Bioethanol fireplace or electric fireplace?
Who hasn’t dreamed of relaxing by the fireplace with a cup of tea and the sound of a crackling fire? Fireplaces add a touch of authenticity to any home or apartment. Unfortunately, traditional fireplaces are expensive, restrictive and polluting. Fortunately, there are more modern alternatives. Bioethanol fireplace or electric fireplace: which to choose? We tell you all about it.
The bioethanol fireplace
The bioethanol fireplace is a heating device that uses ethanol as its fuel. Lit with a flame, it transforms bioethanol – a flammable liquid – into gas. Bioethanol, or ethyl alcohol, is an agricultural fuel.
What are the advantages of a bioethanol fireplace?
Here’s an overview of the positive points of this system.
Design
The design of this type of fireplace is highly sophisticated. There are many models and colors to choose from. It’s a decorative element that totally changes the look of a room.
Installation and mobility
This fireplace is very easy to install and move.
Maintenance
The bioethanol fireplace is not restrictive. It requires no maintenance, as it has no flue.
Renewable fuel
Ethanol comes from wheat and corn crops in particular. This makes it easy to produce again and again.
What are the disadvantages of a bioethanol fireplace?
It also has several disadvantages.
Price
The price of this fireplace can vary from €80 to €2,000, depending on the mobility of the model. On the other hand, the fuel it uses is six times more expensive than traditional wood and around 2 to 3 times more expensive than electricity. A liter of ethanol costs at least €2.
Consumption
Heating your home for an hour requires 25 cl of bioethanol. This combustion produces CO2, which is unfortunately not filtered.
Power
This fireplace is not very powerful. It serves more as a decorative feature, while producing a little heat as an auxiliary heater.
Security
Insufficient ventilation of the heated room can lead to the production of CO2, which is toxic for both humans and the environment. Processing bioethanol also involves the use of numerous chemicals.
The electric fireplace
Electric fireplaces don’t work by combustion. You plug it in, set the wattage, then its blower spreads the heat around the room.
The advantages of an electric fireplace
This type of fireplace offers a number of advantages.
Design
It will bring comfort and style to your dining room. CHEMIN’ARTE’s different models will match your decor.
Installation and mobility
Simply place the electric fireplace near an outlet and plug it in. It will immediately heat the room. Some are built-in, others mobile.
Maintenance
It produces no smoke and requires absolutely no maintenance.
Price
Electric fireplaces are affordable. Models range from €80 to €3000, depending on power and flame realism. No additional fuel is required.
Consumption
Choose a low-energy model. It will consume much less than a bioethanol fireplace. You’ll be able to manage your consumption thanks to a number of setting modes. If you activate the heating function in addition to the decorative flames, you’ll consume an average of 2,500 watts, as you would with an electric heater. Count 0.20 ct/hour for 2,000 watts.
Security
It’s certainly the least dangerous of all fireplaces, since it requires no combustion or venting. It emits no carbon monoxide.
Electric fireplaces: any drawbacks?
Of course, it doesn’t heat as well as a real wood-burning fireplace, but is that really a drawback?
Power
People often talk about its weakness in terms of power. However, this is not the case. Our models can heat rooms of up to 30 m2. Just think of this fireplace as an efficient auxiliary heater, not as a central heating system for the whole house.
Conclusion
The electric fireplace is the big winner. Much cheaper, it offers comfort, warmth and design, at affordable prices and with no constraints.
