How much does it cost to run a gas fire for an hour?
In the pursuit of warmth and comfort, especially during the colder months, gas fires and stoves present a popular choice, offering efficient heating at an affordable price and delivering aesthetic appeal to living spaces.
There are multiple factors that affect the cost of heating your home, including not only the input, output and efficiency of the gas fire you install but also how well your home is insulated.
In this article, we delve into the specifics of a gas fire with a 2.5kW input and 1.8kW output on low settings, analysing its cost-effectiveness and efficiency in heating a home – the Gazco Sheraton 5 Gas Stove.
How to calculate the cost of running a gas fire for an hour
First, it's essential to understand the terms 'input' and 'output' when discussing gas fires. The 'input' refers to the volume of gas the fire consumes to generate heat, measured in kilowatts (kW). In this case, our gas fire consumes 2.5kW of gas energy in its lower setting, with a maximum of 4.7kW in the high setting.
The 'output' is the heat the fire produces and delivers in a room, measured in kW. Our example gas fire has an output of 1.8kW in its low setting, going up to 3.8kW in high. The difference between these two figures indicates the efficiency of the gas fire; the higher the output relative to the input, the more efficient the fire.
The efficiency of a gas fire is a critical factor in determining its cost-effectiveness. To calculate the cost of running this gas fire, we need to consider the current gas prices, which can vary significantly depending on the region and the provider.
As of April 2024, gas prices are 6.04p per kWh (OFGEM, Energy Price Cap) – a figure you can adjust according to your local or national rates.
We can calculate the cost of running our gas fire for one hour and an evening using these figures and multiplying the input by the price per kWh.
- input x cost per kWh = cost per hour
- 15p for 1 hour on low heat, or 60p for 4 hours
2.5kW (low input) x 6.04p (cost per kWh) = 15.01p per hour
- 28p for 1 hour on high heat, or £1.14 for 4 hours
4.7kW (high input) x 6.04p (cost per kWh) = 28.39p per hour
It's important to note that this cost reflects the total gas consumed by the fire, not just the heat output, and maximum efficiency is achieved when running the product on a high output setting.
What effects the cost of heating your home with a gas fire?
When considering the cost of heating a home, the size of the space and the desired temperatures are crucial factors. Larger spaces and higher temperatures will require more gas energy, thus increasing the cost.
Additionally, your home's insulation quality will significantly impact the efficiency of heating your home, with better-insulated homes retaining heat more effectively, reducing the need for continuous heating.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a gas fire with a 2.5kW input and 1.8kW output offers a relatively efficient heating solution for individual rooms.
The cost of running such a gas fire is relatively low, at approximately 15p per hour based on a gas price of 6.04p per kWh. However, the overall cost-effectiveness depends on various factors, including the size and insulation quality of the home, as well as the local gas prices.
Homeowners should consider these factors carefully to determine whether a gas fire meets their heating needs and budget.
SOURCES
Figures in this article are based on the Gazco Sheraton 5 Gas Stove balanced flue model, running at 4 hours on low input of 2.5kW.
Costs presented are based on the average UK cost per unit of gas (including VAT) as of the 1st April 2024 at 6.04p per kWh – OFGEM, Energy Price Cap – https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-price-cap.
Figures are rounded to two decimal places and are based on the England, Scotland and Wales average for people who pay by Direct Debit, and do not include any costs relating to product maintenance and servicing.