Would you get a gas fireplace if you had toddlers?

[FunRequirement]

We bought a new house with a chimney and the option of adding a fireplace.

My husband and the sales lady at the shop were basically saying we should get an electric fire because they are much safer. Also, if we dont use the fireplace it will create a draught through the chimney because of the hole that has to be cut.

If we get a gas or electric fire, the whole suite will cost pretty much the same £2,000

We do really want a fireplace because of Xmas and stockings etc

Would a gas fireplace be silly if we never use it or will it be much more valuble than an electric fireplace?

It won't cause a draught because you can block it off. It just needs an airbrick-sized hole to prevent damp due to condensation in the flue (and must be open or ventilated at the top as well). You can get a chimney balloon which can be removed in summer.

With children in the house, I would only consider an enclosed, glass-fronted gas fire. they are more efficient and safer than open ones, but less stylish. There are some iron ones faked to look like wood-burners, but you'd have to bolt the doors shut.

There are old safety rules to do with fireplace that nobody remembers now.

Like:

Don't hang a mirror over the fireplace because people will stand at it doing their eyelashes and their dresses will catch fire

Don't have a mantlepiece because people will stand looking at the ornaments or running toy cars along it and their clothes will catch fire

There must be others....