Beautiful pebbles for your biofire

Your burning questions, answered

• How do I use pebbles or logs in my bioethanol fireplace?

  Bioethanol fireplaces produce a beautiful, real flame and introduce the cosiness of a real fireplace into your room (without the existential guilt of burning fossil fuels). 

  Many of our customers love the minimalist look of the dancing flame from the stainless steel fuel box, but others enjoy the more traditional look of ceramic pebbles or logs placed around the flame.

  The ceramic pebbles and logs we sell are for decorative purposes only. You must use only recommended ceramic logs and stones — NEVER add anything else to your fireplace. 

  Can I use other fuels in my bioethanol fireplaces?

  No. 

  Never add paper, wood, charcoal, or coal inside your bioethanol fireplace. You need a chimney or flue to burn these items. 

  Our bioethanol fireplaces are not designed to burn fuel other than bioethanol. 

  Can I use ordinary pebbles or logs in my bioethanol fireplace?

  We only recommend using the ceramic logs and pebbles we supply. This is because we’ve thoroughly tested our products and know they’re safe to use. 

  Never add paper, wood, charcoal, or coal inside your bioethanol fireplace. You need a chimney or flue to burn these items. 

  You may find ceramic logs or pebbles online, but we can’t vouch for their safety. We haven’t been able to assess their impact on combustion quality, so we can’t say whether other products are safe to use with our biofires. 

  Only use recommended pebbles and logs in your bioethanol fireplace. 

  Where do I place my ceramic pebbles and logs in my bioethanol fireplace?

  Never cover the opening of the fuel box with ANYTHING, including ceramic pebbles and logs. These should be placed AROUND the opening to ensure that they allow your bioethanol fuel to burn correctly and safely. 

  We recommend removing all ceramic pebbles and logs before refilling the fuel tank — that way, you’ll avoid accidentally spraying bioethanol over your ornamental logs and stones. They’ll be hot if you have been using your fire, so let them cool down before you move them. 

  If you spill any fuel as your refill, wipe it down thoroughly before lighting. And don’t allow ceramic accessories to touch the glass panels of your bioethanol fireplace.

• How should I use the pebbles or logs that are available to purchase?

  We supply a range of beautiful accessories tested extensively for safety and practicality n our exclusive range of bioethanol fireplaces. We have selected our accessories to enhance your fireplace experience, offering a more traditional feel and additional cosiness.

  However, our ceramic pebbles and logs are for decorative purposes only. Never add real logs or stones to your bioethanol fireplaceu2019s burning chamber. Bioethanol burns cleanly, without fumes, soot, or mess u2014 if you add combustible items, you risk polluting the air.u00a0

  Can I use any ceramic pebbles and logs in my biofire?

  We recommend using our own-brand ceramic pebbles and logs only. This is because we have tested them for safety u2014 we canu2019t verify the suitability or performance of any other products, which may impact combustion quality and cause potential harm.u00a0

  Need help choosing your pebble or log set? Check out our FAQ page to help you decide.u00a0

  Where do I place my ceramic pebbles and logs inside my biofire?

  Never cover the burning aperture of your bioethanol fuel box with accessories. Place all accessories around the edges of the fuel box, keeping the burning opening clear.u00a0

  Spilt bioethanol is flammable - we recommend removing all accessories from your fireplace before refilling your fuel box.u00a0

  Wipe up any spillages before you light your fire - this will help contain the flame within the fuel box.u00a0

  Can my ceramic accessories touch the glass of my bioethanol fireplace?

  Never allow your ceramic accessories to touch the glass of your fireplace u2014 the glass could crack after prolonged exposure.u00a0

  Of course, all glass used in your ImaginFires bioethanol fireplace is heat-proof and designed to withstand temperatures well beyond the heat output of your fire. However, contact with ceramic accessories could compromise the glassu2019s heat resistance.u00a0

• 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 3kw 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! 

• Do bioethanol fires produce heat?

  Are bioethanol fires warm?

  Perhaps surprisingly, this is a very common question that confuses many people!

  While biofires are not intended as a primary heat source for your home, your bioethanol fireplace gives off plenty of heat, with much better fuel efficiency than a wood-burning stove (which loses around 40% of its heat up the chimney). 

  So with our fireplaces you can close off the chimney (with a proprietary chimney sock or similar) and finish off above the fireplace with a piece of fireboard or similar for that added bit of protection.

  Do bioethanol fires give off heat?

  Yes. The real flame provides a cosy atmosphere, but it also produces a comfortable toastiness for your room.

  However, we don’t recommend replacing your central heating system with a bioethanol fireplace as it will not produce enough heat and will be expensive to run. But for supplementary heat, you’ll love the comfortable warmth produced by your bioethanol flame.

  Our fireplaces are ideal for those cooler summer evenings when you don’t want to heat the whole house, just taking the chill off a room and alternatively are also great for that added boost of heat in a room on the colder winter evenings.

  How much heat does a bioethanol fireplace produce in Kilowatts?

  In technical terms, bioethanol fireplaces produce around 3 kilowatts (kW) of heat when the fuel gauge is fully open. 

  To give you an idea of how hot this is, the average electric fire will generate around 2kWh of heat. So, depending on the size of your room, your bioethanol fireplace gives off heat that maintains a comfortable, consistent temperature.

  Wood-burning stoves and open fireplaces generally generate around 5kWh of heat (depending on their size), but this is often too hot for small-to-medium-sized rooms. So, you should find that your bioethanol fireplace gives off plenty of heat, even for deep midwinter. 

  If anything, you may find that a full bioethanol flame is a little too hot for your tastes. Fortunately, the easily adjustable slider on the fuel box will allow you to reduce the strength of the flame as you desire.

  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.

  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 produce real heat?

  Yes. Bioethanol fireplaces produce around 2kW of heat, which is similar to an electric heater on a medium setting. This makes them an excellent supplementary heat source for a small to medium-sized room. They’re not designed to be a replacement for your central heating, but they will help heat your room on a cool evening – without the smoke, mess or cost of a traditional fire.