Bioethanol stove - experiences please!

[beautifulbrothers]

We've decided against a log burner for mostly environmental, but also financial reasons (capped chimney).

So, bioethanol stoves. We visited The Stove House in Midhurst a couple of years ago and really liked the Malvern: https://www.thestovehouseltd.co.uk/collections/bioethanol-an-alternative-to-a-woodburning-stove-bio-ethanol-fire-fireplace-heating-fuel/products/bioethanol-stove-medium-no-flue-required-bio-ethanol-fire-wood-burning-effect-flueless-malvern-stove

• Max Capacity 1 Litre
• Burn Time 1 Litre = Approx 3.5 Hrs
• Heat Output 3 kW

Then DH looked into it again recently, and likes the Oko S2:
https://www.fireplaceworld.co.uk/package/25822/oko-s2-bio-ethanol-stove-in-charcoal-grey?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAu9yqBhBmEiwAHTx5pzPSYWObE-Vj35bSQrWKlGOvRKAFgOkz4TCze51XD2qJjt7gl8B_nxoCrf8QAvD_BwE#

• 1.5 litre capacity for bio ethanol liquid allowing 3 - 5 hours burning time.
• 3kW heat output depending on size of opening operated by supplied control tool.

Our budget is max £1k including accessories and initial fuel. We're thinking of having the flue as well. Our house is a Victorian semi, so looking for something traditional.

How smelly is the fuel? Are there better quality options?

We'd love your thoughts and experiences.

I have the Malvern it’s great, fuel is fairly cheap on Amazon and throws off a decent amount of heat, obviously nowhere near the same a log burner would, but it’s enough to heat room really well even with it set to low.

Sorry didn’t answer the full question, the smell depends on which fuel you get, but it’s just a slight chemical like smell really, not enough to be unpleasant. I know you can get scented fuel, but haven’t got round to trying those yet!

Thank you! Great to hear from someone who actually has it!

Do you notice a difference in smell between fuel brands? I have a sensitive nose! 😅

Cross post!

We smelled a range at the shop in Midhurst. Some were really lovely, especially the ones for Christmas, but they did still have a whiff of chemical about them.

https://www.thestovehouseltd.co.uk/collections/biofire-accessories/products/christmas-scented-bioethanol-fuel-12-bottles

I cannot bear the smell created. The scented ones have less of the ethanol smell though so we use those.

Shamelessly following as we have no proper chimney and would cost a fortune to have one built in, so May got for bioethanol, what's the fuel cost per hour burning?

We love ours. Does smell a little when first lit, but dies down.
Gives off a decent amount of heat too!

Ive not got a bioethanol fire so no experience of them but it looks like 1 litre of fuel lasts about 4 hours ,so a 3kw fire will give of about 12kw per litre. Looks like its about £4.50-£5 a litre. ? That seems like a lot ?

If you definitely want a bio stove and it’s the Malvern one you’re after, Imagin Fires has it on sale for £599.

https://www.imaginfires.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=Malvern+

We recently got one, and I’m still in two minds whether I like it or not. Sure, it’s lovely to look at, but that’s about it. In terms of heat it’s not great. We have new windows, lots of insulation and an average sized room, but I need the heating on as well. There’s also a lingering chemical smell, even with low odour fuel.

After a few hours it runs out of fuel and you have to wait half an hour before you can add more.

There’s lots of old threads on here which say why they’re mostly crap, but I didn’t read them before I bought it!

On Amazon biofuel costs £3 per L, so between 75p - £1 per hour.

Thanks everyone! After reading the feedback, we're thinking that bioethanol isn't for us.

I'm quite sensitive to smell, and we've got young DC, so the chemical aspect is putting me off. Also, they do seem very expensive to run. 😩 It would be so lovely to use our fireplace...

Now we're thinking either electric (plenty of Mumsnet threads) or a nice coffee table with pillar candles or something? 🤷‍♀️

Electric have come a long way from the old days, I’m very impressed with the one in the cottage I am staying in, photo doesn’t do it justice but it gives a cosy ambiance.

Sooo.... We've just been out and bought... An Everhot stove/heater. Bloody expensive, but beautiful and very toasty. We went to the showroom in Coaley. Could have spent the day there. 😍 It was a spur of the moment decision because we didn't like the electric fire (Optimyst) we'd gone to view. We're so happy!

Are you still happy with the Everhot stove/heater? What are the electricity bills like?