Gel fireplaces create the ambiance of a traditional fire but are fueled by gel.
Gel fireplaces fall under the umbrella of ventless fireplaces, meaning that they don’t have a flue or chimney. Other ventless fireplaces include those fueled by natural gas or propane; however, gel fireplaces utilize an alcohol-based gel. Burning the gel creates the ambiance of the real thing, and each can of gel is estimated to burn for roughly two to three hours without fumes or smoke released into the room.
Safety
One of the benefits of a gel fireplace is its safety. Research has found that the burning of the gel fuel does not adversely affect air quality, and it falls within the health and safety standards laid out by Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. Another benefit is that gel fireplaces don’t get excessively hot. The temperature inside the firebox reaches up to roughly 170 degrees when burning three cans of gel fuel, and there’s enough insulation between the firebox and the top of the mantel to prevent the surface from getting extremely hot. Because of this, it is safe to place a decorative item on the mantel. Gel fireplaces are safe enough to placed on all types of flooring and don’t require additional shielding.
Safety: Gel vs. Wood Fireplace
Gel fireplaces are known to be among the safest options available when it comes to ventless fireplaces. Their safety record also holds up when compared with traditional wood burning fireplaces. For one, wood burning fireplaces have hot embers that can pop out or float up the chimney. There are also specific dangers that come with a wood-burning fireplace like a residential fire and smoke inhalation. It is critical that all combustion exhausts--like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide--are vented outside. Maintenance is vital with regard to a wood-burning fireplace, and it should be inspected and cleaned every year by a chimney sweep.
Safety: Gel vs. Gas Fireplace
Gel fireplaces also have the reputation of being safer than gas fireplaces. Gas log fireplaces can accumulate deposits and get clogged gas jets. Or gas line fittings can come loose and leak natural gas or propane into the home. Gas fireplaces are available in vented or ventless styles. While ventless gas will provide the maximum heat for a room, as there are no hot gases escaping up the chimney, it could be a questionable option for some airtight homes.
Safety After Use
Since there’s no soot or ashes, no gas lines to tighten or unclog and no chimney to clean, there’s virtually no maintenance when it comes to gel fireplaces. However, there are some basic safety tips to follow when extinguishing gel fuel. The cans of gel fuel obviously get hot and cannot be handled. They can be extinguished by replacing the lids on the cans with a set of tongs or oven mitt, as to avoid injury. Just be sure to close the cans tightly when not in use so the gel fuel won’t evaporate.
Heating
If there’s one downfall to a gel fireplace, it is that the heat output is minimal so if you are looking for a fireplace that really throws out the heat, a gel fireplace might not be the best solution. The main purpose of a gel fireplace is to provide the ambiance of a real fire and to perhaps provide some supplemental warmth. Each can produces roughly 3,000 BTUs per hour and, when using three cans in an average size room, it can raise the temperature by about three to four degrees.
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