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Gel / Bio Ethanol Fires Explained
- Why choose a Bio-Ethanol Fireplace from Easy Fire?
- We are a UK Company with sales consultants available on the telephone 01325-301020. agents in the UK. Fires can be viewed live in our FIREVAULT showrooms in the North and South of the UK. View before you buy. [ask for details]. Fires are sold online to allow customers the benefit of online savings due to reduced admin costs.
- What are the Positive aspects of this type of Fire?
- Most models are easy to install and use.
- Provide a decorative form of heating for homes without a gas supply.
- A 100% energy efficient form of heating.
- What are the Negative aspects of this type of Fire?
- The running costs are up to 20x more than a gas fire of the same Kw rating.
- Storage and handling of flammable liquids needs to be carefully considered.
- There must be some form of natural ventilation in the room.
- Can cause smoke and smells if poor quality fuel is used.
- Will need to be refilled and lit a number of times.
- Do I need a chimney or a flue?
- Gel fireplaces do not require a chimney or a flue. Normal ventilation in the room is sufficient to remove any emissions.
- What is the heat Output?
- This depends on the size of the burner used.
- All of our fireplaces are supplied with quoted heat outputs.
- What are the running costs?
- This varies greatly with the type and brand of fuel used and the size of the burner.
- A very large burner will have greater heat and cost more per hour to run.
- A bio-ethanol fire is not a cost effective way of heating your home.
- Costs are typically 20x more than a comparable gas fire.
- What fuel do these type of fireplaces use?
- bio-ethanol fireplaces use a specially formulated bio-fuel, which produces real flames and real heat!
- It is advised to use good quality bio-fuel. There are many brands on the market and the results achieved from them vary greatly.
- Is there any smoke or smell?
- Under normal usage, with good quality bio-ethanol all the gel fires we sell have been made to a high standard and will not produce any smoke or smell.
- It cannot be stressed enough about the quality of the fuel. This has a great effect on the flame, smoke and smell.
- It is advised by Easy Fire to purchase good quality bio-ethanol as the fuel is the most critical factor when operating this type of fire. You will find cheaper sold online however - you get what you pay for.
- Easy Fire cannot be held responsible for the type of gel fuel being used and the results that are achieved.
- Are there are any building regulations related to gel fireplaces?
- Contarary to what some sellers of gel fires will have you believe, all gel or bio-ethanol fireplaces require some form of ventilation. This can be a window or room vent.
- Gel or Bio-ethanol fireplaces must be installed inline with standard building regulations for fireplaces. They must be installed in a non-combustible chamber built in a way to ensure the user cannot be injured. The installer must follow standard building regulations guidance for the materials used and ventilation etc for your home.
- Any fireplace must be constructed of a non-combustible material.
- If in doubt contact building control at your local council.
- Are gel fireplaces safe?
- Bio-ethanol or gel fires and fireplaces have been available in the USA for over 20 years and are growing in popularity in the UK and Europe.
- The fireplaces are designed to be as safe as possible, stable and secure.
- Normal Health and Safety is required as normal when dealing with a naked flame and flammable liquids.
- Our fires have been designed to a high standard and have been tested for safety and durability.
- It cannot be stressed enough that when buying a gel fire the saying "you get what you pay for" applies. Our fires are designed to last a long time.
- Obviously like all open flamed fires, caution has to be exercised especially where young children and elderly people are in the vicinity.
- To ensure your safety, you should only use fuel designed for gel fireplaces.
- No other chemical or substance should be placed in any gel fire.
- Gel fires should never be moved when hot or lit.
- Gel fires should never be refilled when lit or hot.
- Special care needs to be taken in handling and storing the gel.
- The fire should only be lit in a well ventilated but a draft free enviroment.
- Will a gel fireplace cause condensation on my windows?
- All naked flames produce some moisture and water vapour when burnt. The quantity produced by bio-fuel is very small however there are many factors in a home which cause condensation and these should be identified. The fire must be used in a room which has adiquate ventilation like a window or air vent.
- Factors which cause condensation in rooms are:
- Poor Quality Bio-Fuel.
- Poor Ventilation within the room.
- Low ambient room temperature due to not using a primary heat source.
- Cooking and Bathing without sufficient ventilation.
- Putting Clothes on radiators to dry.
- How do I install my fireplace?
- Always read the installation instructions before installing and using a bio-fuel fire.
- With some models a builder will be required to construct a non-combustible chamber in which to house the gel fire burner.
- Installation Instructions are included with the fire.
- Do you make custom or bespoke designs?
- We are renowned for creating stunning, desirable fireplaces. Our clients are based around the World and our fires are specified by top designers and architects.
- Our bespoke gel fires are designed to a high standard and we will not compromise on style or materials just to make a fireplace "cheaper".
- We can design a custom made gel fireplace however this will involve development costs.
- If you have a specific requirement and a budget to match please call our sales advisors who can discuss your project in detail and suggest the best and most cost effective solution.