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The Ultimate Buyer's Guide to Bioethanol Stoves
Welcome to the Ultimate Buyer's Guide to Bioethanol Stoves.
In this guide, we’ll give you the lowdown on everything you need to know about buying a bioethanol stove. This will include an overview of all the pros and cons of bioethanol stoves, plus tips and insights to help you choose the right stove for your home.
As such, it’s a detailed, one-stop resource offering you key information on every aspect of bioethanol stoves to help your buying decision.
Let’s get started.
What are bioethanol stoves?
Bioethanol stoves are real-flame heating appliances that burn liquid biofuels. A bioethanol stove includes a container that can be filled with bioethanol. When the stove is lit, the fuel burns to create an authentic flame effect. Since the biofuel burns very cleanly, bioethanol stoves do not need a flue or chimney.
Given that their designs are based on wood-burning stoves, bioethanol stoves are sometimes referred to as bioethanol wood burners or bioethanol log burners. In fact, they don’t burn logs at all but may include artificial logs or embers as decoration.
What is bioethanol?
Bioethanol is a liquid biofuel. It is a clean-burning, renewable alcohol made from plant sources. This is typically from the fermented sugars of corn, wheat and other agricultural byproducts. The bioethanol used in bioethanol stoves should be high-quality, with an alcohol content of between 96 and 97.5%.
How do bioethanol stoves work?
A bioethanol stove usually has a container that holds two to three litres of bioethanol. You add the biofuel to the stove chamber, taking care to avoid overfilling beyond the maximum fill line. The bioethanol stove can then be lit using a long-reach lighter.
This will ignite the biofuel. The fire will initially be invisible, but will then start to display a blue flame. Around 10-15 minutes after lighting, the flame will become a rich, orange colour.
The orange flame will continue to burn until all the fuel is gone. If you want to extinguish the fire sooner, you can use an extinguishing tool to close the fire down by restricting the oxygen supply to the stove.
Benefits of bioethanol stoves
Some of the main bioethanol stove advantages are:
Cheap installation costs
There is no need to install a flue or chimney with a bioethanol stove. With no flue system to construct, bioethanol stove installation is far cheaper and easier than wood-burning stove installation. It can also be achieved without the need for a specialist stove installer.
High efficiency
Bioethanol stoves are close to 100% efficient. There is very little wastage, so almost all of the fuel you buy goes directly towards heating your home. This compares very favourably with other forms of heating.
Clean burn
Bioethanol offers an incredibly clean burn. There is no smoke, ashes or dust when burning bioethanol. This means a healthier, more environmentally-friendly burn, as well as helping to keep your house clean and tidy.
Eco-friendly
Bioethanol is very eco-friendly. This is because the fuel comes from renewable and sustainable sources. The fermented products used in biofuels come from waste plant products from farming.
Ease-of-use
A bioethanol stove is very easy to operate. It’s just a case of filling up the fuel, lighting the stove, and you’re good to go. This is far simpler to manage than a logburner or open fire.
Versatility
Since there is no flue, bioethanol stoves are a great heating option for apartments and other properties where it is not possible to have a chimney. They’re also a great option for renters, since the stove can move with you to your next property.
Disadvantages of bioethanol stoves
Some of the potential cons of bioethanol stoves are:
Fuel cost
Bioethanol is typically slightly more expensive than wood, which could increase the running costs of a bioethanol stove compared to an equivalent logburner.
Lower heat output
While the heat output from a bioethanol stove is comparable with that of smaller logburners, there is no option to size up to a bigger bioethanol stove to heat a bigger space. As such, a bioethanol stove may not be suitable for a larger room.
Refuelling
You can only refuel a bioethanol stove once it has cooled fully. Whereas you can add more logs to a woodburner while the stove is in use, you cannot refill a bioethanol stove. That means you have to plan ahead by filling the stove before you light it.
Are bioethanol stoves cheap to run?
Bioethanol stoves are generally slightly more expensive to run than wood-burning stoves but cheaper than other forms of heating. Given that installation costs are so much lower, given that there is no flue system with a bioethanol stove, the slightly higher running costs are offset.
How much does it cost to run a bioethanol stove?
Bioethanol generally costs between £2 and £6 per litre, depending on the quality and brand of the biofuel, and whether you’re buying in bulk. Depending on how the stove is operated, it will burn around one litre of bioethanol every three-and-a-half hours.
Are bioethanol stoves safe?
Yes, bioethanol stoves are very safe. Since they are real-flame appliances, you just need to take similar safety precautions to those you would take with an open fireplace. The main bioethanol stove safety considerations are:
- Use heat resistant stove gloves when lighting or operating a bioethanol stove.
- Never leave a bioethanol stove unattended when it’s lit.
- Keep children and pets a safe distance from the stove (by using a fireguard, for example).
- Keep the room well-ventilated.
- Install a carbon monoxide alarm.
- Store biofuels safely away from the bioethanol stove.
- Keep a foam or dry powder fire extinguisher nearby in case of emergency.
Are bioethanol stoves warm?
Yes, bioethanol stoves are warm and generate plenty of heat for your home. Just like other heating appliances, bioethanol stoves have a heat output rating. This tells you how much the stove will generate if it’s in use for an hour.
For example, the Arada Solution 5 Bioethanol Stove has a maximum heat output of 2.46kW. This means it generates around half as much heat as a 5kW logburner. This makes it ideal for small to average-sized living rooms.
Best bioethanol stoves
If you’ve decided that buying a bioethanol stove is a good option for your home, let’s help you narrow down the search. Here are some of the best bioethanol stoves currently available, along with an overview of why they’re our recommended bioethanol stoves.
Mazona Heatwave Bioethanol Freestanding Stove
This beautiful, freestanding bioethanol fire boasts an eye-catching Scandinavian and midcentury modern design. It incorporates the eye-catching curves of the stove body, glass and legs.
As such, it creates the perfect, practical focal point for contemporary living rooms, while giving a subtle nod to the interior design golden age of the 1950s and 1960s.
The Mazona Heatwave Bioethanol Freestanding Stove is an environmentally-friendly, clean-burning appliance designed specifically for indoor use.
- Impressive heat output
- Stylish art deco look with tapered legs
- 2.5 litre capacity
Suitable for:
- Freestanding installation
- Indoor use
- Timeless, contemporary looks
Arada Solution 5 Bioethanol Stove
The sleek, minimalist design of the Arada Solution 5 Bioethanol Stove brings the style and sophistication of Arada's high-quality steel stove bodies to a bioethanol stove.
It’s ideal for creating the appearance of a wood-burning stove installation without the associated installation costs or upheaval.
Made in Britain, this is another highly efficient and effective heating appliance.
- 2.46kW heat output
- 2-4.5 hours typical running time
- 1 litre capacity
Suitable for:
- Logburn looks without the dust
- Indoor use
- Timeless, contemporary looks
Where can you install a bioethanol stove?
Bioethanol stoves are incredibly versatile and can be installed in most properties. You do not require planning permission unless you’re making any structural changes to your home to accommodate the stove.
The only requirements for bioethanol stove installation are:
- The stove must be installed on a flat, stable and non-combustible surface.
- If the room has wood, laminate, carpet, vinyl or other combustible flooring, a protective, heat-resistant base must be installed beneath the stove. This base should extend at least 10cm beyond the stoves on all sides.
- The stove must be installed in a well-ventilated space
- The stove must be at least two minutes from any extractor fan vent or hood.
- The stove must be at least 50cm from combustible materials on all sides. This includes items such as curtains, furniture and decorations.
Are bioethanol stoves worth it?
Yes, if you’re looking for an easy-to-install heating appliance that offers the warmth and atmosphere of real flames, bioethanol stoves are worth it. They’re a great idea if you want to create the cosy ambience of a wood-burning or multi-fuel stove, but installing a flue system is either impractical, impossible or too expensive.
Bioethanol stoves are also good if you can’t or don’t want to burn solid fuel in your home. In these circumstances, they are a clean, environmentally friendly alternative.
That concludes our Ultimate Buyer’s Guide to Bioethanol Stoves. Now that you’re up to speed with all the key considerations of buying a bioethanol stove, you can see all of the options we have available.