The look of a woodburner, without the

smoke

mess

cost

Frequently asked questions

• How much heat will my Imaginfires biofuel fireplace generate?

  Some people think that a bioethanol fireplace is purely decorative — this is not true. A bioethanol fireplace can warm your room to a comfortable, cosy temperature — offering controllable heat from a beautiful, real flame. However, buy a bioethanol fireplace suitable for your room’s size, and you’ll be very happy with your warm, cosy space.

  How does Imaginfires bioethanol fireplace compare to other heaters?

  In general, a bioethanol fireplace produces around 3kWh of heat. This is roughly equivalent to an electric radiator running at medium — perfect for taking the edge off the cold in the autumn and early winter. 

  In deepest winter, you may need to run your central heating and your biofire — but running both will mean that you don’t need to push your gas boiler so hard, which will help reduce your gas bills. 

  A bioethanol fireplace is perfect if you want to heat one room, not the whole house. 

  We love heating the living room with bioethanol and leaving the heating off in the rest of the home. That way, you really notice the toastiness in the living room when you return from making a cup of tea in the kitchen. 

  Biofire is an environmentally-friendly heating option

  Bioethanol fuel provides a guilt-free flame — it’s carbon neutral and doesn’t pollute the air or damage the environment. 

  And, of course, with the spiralling price of gas and electricity, bioethanol puts you in control of your heating bills. You can rest assured that you’re using a green energy source that doesn’t pollute or damage the environment. 

  Many of our bioethanol fireplaces are portable, so you can use them outside. However, be aware that your bioethanol fuel is unlikely to last as long in windy conditions. 

  Bioethanol fireplaces are perfect for conservatories because you don’t need a flue or chimney to run your fire safely. Just fill your fireplace with bioethanol, light the flame, and enjoy a toasty warmth without the hassle or mess of burning wood or coal.

• Do bioethanol fireplaces give off real heat?

  Yes. Absolutely. Whilst our bioethanol fireplaces are not intended to replace your main heating, e.g. central heating, they will make a perfect additional heating source when you would like to create a more gentle atmosphere, with that real flame, cosy feeling. The actual amount of heat output from our bioethanol fireplaces depends on a number of factors (room size, presence of drafts etc), but typically they will give off 2kw. For easy comparison, this is the equivalent of an electric heater on medium setting, or an increase in room temperature of 3 to 4 degrees. We're still working a way of measuring how much more cosy one of our bioethanol fireplaces will make any room! 

• Can bioethanol fireplaces be used as a primary heating source?

  Bioethanol fireplaces are mainly designed as a decorative or aesthetically-pleasing item that can enhance the ambiance of a space, whilst offering some additional, supplementary heat from a warming flame.  

  What to consider when using a bioethanol fireplace as a heating source?

  • Heating capacity: Bioethanol fireplaces generate radiant heat, which can warm up immediate surroundings and create a cosy atmosphere.
  • Supplemental use: They are most effective when used as a supplemental heat source in conjunction with other heating methods.
  • Ideal for smaller spaces: Bioethanol fireplaces are well-suited for smaller rooms or well-insulated areas where they can make a noticeable difference.

  Need more information on using bioethanol fireplaces for heating purposes? Please contact our team today to find out more.

• Do I need a flue or chimney with a bioethanol fireplace?

  Short answers are always nice, aren’t they? Do you need a flue or chimney with a bioethanol fireplace?

  No.

  Therefore, one of the most significant benefits of bioethanol fireplaces is their versatility. 

  You’re no longer constrained to gas or electric fires if you don’t have a chimney. And you can use a beautiful bioethanol fireplace anywhere - a house, a flat, a home office, a garage - basically, wherever you want to enjoy a cosy, warming flame. 

  And it won’t cost you a fortune to install your biofire. 

  In fact, installation is as simple as unpacking your biofire, placing it in your desired spot, and lighting it. Warm and cosy in less than an hour.

  Why don’t biofires need a flue or chimney?

  It sounds crazy, doesn’t it? A real flame and no flue or chimney. But it’s true. 

  Burning wood and coal produces smoke, soot, ash, and a LOT of mess. And wood and coal burning are heavily associated with air pollution in urban areas. 

  On the other hand, bioethanol fuel burns cleanly without polluting the air inside or outside of your home. And this means you don’t need a flue or chimney with a bioethanol fireplace — better for the environment and better for you. 

  Can I get a false flue for my bioethanol fireplace?

  Yes. We sell false flues that magnetically connect to the top of your biofire. The upper end of the flue curves to a right angle, making it look like your flue connects to the outside. 

  Of course, there’s no need for a flue with a biofire — but if you want that traditional woodburner look, complete it with a beautiful false flue. 

  What happens when you burn bioethanol?

  Bioethanol needs oxygen to combust, so it burns some of the oxygen in the room. This is why we recommend ensuring your room is ventilated — keep your internal door open to ensure airflow, or open a window every couple of hours if it’s feeling stuffy. 

  While it sounds a bit worrying that your fire uses oxygen in the room, it’s precisely the same with any fire: wood, coal, or bioethanol — they all produce flames that use up oxygen from the room. 

  What emissions do you get from burning bioethanol?

  We all know that wood and coal produce smoke, soot, and ash. These flames also send out tiny carcinogenic particles into the air, which can be health hazards, especially if you’re prone to respiratory problems. 

  However, the only emissions from burning bioethanol are:

  • Carbon dioxide — about the same amount as burning two candles
  • Water vapour — but you won’t notice it in the room. 

  That’s it. Just a little carbon dioxide and water vapour. 

  This makes bioethanol much safer and better for the environmentthan fossil fuels. 

  And your house plants will love it — they’ll absorb the carbon dioxide produced by your biofire and thrive! 

• Do I need a chimney for a bioethanol fire?

  No. You don't need a chimney with a bioethanol fireplace because bioethanol fuel burns cleanly — without smoke, soot, or ash. This makes bioethanol the ideal alternative energy source for buildings that don't have chimneys, such as flats, conservatories, and many modern homes.

  Do I need a flue for a bioethanol fire?

  Bioethanol fuel burns without creating any harmful emissions — it uses a little oxygen from the room and emits:

  • Heat (around 3kWh or equivalent of an electric heater on medium)
  • Water vapour (although you won't notice it), and  
  • A little carbon dioxide — don't worry, burning bioethanol produces around the same amount of carbon dioxide as two lit candles. 

  This makes it safe to burn indoors without a flue or a chimney.

  It is good, however, to have some ventilation to prevent the room from becoming too stuffy. So, we recommend keeping an internal door open to ensure the through-flow of oxygen or opening the window a little to let fresh air in.

  You may have seen some images on our website and social media of some of our fireplaces with our flues. These are FALSE FLUES and just add to the wood burner effect and do not impact on the heat output as there are vents on the rear of these flues to help the heat circulate.

  Can I install a bioethanol fireplace into my existing fireplace with a chimney?

  Absolutely. If you have an existing chimney but are concerned about burning fossil fuels, such as wood or coal, a bioethanol fireplace makes an excellent alternative heat source for your room. 

  Remember, chimneys reduce the efficiency of all fires because a lot of the heat from the burn escapes up the chimney. So, an open vent will reduce the amount of heat produced by your bioethanol fireplace. 

  You can close off your chimney with a proprietary”chimney sock” and some fireboard to stop the heat escaping.

  Can I use a bioethanol fireplace with a closed chimney?

  If your chimney is closed, a bioethanol fire is the ideal eco-friendly heat source because it burns at around 98-100% fuel efficiency (compared to approximately 80% or lower for a traditional wood-burning stove). You don't need a flue or working chimney to operate bioethanol fireplaces.