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The Best Alternatives to Traditional Fireplaces (Electric, Wood, Gas & Bioethanol Compared)

The Best Alternatives to Traditional Fireplaces (Electric, Wood, Gas & Bioethanol Compared)

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Key takeaways:

Traditional fireplace options all come with their downsides. Wood-burning stoves produce real flames, but they also emit smoke and require a chimney to use. Gas fires deliver reliable heat, but they require a gas connection and professional installation. Electric fireplaces are easy to fit and use, but they rely on LED effects rather than a real flame. Bioethanol fireplaces are the only fireplace alternative that gives you real, flickering flames without smoke, so you don’t need to install a chimney or pay for annual servicing to use one. 

Bioethanol fireplace

Want to enjoy the beauty of real flames, but don’t have a chimney or gas supply? Real flames can feel frustratingly out of reach if you live in a flat, new build, or rental property. Even if you don’t fall into these categories, you may not have the budget to pay for extensive building or installation work.

But the good news is that there are several fireplace alternatives to choose from, each with its unique strengths and limitations. Here’s a quick breakdown of your options, so you can choose the right one for your space.

A quick comparison of the most popular fireplace options

Fireplace comparison table

Wood-burning stoves and log burners

Do you love the idea of sitting beside a crackling log fire, watching the orange glow of the flickering flames and feeling the warmth on your skin? Wood-burning stoves give you that classic fireside feeling, and are the closest thing to an open fire that many of us can get. Unfortunately, they aren’t the easiest fireplaces to own and maintain. 

Pros:

  • Gives you real flames with a classic fireside feel

  • Offers a strong heat output (5kW+), making them an ideal primary heat source

  • You can choose from a wide range of traditional and contemporary styles 

Cons:

  • Produces smoke, which means you can’t use one if you live in a smoke control area

  • Requires a chimney or flue, which can be expensive to install (around £700 - £3,500)

  • High maintenance requirements, including chimney sweeping and ash disposal

  • Remains in one fixed place, so you can’t move it around your home

Woodburner

Gas fires

Gas fires are a popular choice if you want consistent heat output that you can easily control, without the mess or maintenance of solid fuel. Many modern models produce realistic flame effects, with remote controls or programmable timers that make them easy to use. However, they do require professional installation, which can be expensive and disruptive.

Pros:

  • Gives you a reliable, consistent heat output (usually around 3-5kW) 

  • Quick and easy to use at the click of a button

  • Smokeless, so you don’t need to worry about disposing of ash

Cons:

  • Requires a gas connection and professional installation, which can be expensive (£500-£3,000) 

  • You’ll need to pay for annual servicing

  • Remains in one fixed place, so you can’t move or reposition it

  • Not suitable if your home doesn’t have a gas supply

Electric fireplaces

Electric fireplaces are the most straightforward option to get up and running – simply plug in and you’re done. They’re easy to maintain and cheap to run, making them one of the most accessible fireplace alternatives out there. The biggest downside is that they don’t produce real flames, so they don’t give you the same ambience as a traditional fireplace.

Pros:

  • Quick and easy to install, with no chimney or gas connection needed

  • Little-to-no maintenance requirements, with no need for chimney sweeping or annual servicing

  • Cheap to run (costs 18-46p per hour to use)

Cons:

  • Doesn’t produce real flames, only an LED effect

  • The flame effect can look ‘fake’ and unconvincing on some models

  • Needs a power source to operate, so you can’t use it if your electricity goes out

  • Low heat output (usually 2kW), making them suitable for smaller rooms only

Electric fireplace

Bioethanol fireplaces

Bioethanol fireplaces are the only option that gives you real flames without the smoke, installation, or maintenance requirements. They’re ideal for use in flats, new builds, and rental properties where traditional fireplaces simply aren’t possible, bringing you that classic fireside ambience without the hassle.

Pros:

  • Brings the beauty of real flames into your home

  • Produces a consistent heat output (2-3kW)

  • Doesn’t require a chimney, flue, or gas connection to operate

  • Easy to install yourself – simply unpack, place into position, and light

  • Doesn’t produce smoke, which makes them suitable for smoke control areas

  • Flexible and portable, so you can move them around your home (and even outdoors) as you please

  • Runs on clean-burning bioethanol fuel, which is kinder to the environment than wood

  • Ideal for use in flats, new builds, rental properties, and homes that don’t have a chimney

  • Wide range of designs available, from traditional woodburner-styles to sleek, contemporary models

Cons:

Want to bring real flames into your home without the usual fuss? Browse our collection of bioethanol fireplaces to find the perfect model for your space.

Browse our biofires

Frequently asked questions

  • Are bioethanol fires more eco-friendly than coal fires or woodburners?

    Yes. Bioethanol fires burn cleaner than woodburners, and they produce no smoke, soot or harmful emissions. Made from renewable plant-based sources, bioethanol is far greener than coal or wood – and with no chimney needed, there's no wasted heat either.

  • How does a bioethanol fire work?

    Bio ethanol fireplaces (also known as biofires) don't require chimneys or flues as the fuel burns without producing smoke or soot. The bioethanol fuel is poured into our double lined stainless steel fuel box (any spillages must be wiped away before lighting) and lit with a firelighter. The flame height can be adjusted by opening or closing the fuel box slightly. Once finished simply slide the shutter over the opening in the fuel box to extinguish the flame. It's that easy ! 

  • Do bioethanol fireplaces create smoke or soot?

    Bioethanol fuel burns with 98% efficiency, so when used correctly it is very clean burning and therefore does not produce any smoke, soot or nasty residues. 

    So what does ethanol produce when burned? Nothing more than carbon dioxide and water. You should never observe any smoke or soot coming out of your bioethanol fireplace. 

  • 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! 

  • 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.