Renovating
What is a Bioethanol Fire and Should I Get One?
It’s cleaner and greener than burning wood, gas or coal, but what should you ask before getting a bioethanol fire?
Increasingly on Houzz, we’re seeing homeowners opting for bioethanol-fuelled fires as an alternative to gas fires, wood burners, traditional fireplaces, fire pits and chimineas.
As well as their green and health credentials*, there are other benefits, too. They can provide real heat and cosiness; you can generally take them with you if you move home; they don’t require a chimney or flue; they’re easy to keep clean, and they can be put out instantly when you go to bed. But how do they work, are they expensive to run, and could one work in your home? We asked the experts.
Professional advice from: Nicholas Chesney of Chesneys London; Michael Plant of Bio Fires; Sophia Fish of Golden Feathers Interiors
As well as their green and health credentials*, there are other benefits, too. They can provide real heat and cosiness; you can generally take them with you if you move home; they don’t require a chimney or flue; they’re easy to keep clean, and they can be put out instantly when you go to bed. But how do they work, are they expensive to run, and could one work in your home? We asked the experts.
Professional advice from: Nicholas Chesney of Chesneys London; Michael Plant of Bio Fires; Sophia Fish of Golden Feathers Interiors
How much greener is burning bioethanol than other types of flame fires?
“At present, bioethanol is the cleanest real flame effect on the market,” Nicholas says.
“The fires produce no smoke, soot or toxic fumes,” Michael adds. “The fuel is derived from renewable resources, such as food waste, and the combustion process results in minimal emissions.”
While burning bioethanol fuel is not emission-free, emissions are widely agreed to be very low. “Bioethanol stoves emit only water vapour and CO2 in amounts similar to human respiration,” Nicholas says. (Scroll down to the section on bioethanol safety for more on this.)
Browse bioethanol fireplace experts on Houzz.
“At present, bioethanol is the cleanest real flame effect on the market,” Nicholas says.
“The fires produce no smoke, soot or toxic fumes,” Michael adds. “The fuel is derived from renewable resources, such as food waste, and the combustion process results in minimal emissions.”
While burning bioethanol fuel is not emission-free, emissions are widely agreed to be very low. “Bioethanol stoves emit only water vapour and CO2 in amounts similar to human respiration,” Nicholas says. (Scroll down to the section on bioethanol safety for more on this.)
Browse bioethanol fireplace experts on Houzz.
How do bioethanol fires work?
Operating a bioethanol fireplace is straightforward. Once you’ve either wall-mounted a fireplace securely on a non-flammable wall, or found a suitable location for a freestanding model, you need to fill the fuel box with bioethanol liquid, which can be bought from the fire supplier or found easily online or in the supermarket.
“Bio fires are extremely easy to fill,” Nicholas says. “Our bioethanol stove has an in-built pump that draws the fuel out of the bottle without the need to pour any fuel yourself. Our linear and basket fires do require you to fill the fuel using a small funnel, but the whole process takes no longer than a couple of minutes.”
Now you’re ready to fire it up by lighting the fuel with a long lighter or match. “Initially, a blue flame appears, transitioning to a warm yellow-red flame as it reaches the desired combustion temperature,” Michael says.
And to put the fire out? “You use an extinguishing tool to cut the oxygen supply and extinguish the flame safely when desired,” he says.
“You can put them out just like a candle,” Sophia Fish agrees.
Operating a bioethanol fireplace is straightforward. Once you’ve either wall-mounted a fireplace securely on a non-flammable wall, or found a suitable location for a freestanding model, you need to fill the fuel box with bioethanol liquid, which can be bought from the fire supplier or found easily online or in the supermarket.
“Bio fires are extremely easy to fill,” Nicholas says. “Our bioethanol stove has an in-built pump that draws the fuel out of the bottle without the need to pour any fuel yourself. Our linear and basket fires do require you to fill the fuel using a small funnel, but the whole process takes no longer than a couple of minutes.”
Now you’re ready to fire it up by lighting the fuel with a long lighter or match. “Initially, a blue flame appears, transitioning to a warm yellow-red flame as it reaches the desired combustion temperature,” Michael says.
And to put the fire out? “You use an extinguishing tool to cut the oxygen supply and extinguish the flame safely when desired,” he says.
“You can put them out just like a candle,” Sophia Fish agrees.
Do bioethanol fires give off real heat or are they just decorative?
Nicholas says it’s a common misconception that bioethanol fires don’t provide heat. “As they don’t require a traditional chimney or flue system, you get 100% of the heat generated into the room, whereas open fires tend to lose in the region of 70% of the heat they generate. You also have the added benefit that you won’t be losing warm air up the chimney when the fire isn’t in use.”
“An average bio fire generates around 3 kW of heat, comparable to that of an electric heater,” Michael adds.
And, of course, you can also go for a higher kilowattage, as Nicholas explains. “Within our current range of bioethanol fires, we have heat outputs ranging from 3.5kW to 5.2kW,” he says.
Nicholas says it’s a common misconception that bioethanol fires don’t provide heat. “As they don’t require a traditional chimney or flue system, you get 100% of the heat generated into the room, whereas open fires tend to lose in the region of 70% of the heat they generate. You also have the added benefit that you won’t be losing warm air up the chimney when the fire isn’t in use.”
“An average bio fire generates around 3 kW of heat, comparable to that of an electric heater,” Michael adds.
And, of course, you can also go for a higher kilowattage, as Nicholas explains. “Within our current range of bioethanol fires, we have heat outputs ranging from 3.5kW to 5.2kW,” he says.
How much space do you need?
“Bioethanol fireplaces come in various sizes and styles, from wall-mounted units to freestanding models,” Michael says. “The space required will depend on the design, but many options are compact and suitable for smaller living spaces. The minimum height of the opening depends on the heat output of the specific fireplace, but as a general guideline, it’s typically from 40cm upwards for an open flame.
“Ensure the fireplace is positioned on a non-flammable surface and consider the weight of the unit,” he adds.
“Freestanding and tabletop bioethanol fires are also movable between rooms,” Sophia says.
“Bioethanol fireplaces come in various sizes and styles, from wall-mounted units to freestanding models,” Michael says. “The space required will depend on the design, but many options are compact and suitable for smaller living spaces. The minimum height of the opening depends on the heat output of the specific fireplace, but as a general guideline, it’s typically from 40cm upwards for an open flame.
“Ensure the fireplace is positioned on a non-flammable surface and consider the weight of the unit,” he adds.
“Freestanding and tabletop bioethanol fires are also movable between rooms,” Sophia says.
What are the style options?
“I’ve used freestanding and tabletop designs as well as wall-hung models to create focal points in living rooms,” Sophia says. And they’re great for adding character to new-build homes.
“Within our range, we have both contemporary and traditional options,” Nicholas says. “The traditional look could be our bioethanol stove or fire basket. For projects where a more contemporary feel is required, we tend to specify our linear hole-in-the-wall style bio fires.”
“I’ve used freestanding and tabletop designs as well as wall-hung models to create focal points in living rooms,” Sophia says. And they’re great for adding character to new-build homes.
“Within our range, we have both contemporary and traditional options,” Nicholas says. “The traditional look could be our bioethanol stove or fire basket. For projects where a more contemporary feel is required, we tend to specify our linear hole-in-the-wall style bio fires.”
Are there different types of fuel to choose from?
Different burners will have been designed to burn different types of bioethanol fuel – generally liquid or gel. It’s very important, both for efficiency and safety, that you use the correct type.
Liquid is the more common fuel with modern burners. “Bioethanol fuel is a specially produced and denatured alcohol containing 96.6% clean ethanol and designed for efficient combustion,” Michael says. It’s also possible to add a fragrance oil, which can be placed in a fireplace diffuser or a special metal bowl that needs to be positioned on or near the flames.
“There are companies that sell scented fuel,” Nicholas says. “These are slightly more expensive than the non-scented options, but we’ve heard from a number of our clients that they use scented fuels.”
Different burners will have been designed to burn different types of bioethanol fuel – generally liquid or gel. It’s very important, both for efficiency and safety, that you use the correct type.
Liquid is the more common fuel with modern burners. “Bioethanol fuel is a specially produced and denatured alcohol containing 96.6% clean ethanol and designed for efficient combustion,” Michael says. It’s also possible to add a fragrance oil, which can be placed in a fireplace diffuser or a special metal bowl that needs to be positioned on or near the flames.
“There are companies that sell scented fuel,” Nicholas says. “These are slightly more expensive than the non-scented options, but we’ve heard from a number of our clients that they use scented fuels.”
What about safety?
The National Energy Foundation advises choosing a model with the necessary safety features, such as automatic shut-off sensors and oxygen depletion sensors, to ensure safe operation.
Although, unlike some traditional stoves, they don’t emit harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, Nicholas explains why ventilation is important for safety. “Like all fire sources, they consume oxygen during combustion,” he says. “Hence, it’s crucial to ensure proper room ventilation when using the stove to replenish oxygen and release the produced water vapour and carbon dioxide.”
Michael explains that bio fires can be dangerous if:
The National Energy Foundation advises choosing a model with the necessary safety features, such as automatic shut-off sensors and oxygen depletion sensors, to ensure safe operation.
Although, unlike some traditional stoves, they don’t emit harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, Nicholas explains why ventilation is important for safety. “Like all fire sources, they consume oxygen during combustion,” he says. “Hence, it’s crucial to ensure proper room ventilation when using the stove to replenish oxygen and release the produced water vapour and carbon dioxide.”
Michael explains that bio fires can be dangerous if:
- you pour fuel into a burning fire.
- you spill your fuel and ignite the fireplace without drying all the spillage.
- you place your fireplace in a hallway or very draughty area and have flammable objects nearby, such as curtains.
- you hang or insert a fireplace into an unprotected wall or MDF structure.
Are they cheaper to run than other real flame alternatives?
“It depends on your mains gas provider and the tariff you’re on,” Nicholas says. “But what I can say is that bioethanol can be a cheaper option if you purchased sensible quantities of fuel. For example, bioethanol can cost in the region of £7.49 per litre if you buy 1 litre at a time, however it can cost as little as £2.21 per litre when purchased in bulk.
“Having said that,” he continues, “most domestic customers would probably look to store in the region of 24 litres at a time, which costs around £2.33 per litre, which works out as a cheaper option than most gas fires.” Each bottle has between three to five hours burn time.
The variation depends very much on what you’re burning it in. “Each fireplace is different and both heat outcome and fuel usage depend on the type of burner used in the fireplace,” Michael says. It’s also worth considering that installation will typically be less expensive than building a traditional fireplace with a flue.
“It depends on your mains gas provider and the tariff you’re on,” Nicholas says. “But what I can say is that bioethanol can be a cheaper option if you purchased sensible quantities of fuel. For example, bioethanol can cost in the region of £7.49 per litre if you buy 1 litre at a time, however it can cost as little as £2.21 per litre when purchased in bulk.
“Having said that,” he continues, “most domestic customers would probably look to store in the region of 24 litres at a time, which costs around £2.33 per litre, which works out as a cheaper option than most gas fires.” Each bottle has between three to five hours burn time.
The variation depends very much on what you’re burning it in. “Each fireplace is different and both heat outcome and fuel usage depend on the type of burner used in the fireplace,” Michael says. It’s also worth considering that installation will typically be less expensive than building a traditional fireplace with a flue.
Any cons?
Michael lists a few possible downsides to be aware of:
Would you consider a bioethanol fire? Or, if you already have one, are you enjoying it? Let us know in the Comments.
* Breathing in PM2.5 (tiny toxic air pollution particles from burning materials including wood and smokeless fuel) can cause illnesses including asthma, stroke and heart disease, according to a report by the Royal College of Physicians. Both gas and traditional fires carry the risk of carbon monoxide exposure.
Michael lists a few possible downsides to be aware of:
- Bioethanol fuel typically comes in non-recyclable plastic bottles, which raises environmental concerns.
- The cost of bioethanol can vary, making it potentially more expensive than other heating options in some regions.
- Users must exercise caution with a real flame and follow safety guidelines to prevent accidents.
Nicholas adds that they can also be less efficient for heating large spaces.
Would you consider a bioethanol fire? Or, if you already have one, are you enjoying it? Let us know in the Comments.
* Breathing in PM2.5 (tiny toxic air pollution particles from burning materials including wood and smokeless fuel) can cause illnesses including asthma, stroke and heart disease, according to a report by the Royal College of Physicians. Both gas and traditional fires carry the risk of carbon monoxide exposure.
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“A bioethanol fireplace uses clean-burning fuel that is a renewable energy source derived from the fermentation of plants and food waste,” Michael Plant says. “It allows users to enjoy the ambience of a real fire without the complexities and maintenance of traditional fireplaces.”
He adds that they are smoke-free and do not require a flue or chimney, making them handy for spaces like this one in a Surrey home, into which it wasn’t possible to add either.
They’re also easy and quick to install and virtually maintenance-free. Michael describes installation as “similar to hanging a heavy mirror”. This will also depend on the type of fireplace you choose – a freestanding model will require no installation at all.
“Bioethanol fuel can be used for both indoor and outdoor appliances,” Nicholas Chesney adds.