If you have a gas fire in your home but are considering moving to an electric fire for cost efficiency, you may wonder how to remove your existing one. This guide will explore how a professional can remove your existing gas appliances to make way for a new stylish fire.
Can You Remove A Gas Fire?
If you’re considering removing your gas fire, you should know a few things first. While it is possible to remove a gas fire on your own, it’s a legal requirement that you hire a gas-safe registered engineer to do so. That’s because working with gas can be extremely dangerous, and even experienced contractors can make mistakes that put themselves and others at risk.
So, before attempting to remove your gas fire, ensure you understand the risks and hire a professional to do the job. That said, here’s everything you need to know about how a professional will remove it for you.
Is It Easy To Remove A Gas Fire?
The removal of gas fires must be conducted by a gas-safe registered engineer, as it is a complex and potentially dangerous process. They will need to disconnect the gas supply to the appliance, carry out safety checks, and ensure your home is safe post-removal. Once the safety checks have been carried out, the engineer can safely remove the gas pipe, gas line and fire.
How To Remove A Gas Fire
Let’s take a look at how a gas fire can be removed from your home:
1- Isolate The Gas Supply:
Before any work can begin on your removing your gas fire, the gas must be turned off. Your gas-safe registered engineer will initially find the shut-off valve near the fire and turn it to the “off” position. This ensures that removing the fire goes smoothly and there is no risk of gas fires.
2- Remove The Trim:
The next step is for the trim around the fire to be removed, usually held in place with screws or nails. Your certified gas engineer will remove and set aside the gas fire insert.
3- Remove the Surround
Next, the engineer will remove the portion of the fire surrounding the opening, also known as the gas fire surround. This surround is usually made of metal or brick, with different screws and nails. As with the trim, this is removed and set aside.
4- Disconnect The Fire From The Gas Supply Pipe
Now your engineer will disconnect the fire from the gas supply pipe by locating the connection point and unscrewing the fitting that connects the two. Once the connection is loosened, the fire can be removed from the wall.
5- Remove Vent Apparatus
The natural vent apparatus must also be removed as it vents the gas and smoke out of your home. Not removing it can become a serious safety hazard and result in a gas leak in your home. The gas engineer will unscrew the screws or remove the nails on which the gas fire sits.
6- Remove Electrical Connections
Next, the engineer will remove any electrical connections. This is important as they are connected to the main electricity supply and pose a health risk if not removed correctly. The wires will then be disconnected and set aside.
7- Remove Cable Fixings
Then the cable fixings must be removed too. As with the previous steps, unscrew the nails or screws holding it in place and remove them.
8- Remove The Gas Fire
Finally, you can remove the actual fire itself. Once the above has been removed, this should be relatively easy and come apart without gas leaks, electrical supply issues, or other errors. And there you have it; your fireplace has been removed!
What types of gas fires are there?
Let’s take a look at the different types of gas fires:
Ventless Gas Fire
Ventless Gas fires have become increasingly popular because they are much easier to install than traditional vented gas fireplaces. They don’t require a chimney or any venting, so they can be installed anywhere in your home and are great for modern gas fires.
Vented Gas Fire
A natural vent gas fire is a traditional gas fire requiring a chimney or some venting to work correctly. Vented gas fires are usually more powerful and produce more heat than their counterparts.
Direct Vent Gas Fire
A direct vent gas fire is a type of vented gas fire that doesn’t require a chimney. Instead, they use a direct vent that goes directly to the outside of your home, is very efficient, and can produce a lot of heat.
Gas Inserts
A gas insert is a type of gas fire inserted into an existing fire. Gas inserts are usually more efficient than traditional fire and produce large amounts of heat.
Removing a Gas Fire FAQs:
Here are a few of the most common questions we get asked about gas fire removal, along with our answers:
Can you remove a gas fire yourself?
No, you cannot remove a gas fire by yourself. They must always be installed and maintained by a professional.
What is behind a gas fire?
Behind a gas fire, a gas line supplies fuel to create a flame that heats a metal combustion chamber. This combustion chamber is lined with a material that helps to spread the heat evenly throughout the room. Once the fire is lit, the gas is turned off, and the fire will continue to radiate heat even after the flame has gone out.
Can you cap off a gas fire?
There are a few different ways you can go about capping off a gas fire, and your chosen method will likely depend on the type of fire you have. You can turn off the gas supply if you have a traditional gas fire. This will prevent the fire from drawing any gas from your home and, as a result, will prevent it from producing any heat.
You may need to take additional steps to ensure the fire is sealed correctly if you have a more modern gas fire, such as a direct vent or power vent. These fires typically have a damper that needs to be closed to prevent outside air from entering. Sometimes, you may also need to seal off any openings around the fire, such as the flue collar.
How do you put out a gas fireplace?
If your gas fire gives you trouble, you may wonder how to put it out. The good news is that gas fires are relatively easy to shut off. In most cases, you must turn a knob or switch to the “off” position.
However, if your gas fire is not responding to the knob or switch, you may need to shut off the gas at the main valve. This is usually located near the fireplace. Once you have shut off the gas, you can extinguish the fire by smothering it with a blanket or pillow.
