Pictures of Fireplaces
fireplaces, picture 1
fireplaces, picture 2
fireplaces, picture 3
Bio Fireplaces
Bio fireplaces is the term commonly used for a more modern concept of heating your house with a stylish fireplace that does not require gas or electric to fuel them. They burn off bio-ethanol fluid that is available I a gel form or a liquid form that is inserted into the fireplace with a canister or bottle that is held in place with a specially designed holder.
The ethanol is actually a petrol substitute that is produced from fermenting the sugar from sugar beet, it can also be produced by using sap from forest trees so it is perfectly natural and emits no fumes or smoke, the only emissions are water vapour and a small trace of carbon dioxide, this should not be confused with carbon monoxide which is dangerous to us. Ventilation is not required so the need for a chimney or flue has disappeared giving the home owner a greater choice as regards styles and placement of the fireplaces.
They are available as wall hanging fireplaces or free standing, outside appearances give the impression of a normal gas or electric fire and they are still capable of emitting the same amount oh heat.
The fireplaces should come complete with a fuel holder, a decorative cover for the holder which normally has a layer of decorative stones on top and a stylish surround to finish the fireplace off. Free standing models may also be provided with a classic hearth or fender but in some cases it may be required to pay extra for this fitment.
Bio fireplaces are fast taking over from conventional fireplaces especially over the last few years but some models can be higher priced, the price normally reflects on how stylish and modern the bio fireplace is. Running costs are comparable to standard fireplaces, it is estimated that 1 litre of fuel should provide up to 5 hours of warmth, this will cost you about £10.00 per litre and the flame is instantaneous, there is no messing about making up the fire or cleaning soot etc. from the fireplace in the mornings. One of the main advantages of these fires is that as they are not connected to the gas mains or electric they can be fitted without having to pay out for a tradesman even if you only have a small amount of DIY knowledge.
Suppliers of Bio Fireplaces
- www.bio-factory.co.uk
This is a very European company, they have offices in the UK, France and Belgium. They can offer a wide range of bio fireplaces and looking through their website they can even give you a list of retailers local to your area. They have a cheaper range of wall hanging fireplaces that start at 225euros right up to 1200euros for the more stylish models. If you get the chance have a lok at their range of free standing models, the variation is very large and all the models are easily moved around the room if required. - www.prestigiousfires.co.uk
This company has a very good website that even offers tips and help if you are installing the fireplace yourself. Their prices are at the higher end of the market but most of their models do have a choice of finished colour. The average price for their fireplaces runs at £800. - www.fireboxuk.com
Looking through the website of this company I did see a larger range of gel fires rather than just the bio fireplaces. Their prices also seemed very reasonable, the average price for a wall hanging fireplace roughly works out at £600 which is quite a saving compared to some of the other companies.
last modification on Sat Aug 20 0:10:05 PDT 2011.