Exploring Ventless Design in Bioethanol Fireplaces

Fun fireplace fact: the humble residential chimney dates back to the 12th century.

In the 900 years since fireplaces have made some pretty astounding advancements. To the point where heating solutions have never been cleaner, greener and sleeker – and that’s all thanks to the advent of ventless fireplace technology.

Soot, ash, smoke and dangerous toxins are so 19th century. In 2025, the modern evolution of fireplaces has given way to more sustainable and effective alternatives – like the ethanol fireplace – which solves many of the traditional fireplace limitations (more on those later).

Now, contemporary designs come with greater efficiency, flexibility and style. These innovations breathe new life into old fireplaces by incorporating modern, eco-friendly technology. Let’s dive a little deeper into what makes ventless ethanol fireplaces a popular modern home heating option.

The Benefits of Ventless Fireplace Technology

Before we dive into the benefits, a moment for the science. As e-NRG – Australia’s leading supplier of bioethanol fuel – so aptly explains:

“The combustion of bioethanol is clean [producing only heat, water vapour and carbon dioxide], which makes it an efficient and effective source of heat because there is no soot, ash or harmful emissions that need to be extracted through a flue – meaning all the heat stays in your room.”

In short, because ethanol doesn’t release any nasties, it doesn’t require a chimney or flue like tradiational fireplaces do.

Heat Retention and Efficiency

One of the leading benefits of these modern heating solutions is the added heat retention energy-efficient fireplaces unlock.

Unlike traditional wood-burning fireplaces, bio ethanol fireplaces have been designed to eliminate the need for a vent, chimney or flue (you can read more about their venting requirements).

As a result, heat isn’t lost when unwanted byproducts like smoke are funnelled outside. Instead, it’s retained inside, maintaining a consistently cosy and ambient environment.

Ultimately, by eliminating heat loss, chimney-free fireplaces allow you to efficiently heat zones in your home, hotels or restaurants.

But just how much heat is lost? The Australian Government’s ‘Your Home’ website underscores just how considerable this heat loss is:

Open fireplaces give radiant heat but are inefficient. Up to 90% of the heat goes up the chimney and large volumes of cold air are drawn into the room to replace it, creating cold draughts or removing heated air from nearby spaces where other heating is running. They are the least-efficient wood heating method and produce the highest levels of air pollution. Metal fireplace inserts can make an open fire slightly more efficient, but still around 70% of heat will be lost.

That’s why more and more Australians are opting for a more heat-efficient, ventless alternative. However, not all ventless fireplace options are made equal.

Ventless gas fireplaces still carry safety concerns. NSW Health reports - that unflued gas heaters can expose you to higher levels of air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

Ethanol fireplaces, on the other hand, don’t. Instead, you enjoy higher air quality and a more consistent ambient warmth.

And trust us, if you’ve been to our Melbourne showroom, you can feel the difference.

Freedom From Traditional Infrastructure

An ethanol-burning fireplace's true beauty is its design freedom and eco-friendly attributes. Unlike the infrastructure associated with traditional fireplaces – like chimney systems, electrical connections and gas lines – ethanol fires boast a portable fireplace design.

This ventless or ‘vent-free’ technology sees modern fireplaces use the fresh air within your home for combustion, releasing 100% of the heat back into it. In essence, it’s a closed-loop heating solution. It, therefore, doesn’t require elaborate fixed infrastructure that connects it with external airflow (like a chimney does), making it far more flexible in nature.

This means that instead of being hamstrung into installing your heating unit in a very specific place, they can be installed anywhere.

This total design flexibility is only the beginning of the freedom afforded by a utility-free operation. Because ethanol fireplaces don’t require additional infrastructure – and therefore aren’t susceptible to gas or electricity outages – you can also confidently rely on them around the clock.

Another reason ventless fireplace options like ethanol burners have become so popular because they’re the perfect solution for isolated, space-restricted and off-the-grid residences like tiny homes. 

A modern heating option that’s flexible AND reliable? It’s little wonder more and more people are loving ventless fireplace technology.

Versatility in Installation and Placement

With no chimneys or flues, bio ethanol fireplaces also unlock a new level of versatility in installation and placement. Forget being restricted to that one space in your living room – you can put your fireplace in any room. Heck, you can even put it outdoors.

There is no end to the placement possibilities with a ventless design – build it into a bookshelf, below a television, in a floating bench.

In fact, if you purchase a freestanding unit, you can move it around your home depending on how it is used throughout the different seasons.

This flexibility makes ventless fireplaces – like freestanding ethanol fires – perfect for renters who are limited by the ways they can make changes to their homes. A portable fireplace design means introducing a heat-efficient, design-led focal centrepiece that makes for an affordable rental property improvement. Better yet, you can take it with you to your next place!

However, if you do own your home and it has existing fireplaces, you still have the opportunity to upgrade your heating to fit a more sustainable home design. Which takes us to our next point.

Minimal Structural Impact

A ventless design requires minimal structural modifications, making it a perfect modern heating option for almost any home, regardless of its built era.

Take a historic Victorian-style home, for example. You don’t need an extensive home renovation because a VB2 Burner can simply be unpacked and slid right into your existing Victorian-style fireplace.

However, if you wanted to restore a traditional fireplace, you’d be in for a much more labour-intensive job that requires licensed tradespeople to reconstruct stonemasonry and ventilation systems.

Converted an old bedroom into a second living area that doesn’t have a fireplace? No problem. Purchase a freestanding fireplace, and the installation process is as simple as unpacking and placing it into position.

Considering a traditional wood-burning or gas fireplace? Get ready to fork out upwards of $15,000 for a custom-built fireplace, wall recessing, chimney construction, flue liner, mantel insulation and labour.

Renting a classic old terrace home in Melbourne without a working fireplace? Invest in an ethanol fire table that doubles as a coffee table. It’s easy on the eye and extra easy to install.

(Don’t believe the installation is that simple? We’ve got a whole article about how straightforward ethanol fireplace installation is.)

Environmental Adaptability

If you thought that the beauty, sustainability and energy efficiency of ethanol fires were limited to within the food walls of your house, you’d be delighted to know that their warmth and ambience can also be enjoyed outdoors.

Ethanol fire pits, tables and outdoor fireplaces are a mess-free alternative that can be placed almost anywhere in your yard due to their simple design. These low-maintenance chimney-free fireplaces offer a temperate option during transeasonal periods when the harsh direct heat of a wood-burning fire pit can give you the serious sweats.

Instead, you can enjoy a little added atmosphere during an alfresco dinner around a fire pit table, a real sense of romance while sipping on a full-bodied merlot around a fire pit, or even the comfort and convenience of snuggling up on an outdoor lounge beside a stylish fireplace.

Safety Aspects of Ventless Design

As we’ve already touched on, safety is a key benefit often enjoyed by owners of ventless fireplaces, particularly when it comes to ethanol units which are clean-burning and minimise exposure to harmful air pollutants.

A ventless design means your fire isn’t regurgitating nasty byproducts into your room.

Instead, when your bioethanol fireplace is correctly installed in an area that meets the minimum room size outlined in the manufacturer’s manual – and the room is well-ventilated – you can safely assume it’s emitting quality airflow and efficient warmth.

Many ethanol fireplaces also come with in-built safety features. At Chama Design, we’re proud to stock quality fireplaces from the EcoSmart Fire range, which come with ample inbuilt safety features:

• Safety markings remind users never to fill the burner while hot, or in operation.

• Deep-drawn burner tanks that eliminate leaks.

• Dedicated filling points that are separated from the ignition zone and engineered to eliminate spilling during decanting.

• Fuel level markings help determine the amount of bio ethanol fuel in the burner, ensuring safe operation.

• Batch labelling for efficient tracking in the unlikely event of technical issues.

In short, a ventless design is a remarkable step forward for the modern home. Free from inhibitive, messy and often expensive infrastructure, it represents the future of safe fireplace technology, unlocking more style and efficiency.

More importantly, it’s putting a sustainable home design closer to reach for more Australians.

Check out our ultimate best bio-ethanol fireplaces for 2025.