A Valor Homeflame Super 470S dating back to the 1980s has been nominated as the ‘winner’ of the brand’s nationwide hunt for zombie gas fires – models with outdated technology that refuse to die, thus never getting replaced.
Valor, part of Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation, launched the competition earlier this year, asking installers to nominate legacy models they have worked on. Fires from as far back as the 1980s were put forward, supporting Valor’s estimate that there could be more than four million zombie gas fires over 20 years old, currently installed in UK homes.
The ‘winner’ was a Valor Homeflame Super 470S, installed way back in January 1988 in Andrew Petruszak’s home in Gloucester. Nearly 30 years later, it is still working fine – although it will soon be replaced with a Firegem Visa Highline Deluxe after Andrew was given the opportunity to choose a new fire from the Valor portfolio.
Andrew said: “It’s clear that these fires were built to last, as proved by my existing fire which is still going strong after nearly 30 years! But I’m excited to see the benefits of a modern fire.
“I live in a terraced house dating back to the 19th century, with no central heating. Instead, I use gas fires and wall heaters to heat individual rooms and keep running costs down. The gas fires are easy to use, cheap to run and clearly they are long-lasting.”
The Homeflame Super 470S was nominated by Richard Gough, a former British Gas installer who also lives in Gloucester. As part of the competition, he was presented with a ‘zombie experience’ for him and four friends from Valor.
He said: “I’m not surprised gas fires are still going strong. They’re cheap to use, heat the room adequately and as we’ve seen they last for many years – in fact, I’ve worked on older ones than this over the years.”
Modern gas fire savings
Jonathan Smith, Product Marketing Manager for Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation, said: “We all know the old saying; ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ But in the case of gas fires, it’s not true. Modern gas fires are more efficient, they offer greater control over the flame picture and they are safer too, thanks to the addition of a flame safety device that cuts off the gas in the unlikely event that the pilot light becomes extinguished.
“They come with a host of flexible design and installation choices that simply were not an option in the 1980s and homeowners can benefit from improved comfort, with a maximum heat output of around 2.5kW for a decorative gas fire, compared to 3.85kW from a brand new Valor Homeflame full depth gas fire.
“If that’s not enough, there are of course cost benefits too. Running a typical 1980s decorative gas fire with 25% efficiency for an average of seven hours per day, 125 days per year, would cost £315 per year at today’s gas prices, using a standard variable tariff on direct debit.
“In contrast, running a Valor Homeflame full depth gas fire with 85% efficiency for the same period would cost £157.50 – exactly half the cost of a decorative gas fire. That could mean an annual saving of more than £150 – and a potential payback period of less than four years. It’s an important message to reinforce to customers.”
