AIBU to think this design is rubbish

[belimoo]

I would really appreciate any advice from DIY experts or home renovators with this.

We recently had a new fire/fireplace installed in a previously bricked up fireplace. We aren't allowed to burn anything here so we had to opt for an electric fire to add warmth to an otherwise cold room.

The electric fire kept cutting out when we turned it on and we realised it was because of the grate/grille situated in front of a part which was labelled 'do not cover'. The company have now said that we have to remove the grate anytime we want to put the fire on but that looks awful! I will try to attach pictures to show what I mean.

Is this a normal design? Do other people on here with electric fireplaces move a grate around every day and expect to see a warning sign at the bottom of their fire every time they want to use it as a heater?

I've never seen anything like this before but happy to be told AIBU and many people live like this. Apparently they've never had a complaint before...

@ElizabethinherGermanGarden

Is that actually correct? It doesn't look as if the curved front of the grate would touch it. Doesn't 'do not cover' mean not to chuck a blanket on it?

The grate doesn't touch it but it sits directly in front of where the hot air is pumped out so it can't escape to the room it's meant to be heating up. The hot air just stays around the heater, which then overheats and switches off.

@GoddessKali

If they have photos of it switched on, on their website with the cover in place then you’re bang to rights. What a bloody stupid design!! Don’t let them fob you off, I can guarantee you that others would of complained too!

I'm glad you agree! The fireplace has a gas fire option too so all of the photos show it with actual flames.

It has a remote control to turn the fire on which also seems ridiculous given that you'd have to get up and remove the grate manually anyway.

Grr, it's good to know that people agree with this but I'm sad that we've ruined our living room with an ugly fire we can't really use.

I'd not be happy with that.
Closed, it's a nice design.
With the cover removed, it's ugly

@GoddessKali

If they have photos of it switched on, on their website with the cover in place then you’re bang to rights. What a bloody stupid design!! Don’t let them fob you off, I can guarantee you that others would of complained too!

100% don't let them fob you off OP, that's absolutely ridiculous

Yeah that looks crap. I've just had a wee look on their site (annoying that it's one of the ones you have to get a brochure and can't just see all the info. But the combination bit definitely states that some of the designs have the option of electric so I would expect them to look exactly the same. Keep complaining, the retail ombudsman might be an idea as well.

Thanks for the replies and support everyone. We did just assume it would look like the photos rather than an ugly fan heater sticking out at the bottom.

We have this fireplace, but with a coal scuttle underneath instead of a heater. (We don't use it for heating, there are just dried flowers in it.)

YANBU in being disappointed with what you've got - it looks awful. I hope it can be sorted out.

@AnaCanDoOne

We have this fireplace, but with a coal scuttle underneath instead of a heater. (We don't use it for heating, there are just dried flowers in it.)

YANBU in being disappointed with what you've got - it looks awful. I hope it can be sorted out.

We really like the look of the fireplace itself, just not without the grate. We've basically paid £180 for an ugly fan heater we can't use and used up the space we had for something to actually heat the room.

That's so weird. Long shot but if you can't use it in the way the picture suggests, could you email newspaper consumer sections, e.g. Consumer Champions at the Guardian ?

I would say if it keeps shutting off when fully assembled then it is faulty!

@HyggeTygge

That's so weird. Long shot but if you can't use it in the way the picture suggests, could you email newspaper consumer sections, e.g. Consumer Champions at the Guardian ?

Thanks, I guess we could try it. I'm just so surprised that we seem to be the first people to complain about this.

@PattyPan

I would say if it keeps shutting off when fully assembled then it is faulty!

That is a very good point!!

Looks impossible to use safely. Trading Standards is your friend.

Goodness. This is a terrible design and can’t possibly give you any heat when assembled. I don’t believe for one minute that the company aren’t aware of this. It’s entirely possible that they haven’t sold many electric versions and equally possible that ppl are buying it for the look of the coals rather than functioning heat so aren’t that bothered.

It’s irrelevant that no one else has complained, you are and that’s what’s important. The grill looks completely solid. I’d have thought it would need to be slatted or something in order to let the hot air out

How far away from the heater do you have to pull the cover? Does it work if it’s only an inch away?

It’s a lovely fireplace.

Wondering if posting to twitter or similar would get their attention. Something along the lines of "is this really considered an acceptable way to use the electric option on the name of company and the unit name looks absolutely dreadful and customer service is a nightmare.

Can you get another fireplace company, or an electrician, to come and assess the fireplace and do a report with their recommendations? It's not fit for purpose so you should be due a refund or replacement.

Thanks so much for all of the replies and suggestions. It's really helpful to know that this isn't unreasonable and other people wouldn't accept it either.

That is a terrible design and not fit for purpose!!!

Make a complaint to the company through their complaints process. As part of the complaint, you want someone to come and inspect the fire and confirm that it isn't faulty/works as it is designed to.

When/if that fails - is the retails company a member of an ombudsman scheme? I'm aware of FHIO.org for furniture and interiors, not sure whether an electric fire would come under their jurisdiction tho. There will be an appropriate scheme if it doesn't cover fires.

Send your photo to your local, Trading Standards at your local authority. That should not be on sale.

It's awful! Definitely keep on, they should take it back, I find it hard to believe no one else has complained. We have two electric fire places which contain fan heaters and you can not see them at all!

Thanks, I guess we could try it. I'm just so surprised that we seem to be the first people to complain about this.

You only have their word for that. I bet you're not the only one