leak.

A balanced flue meanwhile doesn’t need a liner, but comes with its own installation costs and requirements.

Similarly, you won’t need a chimney at all for a flueless gas stove, but you will need to fit an air vent in your room.

We have a full blog with all the information you need on flues for gas stoves

What Gas Stove to Buy?

The gas stove you can buy depends on the type of chimney you have. If you already have a flue, you may just need to check that the gas stove you select is the right size. Alternatively, you may be looking at installing a new balanced flue, which should be possible with any external wall if you adhere to a few easy guidelines.

You will also need to check the stove is compatible with the type of gas you are using - natural gas or LPG. If you are connecting to mainline gas, you will probably be using natural gas, though we also have stoves that work with LPG. All of this information can be found under the ‘specifications’ tab on each of our product pages.

Finally, we have a fantastic range of gas stoves for you to choose from. Our traditional looking cast iron gas stoves give you the total effect of the real thing, featuring artificial fuel beds of either coal or logs. Whether you want to add some character and warmth to a contemporary room, or are looking to make a switch from an existing log burning stove, a gas stove is a great option.

Gas Stoves vs Electric Stoves

If you are convinced a log burning stove isn’t for you but think gas isn’t the way to go, you can also consider an electric stove. If you don’t want to install a flue system or are not connected to a gas line, you could certainly consider one.

The main differences, though, lie in appearance and price. While an electric stove is probably the cleanest and easiest type of stove to get up and running in your home, you will lose out on a real flame effect. You should also bear in mind that electricity is one of the most expensive ways to fuel heat, though they can be great for smaller rooms and those who want something quick and easy, so they’re not be written off!

Looking for a new gas stove for your home? Visit Direct Stoves to discover our leading range online now

Enjoy our FREE UK delivery and flexible finance options

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