Do Convector Gas Fires Dry The Air Out?

A Common Question that has come up a lot recently here in the office from consumers has been;

"I Want to buy an efficient gas fire, but I don't want a convector fire as they dry the air out, how do I get around this?"

We thought we would have a look into this as it hasn't been something we have come across before. Firstly we would thought have a look into Convector Fires work. The main difference between a radiant and an open-fronted convector is a small channel behind the firebox and slot at the top of the fire, this convector box allows cool air to be drawn up and around the back of the fire, heating up as travels behind the fire and then circulating back into the room. Offering more heat into the room and greater energy efficiency that than a radiant or hotbox gas fire. This process requires no fan and uses the basic principle of hot air rising to move the air around the back of the fire.

Based on the above we are not sure where this rumour has come from that convector fires dry the air out, it may well be that due to their higher heat output then the temperature of the room increases quicker than that of a standard fire. Any increase in temperature will reduce relative humidity, irrespective of convector or radiant fires. However the burning of gas itself will actually produce a small amount of water vapour, counter acting any reduction of humidity loss due to increased room temperature.

Due to this we can safely say that the myth of Convector Gas fires drying the air out BUSTED, A large variety of convector fires are available, including new super convectors that boast incredible efficiencies, such as the Verine Orbis Plus or Apex Lux Super Convector.