What are bioethanol suites?

Your burning questions, answered

• Do Bioethanol Fireplace suites require a hearth?

  There's no legal requirement to install a hearth stone for your bioethanol fireplace, unlike a traditional wood-burning or coal stove fireplace. 

  Traditional wood- or coal fireplaces get much hotter than bioethanol fireplaces, and there's a much higher risk of burning embers and ashes falling from the body of the fire. This means that traditional fireplaces require hearths made from heat- and fire-resistant materials to minimise the house fire risk. 

  Is there a need for a hearth with biofires?

  The simple answer is no. Our biofire suites may resemble traditional open fireplaces, but they don't need a hearth. Instead, your room is protected by a 6mm tempered stay-clear safety glass barrier. You get a mantel shelf, the fireplace surround, the steel fireplace insert, a bioethanol fuel box, a safety-glass barrier, and a fire closing tool.

  We have two bioethanol fireplace suites - the elegant Holborn, suited to period properties, and the Broadway, which enhances a more modern space.

            

  Broadway without Hearth                             Broadway with Hearth

  And while there's no need for a hearth, some of our customers choose to install one. ImaginFires don't supply hearths, however. 

• Will my bioethanol fireplace need professional installation?

  Not at all. Just place your fireplace where you want it, add fuel, and ignite. No tools, tradespeople, or building work required.

• Can you put a TV above a bioethanol fireplace?

  Yes. Bioethanol fireplaces produce no smoke, soot, or mess — so there\’s no danger of smoke damage to your TV.  You\’ll see that many of our biofire customers have made a lovely feature of their biofire and TV together.  

  Some simple tips on positioning a TV above a Biofire: 

  We recommend leaving at least 45cm between the top of your biofire and your wall-mounted TV. Biofires don\’t get as hot as wood- or coal-burning stoves, but installing your TV too close to the heat could damage your television. 

  Use one of the closed top biofires, such as all of those in our woodburner style range (link). 

  Dont put any TV leads or cables behind the biofire. They could heat up and get damaged. If you absolutely need to put cables behind a biofire…make sure they are covered in a heatproof cable guards/conduits. 

  Can I use a stovetop fan to distribute the heat from my biofire?

  Stovetop fans are inexpensive and powered by thermoelectric energy (the heat of the fire converted into electricity), your stovetop fan has neither cables nor batteries.

  The fan sits on top of your bioethanol fireplace and distributes the heat into the room (rather than permitting it to rise directly to the ceiling).  

  Stovetop fans are almost silent, and the blades start spinning when the fireplace heats up. 

  However, we get very mixed reviews on how good a job these stovetop fans do in distributing heat around the room. It depends on the fan itself, the size of room, the levels of ventilation etc.  We dont have especially high expectations for these fans to significantly improve heat distribution, but they do have their \‘fans\’ (sorry!)

  Will smoke from my bioethanol fireplace damage my TV?

  Bioethanol should never produce any smoke — it\’s a clean-burning fuel that produces carbon dioxide and a trace of water vapour — never any smoke. 

  If your bioethanol fireplace is smoking, close the slider and extinguish the flames immediately. Open your windows to ventilate the space. 

  Check that nothing has fallen into the fuel box that could be causing the flames to smoke. Small pieces of paper, hair, or debris could cause smoke. 

  Always make sure the burning aperture is clear of any obstructions. 

  What type of bioethanol fireplace is best with a wall-mounted TV?

  All of our beautiful fireplaces can be installed underneath a TV. Just ensure you leave at least 45cm between the top of the fire and the TV set. 

  However, we recommend — for extra safety — installing a closed-top biofire underneath your TV sets, such as our wall-mounted Marlow or our stunning woodburner-style biofires .

• What is a bioethanol fireplace?

  A bioethanol fireplace produces real flames by burning bioethanol fuel. It’s a clean-burning, plant-based fuel that releases only water vapour and a small amount of carbon dioxide (similar to lighting a couple of tealight candles). Because they don’t produce smoke, you don’t need a chimney or flue to use one. Simply add your fuel to the fuel box, light it, and adjust the flame with the slider. It’s an easy way to enjoy the warmth and atmosphere of a real fire, without the installation or upkeep of a traditional woodburner or gas fire.

• What is bio ethanol fireplace fuel

  There are 2 main types of bioethanol fuel, gel and liquid.  All of the biofires sold by Imaginfires are designed specifically for use with liquid biofuel only. Gel based biofuels must not be used in any of our biofires. Doing so is dangerous.

  As well as the large difference in textures between gels and liquids, the flame from a liquid based biofire tends to be more aesthetically pleasing than gel based flames. Other things being equal, they tend to be larger and of a more orange colour, and so more aligned with what most people perceive as a natural flame to have in the home that creates that feeling of relaxation and comfort.

• What is the running cost of a bio ethanol fireplace?

  The cost of running your bioethanol fireplace depends entirely on the amount you use it and the size of the flame you demand for your burn. 

  Unlike gas, there are no standing charges for bioethanol — you purchase your bioethanol fuel as and when you need it. And unlike coal and wood-burners, no additional supplies are required, such as kindling, firelighters, and chimney sweeps.

  The cost of bioethanol fuel is more stable than gas, wood, and coal 

  We’re living through particularly volatile times in terms of fuel prices, with gas and electricity skyrocketing, affecting the prices of almost every other commodity, including the cost of wood and coal. However, the price of bioethanol fuel has remained relatively stable, meaning that bioethanol is a very competitive option. 

  How much does 1 litre of bioethanol fuel cost (and how long does it last)?

  You can pay as much as £7 for a single litre of bioethanol fuel, which should last around 4 hours of burning on full. All of our bioethanol fireplaces have slider control, which reduces the size of the flame — in turn, reducing the heat output. So, if you reduce the output by 50%, your litre of fuel will last considerably longer. 

  Buying bioethanol fuel in bulk reduces the costs considerably. For example, 12 bottles of ImagiFuel currently cost £44.99, which makes it £3.75 per litre. 

  So, if your litre burns for 4 hours, it costs 94p an hour. 

  For a direct comparison, check out our article comparing the cost of burning bioethanol fuel against wood and gas — you’ll find bioethanol very competitive.

• Is the flame on a bioethanol fireplace real?

  Yes, absolutely. Its a real flame, so you need to exercise common sense. You need to treat them with the same level of care as any open fire source (ensuring any flammable items are out of reach, not touching the flame or surround when it is alight).  We strongly advise that you read the manual supplied with your bioethanol fireplace. Please contact us if you need another copy and we would be more than happy to supply one. If you want further advice on remaining safe around a Biofire, you can read our more detailed article : www.imaginfires.co.uk/blog/how-to-safely-use-a-bioethanol-fireplace 

• How hot is an ethanol fireplace?

  One of the most common questions we’re asked is “do bioethanol fires give off heat?” and “How hot is an ethanol fireplace?”

  The use of bioethanol fuel is relatively new in the UK but has been used widely in Europe for decades. So, it’s natural that people in the UK ask about potential bioethanol disadvantages.

  Our customers continually tell us how surprised they are by the level of heat their bioethanol fireplace produces - check out our on-site and Trustpilot reviews!). Indeed, a bioethanol fire is a real flame, so it naturally produces heat. 

  Bioethanol disadvantages vs wood/coal burning

  While bioethanol fireplaces won’t produce the same amount of heat as a traditional wood burner, this isn’t necessarily a disadvantage because many wood burners are too hot for the rooms in which they’re installed. 

  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.

  How hot is an ethanol fireplace?

  If you place a wood burner thermometer on a bioethanol fireplace, you’ll find that it hits the temperature considered Best Operation for a wood burner (between 130ºC and 280ºC). At full burn, it reaches around 180ºC, which is plenty to warm a small-to-medium-sized room.

  However, we don't recommend replacing your central heating system with a bioethanol fire - we don't consider it a suitable replacement for your primary heating source. But it is perfect as a top up fireplace or suitable for when you just wish to warm up one room.

  Bioethanol makes a perfect additional heat source, offering a real, warming flame. In a standard-sized room, an average-sized bioethanol fireplace will give off as much heat as an electric heater on a medium-to-high setting.

  We recommend our larger bioethanol fireplaces for big rooms - our customers love our Marlow fireplace or the freestanding Globus. Larger fireplaces are capable of producing more heat. 

  Whichever bioethanol fireplace you choose, be assured that you'll get a natural, warming flame that brings a beautiful toasty warmth and cosiness to your room.