Why Ethanol Fireplaces Are A No-Hassle Solution

A reliable source of heating is a game changer in any home, hotel or restaurant (particularly if, like us, you have to suffer through those unforgiving Melbourne winters).

The trick to finding the perfect unit for your space is understanding exactly what they demand from you in return. Maintenance. Fuel. Cleaning. Laborious installation. It can quickly add up to more hassle than heat.

That’s what has made ethanol fireplaces so popular – they’re just easy. Let’s chat through all the reasons they’ve become the hassle-free, sustainable home heating solution of choice in Australia and around the world.

What Makes Ethanol Fireplaces So Effortless?

Simple Setup

Unlike like other fireplaces – like a gas fireplace, for example – you don’t need to engage an expensive licensed gas plumber to install and certify your unit. Nor do you need a stonemason to build a wood-burning fireplace recess. Or a sheet metal worker to construct a ventilation system.

Instead, an ethanol alternative means a friction-free fireplace installation. Because there is no venting required, gas lines needed or any associated infrastructure for that matter (making ethanol fireplaces ‘utility free’), they provide a DIY-friendly setup process that literally anyone can do, trade qualification or not.

The extent of the installation process depends on the type of ethanol unit, and there are multiple – such as freestanding, wall-mounted and tabletop.

Installing a freestanding ethanol unit is as simple as unpacking it and positioning it. No structural modifications are required in your home at all. The same goes for ethanol tables. 

Because inbuilt units are more bespoke (since you can install them almost anywhere in your home, even the most unconventional spaces, such as below a fish tank in a floating wall), they require a few more steps, such as constructing a timber frame and wall panelling. But there’s no reason you can’t do them all yourself.

And that’s exactly what we did in the Chama Design showroom here in Melbourne. To see the full design and construction process – as well as find out more about installing an ethanol fireplace

Quick Ignition & Shutdown

A reliable source of heating – with simple ignition and extinguishing – is a luxury for any homeowner or renter. And that’s exactly what an ethanol fireplace is.

Lighting one is simple and only requires a lighting rod and filled fuel reserve (though you should always refer to a manufacturer’s instructions). In the case of the EcoSmart Fire range, you can enjoy instant heat in these quick five steps:

1. Dip the lighting rod tip into the chamber opening “Burner zone” to wet the end.
2. Lift the lighting rod away from the Burner (do not drip fuel on the floor).
3. Ignite the lighter and make contact with the lighting rod as if lighting a candle.
4. Dip the ignited lighting rod back into the Burner zone to ignite the contained fuel.
5. Allow the residual flame on the lighting rod to burn out.

The rod will also help you safely control the flame size and heat output by helping you adjust the efficiency components – this looks like baffles on an XL1200, a slider on BK5, and an efficiency ring on AB8.

Extinguishing the flame is as easy as flipping or closing the lid.

Minimal Maintenance

Unlike wood burning fireplaces, ethanol fires are a clean-burning alternative that won’t tarnish your clothes, flooring or walls – because they emit no ash, soot or smoke. 

In fact, you don’t even need ethanol fireplaces serviced, cleaned and inspected annually by a licensed professional like you do with wood and gas fireplaces. That’s hundreds of dollars in savings each year.

Because of their ventless design, there is also no chimney or flue to maintain in the long-term, saving you even more money.

However, what makes ethanol fireplaces truly ‘clean’ is the fact they are low odour and produce low levels of ‘particulate matter’. This clean burning technology emits considerably less air pollutants than gas and wood-burning fireplaces which can expose you to multiple short and long-term health consequences.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) South Australia stresses just how important it is to avoid exposure:

“Some components, such as particles and formaldehyde, are known to be carcinogenic and chronic exposure is known to cause heart and lung disease and certain cancers. Other components of wood smoke such as various acids cause irritation and scarring of the respiratory system and particularly impact the health of people with existing conditions such as asthma.”

Because bioethanol is a zero-carbon, sustainable and renewable fuel source, homeowners with ethanol fireplaces benefit from far superior air quality.

Straightforward Refuelling

Those who relish the look and feel of a real flame often believe a wood-burning fireplace is their only option.

But it’s not. And it certainly isn’t the easiest, safest or cleanest option.

Instead of having to chop wood or buy it by the tonne, ethanol fireplaces simply require you to top up a fuel reserve. And even that has been made simple.

Every EcoSmart Fire ethanol heating unit we sell here at Chama Design comes with a 5L jerry can that ensures you can refuel safely and without spillage. Plus, every burner reserve has clear filling points that are separated from the ignition zone and engineered to also eliminate spilling during decanting.

With these safety features on hand, EcoSmart Fire advises that decanting safely is a matter of ensuring it’s performed in a well-ventilated area, away from any ignition source, and that the burner itself isn’t hot or alight.

Aside from there being no complicated refuelling procedures, there are also no automatic moving parts that could eventually fail. Better yet, there aren’t many parts at all – like electrical cords, gas lines or connected ventilation systems – which makes freestanding ethanol fireplace units the perfect heating solution for off-grid or tiny homes, which have limited space and utility connections.

Plus, if you’re striving for a low-carbon footprint lifestyle, bioethanol is one of the cleanest, low-carbon, renewable fuel sources available.

Freedom to Place Anywhere

By nature of their ventless design, ethanol fireplaces offer true portable placement flexibility. This means you can not only install them anywhere (given the space meets minimum room size requirements), but you can also move them and reposition them anywhere, including transitioning them from indoors to outdoors.

As far as rental-friendly fire features go, being able to install your own heating unit and move it between rooms – and homes – without any structural impact is a huge plus.

It’s also why ethanol fireplaces have become so favourable for homeowners who appreciate the design flexibility and portable nature during renovations, and the ability to upgrade their existing fireplaces to a more sustainable option with an ethanol fireplace insert.

As far as selecting a hassle-free heating solution, there’s really only one option that can tick all of the boxes: no mess, no odour, simple setup, quick ignition, renewable fuel, design flexibility, portability.

Ethanol fireplaces are the no-fuss option - check out our Best Ethanol Fireplaces.