Ecosmart Fire: Elevate with Flex Left Corner Bioethanol Fireplace (2024)

FAQs

Are bioethanol fires worth it? ›

Bioethanol fireplaces kick out a surprising amount of heat, but we don't recommend them as a replacement for your central heating - one fire won't heat your whole house. You can easily control the flame with the fuel box slider — much more controllable than wood or coal.

Bioethanol fireplaces give off roughly 3kWh of heat - approximately the same amount as an electric fire on medium/high. A bioethanol fireplace won't heat a freezing room but will bring the temperature up a good 2-3 degrees (ºC) - perfect for taking the chill out of the air.

Bioethanol fireplaces are clean-burning

The only emissions produced from burning bioethanol fuel are water vapour, heat, and a small amount of carbon dioxide – roughly the same level as burning candles. This makes biofires a fantastic option for people with allergies or respiratory conditions like asthma.

one refill takes: from 1 L up to 1.3 L of bio ethanol fuel. effective running cost: £0.80-£1.45 per hour (based on buying fuel in bulk, 18 L for £79.99). heat output: 3 kW or slightly above. flame regulation: yes, by sliding the lid with a control tool (included).

There would have to be a large infrastructure change to provide ethanol refueling stations. Ethanol also absorbs water easily giving it a high tendency to corrode materials. Pure ethanol is difficult to vaporize meaning starting a car in cold weather could be more difficult that a car that runs on petrol.

On average, a bioethanol fireplace produce around 2-5 kW of heat output. This is roughly equivalent to a small electric heater and can provide enough heat to warm up a small to medium-sized room. One of the benefits of a bioethanol fireplace is that the heat output can be easily adjusted.

Perhaps surprisingly, this is a very common question that confuses many people! While biofires are not intended as a primary heat source for your home, your bioethanol fireplace gives off plenty of heat, with much better fuel efficiency than a wood-burning stove (which loses around 40% of its heat up the chimney).

In comparison to the running costs of gas and wood burning fires, bio fuel fires are not expensive to run, and when compared with the operating costs of other fireplace types, bio fuel fires came out cheapest. However, the average running cost of any bioethanol fire can vary due to the 3 main factors of consumption.

As such, there's no need for fireplace venting. Bioethanol uses oxygen in the room to combust, emitting a small amount of carbon dioxide and some water vapour. While there are no fumes, keeping the space ventilated by opening a door or keeping a window slightly open during use is recommended.

However, the cost of running your bioethanol fire depends on three factors including the size of your flame, the level of natural or other ventilation in your home and the quality of the fuel you use. Indeed, bioethanol fires can be adjusted using a special slider gauge that changes the intensity of the flame.

Why are bioethanol fireplaces so expensive? ›

Since ethanol is very volatile, there has to be a mechanism inside the burner (baffles, ceramic wool, etc.) to slow and regulate the rapid combustion of the fuel. The burner also has to be built well enough to resist warping from the heat while in use. The vessel must be absolutely leak-proof.

Typically, 1 litre of bioethanol fuel burns for around 3.5 to 4 hours (with the shutter fully open). Closing the fuel box lid halfway increases the burn duration, but reduces the heat output and the flame size.

Bioethanol fires are more energy-efficient, providing better thermal efficiency and potentially reducing energy costs. Consider the cost of bioethanol fuel and the convenience of refilling compared to the longer burning time of wood in log burners.

Bioethanol fireplaces produce real flames, so it's important that they should be treated with the same level of caution and safety as any other object that produces flames. Having said this, bioethanol fireplace safety procedures are very easy to follow, meaning that they are suitable for use in most homes.

In comparison to the running costs of gas and wood burning fires, bio fuel fires are not expensive to run, and when compared with the operating costs of other fireplace types, bio fuel fires came out cheapest. However, the average running cost of any bioethanol fire can vary due to the 3 main factors of consumption.

Higher Upfront Cost

One of the major bioethanol fires disadvantages is that they tend to be more expensive upfront compared to electric fireplaces. While the operating costs are often lower, the initial purchase price can be a barrier for some homeowners.