How Effective Are Bioethanol Fireplaces? A Comprehensive Guide

A real fireplace adds instant cosiness and that welcoming hygge feeling to any room, but traditional fires typically come with smoke, mess, and constant upkeep. Bioethanol fireplaces have emerged as a popular alternative to log, gas, and electric fires, offering the same cosy glow without the hassle. But how effective are they really?

In this guide, we explore everything there is to know about bioethanol fireplace effectiveness, uncovering how they perform, what makes them efficient, and how they compare to other heating options.

What is a bioethanol fireplace, and how does it work?

A bioethanol fireplace runs on a clean, renewable liquid fuel called bioethanol (or ethanol). It’s created through the natural fermentation of various crops including corn, wheat straw, potatoes, soybean, and sugarcane, making it a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.

The fireplace itself features a specially designed fuel box or tray. All you need is a basic firelighter and some biofuel to light it – simply squeeze the biofuel into the fuel box, and light it at arm’s length. Once lit, it produces a bright orange flame that generates both heat and atmosphere, without the need for a chimney, gas supply, or electrical connection. 

Bioethanol fires emit only heat, water vapour, and a small amount of carbon dioxide (about the same as two candles). There’s no smoke, soot, or ash to worry about, so you don’t need to install a chimney or flue. Upon receiving your biofire, simply remove the packaging, place your fire in position, add your fuel, and ignite! 

Understanding the efficiency of bioethanol fires

How much warmth can you expect?

Our bioethanol fireplaces produce around 3kWh of heat when the burner is fully open. To put this into perspective, most electric fires generate around 2kWh of heat, while woodburning stoves and open fireplaces can deliver around 5kWh. 3kWh is enough to raise the temperature of an average-sized room by 3 to 4 °C, depending on insulation and placement.

Because no heat is lost through a chimney, almost all the warmth stays in the room, which makes bioethanol fireplaces much more efficient than other heating sources. However, it’s important to note that biofires are designed as a supplementary heating source and should not be used as a full replacement for your central heating. Many of our customers find that the best approach is to lower their thermostat slightly and use their biofire to top up the heat in the rooms they spend the most time in.

Read more about the heating capacity of bioethanol fires in our dedicated blog post.

Key variables affecting bioethanol fireplace performance

There are a few key variables that can influence your overall bioethanol fireplace performance. These include:

• Room size & insulation. Smaller, well-insulated rooms will warm up faster. If you have a large, open space, you might benefit from one of our larger models, like the Broadway.

• Ventilation. Although biofires don’t need a flue or chimney, they do still consume oxygen and produce carbon dioxide. Therefore, you’ll need to regularly ventilate your space, for example by opening a window from time to time or in between refills, or keeping an internal door ajar.

• Fuel quality & burner design. High-grade bioethanol fuel, like ours at imaginfires, will typically give off more heat. All our models include adjustable sliders, so you can control the flame height and heat output as desired.

• Intended use. Biofires are best used as a top-up heat source, not for constant, whole-home heating. We recommend keeping your main heating on but turned down low and just relying on the fire to warm one or two rooms. 

Bioethanol fireplace pros and cons

The pros:

• No chimney required as bioethanol doesn’t release any smoke or soot.

• Installation is simple and can be completed yourself. Simply unpack the fire, place it in your desired spot, add your fuel, and light!

• Biofires are an eco-friendly alternative to woodburners, thanks to the clean-burning nature of bioethanol fuel.

• Control the heat output as desired using our built-in slider. It’s far simpler than managing wood or coal.

• Choose from a wide range of stylish designs that look beautiful in any space.

The cons:

• Should be used as supplementary heat only – a single biofire won’t heat your whole home.

• You’ll need to top up your fuel, as one litre of fuel lasts around 3-4 hours. Always allow the burner to cool fully before refilling.

• Ventilation is needed as biofires use oxygen to burn, so you’ll need to make sure the room has good airflow.

• Biofires are not suitable for very small air-tight rooms or bedrooms. We recommend choosing other heating methods for areas where you or your family will be sleeping.

Are bioethanol fires worth the investment?

Bioethanol fireplaces are well worth the investment if you want to enjoy the charm of real flames without the mess, expense, or limitations of traditional fires. They’re perfect for homes without chimneys, rental properties, and smoke-controlled areas, offering an easy and flexible way to introduce warmth and atmosphere anywhere in your home. There’s no smoke, soot, or maintenance to worry about, and installation is as simple as placing your fire where you want it! 

So, are you ready to discover the magic of biofires for yourself? Explore our full range of bioethanol fireplaces and find the perfect design for your home.