Does a bioethanol fireplace produce warmth?

While a bioethanol fire is mainly used for ambient purposes they also provide heat. You can expect between 2-3 kW’s of heat from the manual fires and up to 5.3kW from the largest automatic fire.

What is released into the air when burning bioethanol?

The combustion of bioethanol only releases water vapour and carbon dioxide (CO2) which is the same as what we exhale with every breath.
No smoke, soot or other gasses are emitted when burning bioethanol but of course oxygen is consumed so ventilation is important to refresh the air in the room. This can be achieved by means of a wall vent in a traditional home or by adjusting the Heat Recovery System in a more modern home (some HRV systems have a ‘party’ mode to increase the air exchange rate as if there were more people in the house).

Do I need a chimney for a bioethanol fire?

As explained above no smoke or dangerous gasses are released when burning bioethanol. Unlike a wood or gas fire no Carbon Monoxide (CO) is released and therefore no chimney is required. The elimination of the need for a chimney means a bioethanol fire can be positioned anywhere, or even moved from room to room with some models, and the installation costs are greatly reduced relative to other types of fires.

What is the difference between “Manual” & “Automatic” bioethanol fires?

‘Manual’ Bioethanol Fires are operated manually and are very easy to use. You manually fill the burner with bioethanol and light it. To put out the fire you simply close the burner cover cutting off the air supply and quenching the flame. There is no electrical connection required.
There are two type of Manual fires: ‘adjustable’ and ‘nonadjustable’. An adjustable manual burner allows you to regulate the flame size and the fuel consumption rate. A non adjustable manual burner is either on or off with no adjustability in between.

‘Automatic’ Bioethanol Fires include a separate 10L fuel reservoir from which the bioethanol is pumped across the burner. The system is operated electronically with automatic ignition and push button stop/start. Automatic fires include sensors that monitor the combustion and automatically regulate the burner and fuel supply for optimum combustion. Electrical connection is required.

How do I fill and light a Manual bioethanol fire?

This is a simple process. First remove the burner cover. Each burner has a specified maximum fuel capacity. Pour the appropriate quantity of bioethanol for your burner into a measuring jug and then use a small funnel to pour it along the length of the burner and into the ceramic fibre filling inside. Carefully wipe away any spillage with a cloth. Replace the burner cover if it is an adjustable burner and then light the burner with the gas lighter that was supplied with the fire. To quench the flame at any time close the burner cover.

When can I refill a Manual bioethanol fire?

If a manual bioethanol fire has been lighting and the fuel has burnt out you must allow the burner time to cool down before refilling it. You must NEVER attempt to refill either a lighting bioethanol burner or a hot burner.

Is using an “Automatic” bioethanol fire as easy as pushing a button?

Yes. Just make sure you fill up the 10L fuel reservoir from time to time as well !

Is a bioethanol fire safe?

The new generation of bioethanol fires, ether manual or automatic, are totally safe. All our manual bioethanol burners are filled with a ceramic blanket lining that soaks up the fuel in the burner. This eliminates the possibility of a spillage and it is also why it is very important never to fill the burner beyond the specified maximum fuel capacity.

What about fuel consumption?

Typically for a manual fire you can expect between 2.5 – 3 hours of burning per fill of fuel (there will be differences between models depending on burner size and capacity). There are five sizes of automatic fire available and the fuel consumption ranges from 500ml/h for the 50-90 model to a maximum of 870ml/h for the 90-140 model.

What is the approximate running cost?

We sell 5L bottles of bioethanol for €18 = €3.60 per litre. A 1L size manual burner operating for 3 hours per fill costs €1.20 per hour to run. Automatic fires are a little more expensive to run and the fuel consumption rate for each model is specified on each product page on this website for easy calculation.

Where are your bioethanol fires manufactured?

All of our bioethanol fires, manual and automatic, are manufactured within the EU to the highest quality standards.

I am looking for a fire design that is not shown on your website. Can you help?

Yes we regularly supply bespoke bioethanol fires for one-off projects.

Contact us directly to discuss your specific requirements.