Is a Bioethanol Fireplace Dangerous?
One of the most common questions we get regarding bioethanol fireplaces is concerned whether a bio fireplace is dangerous or safe. It is a question which makes sense as the pivot point of a bioethanol fire is fire, which can be dangerous.
Whether you have an ethanol fire from bioethanol-fireplace.co.uk or you are considering buying one, it is important to understand the fire risks that can appear when using an ethanol fireplace. This article will be concerned with the three most common hazards a biofire may cause and how you can avoid them.
Spilt Liquid During the Filling of the Burner
A common problem with having a bio fireplace is the spilling of bioethanol fuel outside of the burning chamber during filling or refilling. Bio ethanol fuel can behave differently than other liquids when pouring. Furthermore, it can be tricky to pour directly into the opening of the burner without spilling.
If you ignite an ethanol fireplace where bioethanol is spilled outside the burning chamber, you may risk having an uncontrollable flame that you cannot put out.
Therefore, in order for you to avoid spilling bioethanol outside the burning chamber, we recommend using either a funnel or a bioethanol pump. See our collection of funnels and pumps.
If you already have spilled some bioethanol fuel outside the burning chamber, it is important to quickly wipe away the bio ethanol fuel and make sure you do not have any bioethanol residues on your clothes or hands.
You can find our guide to filling a bioethanol fireplace here.
Filling of Bio Ethanol Fuel into a Hot Burner
Filling bio ethanol fuel into a hot burner is something that you must never do or experiment with. When igniting bioethanol fuel it is the fumes that burn. Therefore, if you fill bioethanol into a hot burner the evaporation will begin before you can ignite the burner. This can result in a spurt of a flame effect that can be very dangerous.
Therefore, we recommend to always adhere to the following instructions when filling a burner with bioethanol:
1. Put out the flame by pulling the lid on top of the flame.
2. Wait for a minimum of 10 minutes after the bio fireplace has been turned off before you start the filling of bioethanol fuel.
3. Use a funnel or a bioethanol pump when the burner needs to be filled or refilled.
4. Check that no bio ethanol fuel has been spilled outside the burning chamber during the filling.
If you follow these simple steps, you ensure that:
- You do not pour bioethanol fuel into a hot burning chamber.
- You do not pour bioethanol fuel into an ignited bio fireplace.
Overfilling the Bio Ethanol Burner
The third hazard is also related to the filling and refilling of the burning bio ethanol burner. In order to avoid this hazard, it is important to follow the instructions that are enclosed with the bioethanol fire. The majority of the burning chambers are attached with a MAX indicator which shows the maximum amount of bio ethanol fuel you are allowed to fill in the burner.
If the burning chamber is not fitted with a max indicator that shows how much bioethanol fuel you are allowed to fill in, a good rule of thumb is not to fill the chamber more than you can see 1 cm of the edge.
If you overfill the burning chamber with bioethanol fuel, you may risk causing an uncontrollable flame which can be difficult to put out. Furthermore, if you overfill the burning chamber you also risk spilling some bioethanol outside of the chamber when the biofire is accidentally pushed.
At bioethanol-fireplace.co.uk, many of our bio fires are build to prevent the spilling of bioethanol on the table or floor when the chambers are accidentally overfilled. Instead, the bioethanol fuel will run into another container that the burning chamber is placed in.
Furthermore, every burner and burning chamber is equipped with fibre cotton that aids at retaining the bioethanol fuel in the chamber. This precaution minimises the risk of spilling bio ethanol fuel if the biofire is accidentally pushed.
Conclusion
So is a biofire dangerous? Not more than a regular fireplace. As long as you use your common sense, follow the instructions, and handle the open fire with care, you should not have to be afraid to install an ethanol fireplace in your home.
Every biofire sold at bioethanol-fireplace.co.uk is approved and certified with the German security clearance TÜV. Therefore, if you buy your bioethanol fire at bioethanol-fireplace.co.uk you will receive a safe product that has been tested and approved by the current regulations.