Bioethanol fireplaces and stoves: real fire without a chimney
Having a real flame in your home without installing a chimney may seem almost contradictory. Yet that is exactly what bioethanol makes possible.
Bioethanol fireplaces and stoves are a particularly interesting solution for those who want the charm of a real fire but do not have a chimney, or simply do not want to undertake building work and complex installations.
They produce no ash, require no wood or pellets, and, above all, do not require a chimney or flue.
But beware: saying “bioethanol fireplace” refers to products that can be very different from one another, in terms of price as well as quality, technology, and safety.
At Bieffe Shop, we have chosen to offer both solutions: from the simple and accessible products in the Tecno Air System range to the sophisticated automatic fireplaces from Planika with BEV® technology.
What is bioethanol?
Bioethanol is a liquid fuel of biological origin that can be used to produce a real flame.
Its most interesting feature, when used in suitable appliances, is that it allows combustion that does not produce ash or soot, as happens with wood and pellets.
This makes it possible to install fireplaces and stoves without a traditional chimney.
And this is precisely where one of bioethanol’s greatest advantages lies: installation freedom.
An apartment without a fireplace?
A home where installing a chimney would be too expensive?
A modern space where you want to add the charm of a real flame?
A commercial space, restaurant, hotel, or showroom?
Bioethanol can be an extremely interesting solution.
Two different worlds: simple or electronic bioethanol
When searching online for a bioethanol fireplace, you’ll find products costing a few hundred euros and others that can cost several thousand.
How is that possible?
Why don’t they all work the same way?
We can simplify the market by dividing it into two broad categories.
Simple bioethanol fireplaces and stoves: beautiful, practical, and affordable
The first solution is the traditional burner, in which the bioethanol is added in liquid form and burned directly.
It is a simple system that makes it possible to create affordable products without the need for sophisticated electronic components.
For this category, Bieffe Shop chose products from the Techno Air System line.
Why did we choose these products specifically?
Because we know very well that countless inexpensive bioethanol fireplaces can be found online. Some have incredibly low prices, but their construction, materials, and finishes are often proportional to the price.
We did not want to offer simple “online shacks”.
We therefore sought a range that would retain the major advantage of traditional bioethanol — simplicity and an affordable price — while offering attractive, well-built products suitable for becoming genuine interior design elements.
With Techno Air System, you can therefore purchase a bioethanol stove or fireplace at a relatively affordable price, enjoying a real flame and a pleasant aesthetic effect without having to build a flue.
They are the ideal choice for those who primarily want atmosphere, simplicity, and affordability.
And then there is Planika: bioethanol at another level
At the opposite end, we find Planika, a brand specializing in technological bioethanol fireplaces and one of the international benchmarks in the sector.
Here, the concept changes completely.
We are no longer simply talking about a container holding liquid bioethanol with a flame lit above it.
In fact, Planika’s more advanced products use the patented BEV® – Burning Ethanol Vapours technology.
Planika does not burn liquid bioethanol directly
This is probably the most important difference to understand.
In BEV® systems, the fuel is brought inside the appliance and converted into ethanol vapors. These vapors are what feed the flame.
In this way, the flame does not come into direct contact with the liquid fuel.
The process is managed electronically by a microprocessor that controls the appliance’s operation.
The result is an extremely clean combustion process, designed to avoid the typical by-products of traditional combustion such as smoke, soot, and ash, while also eliminating the unpleasant combustion odor that may be associated with simpler bioethanol systems.
And this is a difference that becomes immediately apparent when you see a Planika lit.
A real, beautiful, electronically controllable flame
One of the aspects that impressed us most about Planika fireplaces is precisely the quality of the flame.
It is real fire, not a lighting effect like that of an electric fireplace.
But behind that flame is an electronic system that, depending on the model, allows you to ignite, extinguish, and adjust the fire electronically using a remote control or dedicated control systems.
Some products also offer different flame-height levels and smart features.
This results in something that, until a few years ago, seemed difficult to imagine: the charm of a real fireplace combined with the convenience of a modern appliance.
Safety: sensors and electronic control
Planika technology was not developed solely to create a more beautiful flame.
One of the main objectives of the BEV® system is to electronically control the combustion process and reduce the possibility of human error.
The fireplaces are equipped with sensors that monitor the appliance's operation. In the event of a malfunction, the system can stop operation and cut off the fuel supply.
It is a completely different approach from the classic manual burner.
And this is one of the reasons why a Planika cannot be compared to a standard bioethanol fireplace, even though both use bioethanol.
Refueling also becomes automatic
Another particularly interesting feature of Planika systems is the automatic fuel refilling system available on compatible models.
A dedicated pump transfers the bioethanol into the tank.
When the correct fill level is reached, the sensors signal the electronic system to automatically stop the transfer.
This system was specifically designed to make refueling more convenient and safer and reduce the risk of overfilling or accidental fuel spills.
In this case too, we are a long way from the concept of a simple bioethanol fireplace into which fuel is manually poured into the burner.
Is a chimney required?
No.
And it is probably the main reason why more and more people are interested in this technology.
A bioethanol fireplace does not require a traditional flue.
This means it can open up design possibilities that would be difficult to achieve with a wood-burning fireplace or a traditional stove.
With an automatic Planika fireplace, you will need to provide the power supply specified for the model, but not a traditional flue. Planika specifies a 230 V power supply for several automatic models. (Planika)
This makes it possible to consider having a fire in places where, until just a few years ago, installing one would have been extremely complicated.
Of course, the absence of a flue does not mean the absence of rules: the manufacturer's instructions regarding minimum room dimensions, ventilation, clearances, and installation methods must always be followed.
Does bioethanol really heat?
Yes. The flame is real and therefore produces real heat.
A bioethanol fireplace should not be confused with a simple decorative object that simulates fire.
That said, the choice must be made based on the objective.
If we need to design the main heating system for a home, we will generally consider technologies specifically developed for this purpose: pellet stoves, wood-burning stoves, wood-burning boiler stoves, high-efficiency fireplaces, and other systems.
If, on the other hand, we are looking for a real flame, a strong visual impact, and a pleasant heat output at the same time, bioethanol becomes extremely appealing.
Some automatic Planika fireplaces can in fact reach heat outputs of several kW, and the manufacturer also specifies, model by model, the minimum room volume in which they can be installed.
Traditional bioethanol or Planika: which should you choose?
It mainly depends on what you are looking for.
A Techno Air System product is suitable if you want:
- a real flame;
- no flue;
- simplicity;
- an attractive furnishing accessory;
- a reasonable cost;
- a product we specifically selected to offer something more serious than the many inexpensive bioethanol fireplaces available online.
A Planika fireplace, on the other hand, is the choice for those looking for:
- a high-end product;
- an exceptionally striking flame;
- BEV® technology with ethanol vapor combustion;
- electronic combustion control;
- no smoke, ash, or soot;
- combustion designed to prevent unpleasant odors;
- sensors and electronic safety systems;
- refueling via an automatic pump on equipped models;
- electronic control, and on compatible products, also via remote control or app;
- a fireplace capable of becoming a true focal point of the home’s architecture.
They are therefore two different answers to two different needs and two different budgets.
The great advantage: designing fire where it was previously impossible
In our opinion, this is the most fascinating aspect of bioethanol.
For over 40 years, Bieffe has worked with stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, and heating systems. We know well everything normally needed to bring a real fire into a home. (Bieffe Caminetti)
And that is precisely why we appreciate the possibilities offered by bioethanol.
Where there is no chimney, today we are not necessarily forced to give up a real fire.
We can install a fireplace in an apartment, during a renovation, in a design setting, in a modern living area, or as part of a project in which a traditional chimney would be difficult to build.
And with solutions like Planika, the bioethanol fireplace definitively stops being considered a simple “decorative biofireplace”: it can become an important, technologically advanced, and spectacular architectural element.
At Bieffe Shop, we find the right solution for every budget
We do not believe that there is a single bioethanol fireplace suitable for everyone.
For some people, spending thousands of euros on a Planika would not make sense: they simply want a beautiful flame, a decorative object, and a simple, affordable solution. That is precisely why we selected Techno Air System.
For others, however, the fireplace is one of the main elements of the entire home project. They want a substantial, clean flame controlled electronically, a technologically advanced product, and finishes worthy of a high-end interior. In this case Planika is on another level.
The important thing is to know that products that are profoundly different can be hidden behind the word “bioethanol.”
From a small decorative biofireplace to a large BEV® automatic fireplace integrated into the architecture of the home.
And the best part is that, in both cases, we can have what we truly want:
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