Along with the question of whether a bioethanol fireplace is dangerous, the question regarding how a biofuel fire functions is ranked among our most frequently received questions.
The answer is quite simple: a bio fireplace is a fireplace which creates fire by burning bioethanol fuel.
For some, this simple answer is not enough. Therefore, we have created this guide. It aims to explain and illustrate how the different types of bioethanol fires from bioethanol-fireplace.co.uk work.
What is a Bioethanol Burner?
Before we dive into how a bioethanol fireplace works, it helps to understand the heart of the fireplace — the burner. Watch our short video below for a quick overview of what a bioethanol burner is and how it fits into your fireplace.
The Basics of Bioethanol Fires
The biggest difference when comparing bioethanol fires with traditional fireplaces or a fireplace that runs on gas is that bio fires combust bioethanol fuel rather than traditional logs or gas. This also means that a bioethanol fire does not need a chimney, as it does not emit smoke or ash like a traditional fireplace does.
Additionally, the flames of a biofuel fireplace are completely clean and require little to no ventilation. Only if the room is smaller than 20m² might it be necessary to open a window after some time. However, if the room has a sufficient size, no problems should occur.
Bioethanol Fuel
As mentioned before, a bio fireplace burns bioethanol fuel. But what exactly is bioethanol fuel?
Bioethanol is a spirit/alcohol which is made from organic materials such as potatoes, corn, and roots. Often it will be produced from leftovers of these components after the food industry has taken the parts they need.
There are many different types of bioethanol fuel which are used for a variety of different purposes. Some of the most prevalent places you will find bioethanol fuel is in household liquor and in the petrol you put in your car.
The bioethanol fuel that is used in bio fires is specially made for that purpose. Hence, you may not use any other types of bioethanol fuel in your bio fireplace. Other types can burn differently and require a higher temperature, and not all fireplaces are made for that.
Several factors may play a role in choosing bioethanol fuel for your bio fireplace. That is why we have created a guide specifically for choosing the right bioethanol fuel for bioethanol fires.
Read more about our recommended room sizes in comparison with the size of the burners here.
Manual vs Automatic Bioethanol Burners
Bioethanol burners come in two main types: manual and automatic. A manual burner is ignited and extinguished by hand using the enclosed tools, giving you full control over the flame at all times. An automatic burner, on the other hand, can be operated remotely and often features built-in safety sensors, making it a more convenient and hands-free option. Both types produce the same beautiful real flames — it simply comes down to your preference for ease of use and control.
Watch our guides below to see how each type works in practice:
How to Use a Manual Burner
How to Use an Automatic Burner
Heat from a Bioethanol Fireplace
When the bioethanol fireplace is ignited it will generate heat which can contribute to an increased temperature in the room. However, even though a bio fireplace creates heat, it does not generate as much heat as a traditional fireplace. In fact, it generates about half the amount of a traditional fireplace. Therefore, we do not recommend using a biofuel fireplace as the primary source of heat, but instead as a supplement — and to create a relaxed atmosphere.
The heat output varies from bioethanol fire to bioethanol fire. Therefore, we have added how much heat you can expect from each specific model in every product description.
Read more about What is a Bioethanol Fireplace.
Burning Time of a Bioethanol Fireplace
The amount of time a bioethanol fireplace can burn depends on the size of the burning chamber. For instance, a burning chamber with a capacity of 1.5 litres will be able to burn for approximately 4 hours per filling.
When the bio fireplace runs out of bioethanol fuel, the flame will automatically be extinguished. If you wish to refill your bio fireplace and ignite it again, it is very important that you wait for your burner to cool before refilling the burning chamber with more bioethanol fuel.
Read more about how you fill a burning chamber with bioethanol fuel here.
If you wish to extinguish your bio fireplace before all of the bioethanol fuel has been consumed, it can easily be done with the enclosed extinguishing tool.
Read more about how to extinguish a bio fireplace here.
