The Many Advantages Of A Modern Fireplace
There are lots of problems with traditional fireplaces. For one thing, they emit smoke and other gasses that can be dangerous to breathe, so they must have a flue and chimney. However, this can be dangerous because if the chimney gets dirty, it could become clogged or even start fires.
Obviously, with all of that smoke, burning wood is not a clean source of energy. Also, fireplaces are not very efficient at warming, and there are lots of questions about opening a flue on a cold day. Does the fireplace actually help warm a house, or does it just let all of the warm air out and make a home heater work harder. Find it in this good read by www.ethanolfireplacepros.com/.
The Modern Fireplace Solutions
Because of concerns about emitting more gases into the air, a couple of good solutions have emerged. One of these solutions is actually better than the other one.
The Electric Fireplace
The first alternative fireplace that occurs to most people is a simple electric fireplace. These have the advantage of not emitting any smoke in the home. Also, they don't need to be fueled with logs or other combustible fuel. You simply plug them into any wall outlet.
They do produce an image of flames, but the fireplace is more like watching an image of a fire than a real fire. Also, they still require power from the grid, and the production of this power is still causing greenhouse gasses. It just isn't doing it in your home.
Even though an electric fireplace might be simpler, cheaper, and somewhat safer than an old fashioned fireplace, it isn't really a perfect solution. Also, good ones are pretty pricy. They may start at about $1,000.
The Bio-Fuel Fireplace
Of course, traditional fireplaces uses a type of bio-fuel. That is, of course, wood. However, modern fireplaces replace the use of wood with bio-ethanol, usually just called ethanol. This is pure alcohol, and it is distilled from plants that may be commonly grown on farms, in gardens, or even in the forest.
In the U.S., it is very common to see that some gasoline contains a percentage of biofuel today. This is usually alcohol that gets distilled from corn. However, it is also possible to create this product from many other plants, and these include wheat, rice, and other grains. It even includes grapes and bananas.
The source of the bio-ethanol usually depends upon available crops in a specific region. Since there are many good corn-growing regions in the United States, this was a sensible crop to start with, but it might not be the only choice or the right choice for every area.
Why Is An Ethanol Fireplace Different?
The first advantage is that this pure alcohol burns very clean, and it eliminates the need for additional ventilation. That means that homes do not need to have a chimney or flue to use them. That means you can have all of the advantages of a fireplace without worrying about a difficult installation and high costs. Of course, it also means that you don't have to worry about fires from dirty chimneys.
There are several different styles of ethanol fireplaces that you can choose from. These include types that you can even insert inside or in front of an existing fireplace to convert it into an ethanol fireplace. If you have a traditional fireplace, this is a great idea to make use of that space in your house. Just remember that you no longer have a need to worry about your chimney or flue.
Another idea is to simply have a wall-mounted unit that can be placed almost anywhere in a permanent manner. This is a good idea if you have a fixed location for your fireplace, and you don't have an existing fireplace. Of course, some people still want to keep their traditional fireplace for use sometimes, but they just want to add an ethanol fireplace for every-day use.
You don't even need a fixed location for one of these truly modern fireplaces. You can buy free-standing models that can get placed anywhere. Even better, you have the option to move them around as you move from the living room to the bedroom, for example. Many are indoor-outdoor models, and you can even take them outside to warm up and light up a pleasant evening on the porch.
If you want to try something even smaller and more portable, you might want to consider a model that is meant to sit on top of a table. These smaller models can replace lighting, and they are a better solution than candles. There is no smoke and no odor, but just a pleasant warm glow from these tabletop fireplaces. Like the standalone models, these can also get moved from one location to another, and they are very convenient to own.
What Do Modern Fireplaces Do?
A modern fireplace gives you all of the benefits of a traditional one, and the modern ones are probably even better at this job. If you open the flue on your old fireplace, you may be letting in more cold air than you are warming up anyway. Remember that heat rises.
Your modern fireplace will emit the glow and dancing flames of any fireplace. They are pleasant to watch and use. In addition, it produces heat that is able to radiate out. For actually warming a room, these new fireplaces are actually a much more efficient solution.
Are Ethanol Fireplaces Expensive?
Actually, they are very inexpensive to purchase and run. They are certainly a lot cheaper than having a traditional fireplace and chimney constructed in your home. They are even cheaper than electric fireplaces. Also, ethanol is a relatively inexpensive type of fuel.
Add this to the fact that it emits no smoke or fuels, and you have both a bargain that is good for the environment and your pocketbook. Most people who invest in a modern fireplace are happy with their choice because it provides them with a great value.
