How to make a bio fireplace with your own hands: a step-by-step guide

Biofireplace provides an opportunity for owners of apartments in multi-storey buildings to enjoy the comfort and warmth of an open fire. These designs are superior in all respects to electrical analogues that can only simulate a hearth. There are several types of fireplaces, but any of them is easy to do with your own hands at home.

What is a biofireplace and its functions in the interior of an apartment and a house

Biofireplace (ecofireplace) - a device designed to heat a room and running on environmentally friendly fuel. Does not require the installation of a chimney or hood. It can be installed in an apartment with any style decision of the interior, it will bring a note of comfort, tranquility and harmony to it. You can make eco-fires yourself from inexpensive materials at hand.

Designs for decorating and heating the room can be small and large. With their help, they arrange recreation and relaxation areas, focus on any element of the interior, and are often used as attributes of a romantic evening. For their installation in urban apartments, neither permits nor approvals are required.

Ecofire manufacturers offer a wide range of models. There are remote-controlled structures equipped with a fuel consumption system.

Benefits of eco-fireplaces:

• when heating the premises do not reduce the level of humidity;
• do not require complicated installation;
• 100% heat transfer, since its loss during passage through the chimney is excluded.

Device and principle of operation

The decoration of the eco-fireplace can be very different, but any of these designs consists of several elements.

1. Fuel block. It is a heat-resistant tank in which the burner is installed.
2. Burner. They are made of metal or stone (natural or artificial). It can be equipped with an adjustable damper, with which control the intensity of combustion.
3. Protective screen. Install on one, two or four sides of the fuel block.
4. Body. Not every biofireplace model has a body. In miniature devices, its role is played by the fuel sector.

The principle of operation of the ecofireplace is simple: fuel is poured into the burner and ignited using a special lighter with an elongated “nose”.Small devices that are not protected by massive screens are lit up with regular lists or lighters.

An interesting choice for an apartment will be an electric fireplace. An article devoted to its manufacture is located here:https://aquatech.tomathouse.com/en/otoplenie/elektrokamin-svoimi-rukami.html

Types of biofireplaces

Depending on the dimensions of the structure and the place of its installation, several types of bio-fireplaces are distinguished.

Floor

Massive and solid structures that can be installed next to the wall or anywhere in the room. The design decision of the case is very different. There are eco fireplaces, made in the form of a tree trunk, forged, decorated with carved metal paintings, decorated with colored glass inserts.

Ceramic firewood, which is almost indistinguishable from real ones, is bought for outdoor devices. Simulations of coniferous and deciduous trees are possible. These accessories bring the appearance of a bio-fireplace as close to natural as possible. The burner is decorated with chipped or rounded stones. They are necessary to create the effect of a more "living", natural flame.

Wall mounted

Wall-mounted bio-fireplaces are light and lightweight devices equipped with protective fire-resistant and transparent screens from 1.2 or 3 sides. All models are flat, equipped with a back wall made of heat resistant material. The advantages of this type of biofireplace include:

• a light weight;
• the ability to install at any height;
• modern style solution.

To eliminate the possibility of falling, attachments are securely fixed to the walls.

Tabletop

Desktop bio-fireplaces are miniature spectacular products that can decorate any interior. Most often they consist of a metal case filled with small stones. Along the perimeter or on both sides are equipped with transparent glasses. The main advantage of these models is their low fuel consumption. Miniature eco-fires will decorate the festive table and create a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

Recessed

Built-in bio-fireplaces are produced in the form of metal modules with a front protective screen.

They are installed in niches built of brick, concrete or drywall. There are models designed for installation in furniture. The fuel block and burner are decorated with ceramic wood or stones.

Built-in eco fireplaces have their advantages:

• save space and are the best choice for small apartments;
• provide a modern design of the room;
• equipped with a height-adjustable screen.

What fuel can be used

Fuel is fuel that does not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere. There are three types of it:

• bioethanol;
• biogas;
• biodiesel.

Liquid fuel

For the operation of eco-fires, bioethanol is used, which is obtained by processing plant materials. This is ordinary ethyl alcohol, which is sold in containers of different volumes: from 0.5 to 10 liters.

The average consumption is 0.3-0.5 l / h (liters per hour). In the process of combustion of this volume of fuel, about 5 kW of thermal energy is released. Therefore, medium-sized eco-fireplace can be used to heat the room. The effectiveness of this equipment is comparable to electric heaters with a capacity of 3 kW / h.

The advantages of liquid fuels:

• economical consumption;
• complete combustion;
• lack of smell;
• the ability to control the intensity of combustion using dampers;
• It does not leave soot or greasy deposits after combustion, so the burners and the fuel block are easy to clean.

Manufacturers offer biofuels enriched with special additives that provide bright flame colors.Bioethanol is obtained from starch-containing raw materials:

• corn (stalks and ears);
• beets;
• cassava;
• sugarcane;
• potatoes;
• barley.

The raw materials are crushed and fermented using yeast, glucomylase and amylosubtilin. After which they are sent for fraud correction. The leaders in bioethanol production are Brazil, China and India.

Liquid fuel can be made independently. To do this, you will need:

• 96% alcohol;
• B-70 gasoline.

The ingredients are mixed in a ratio of 1: 9 (one part gasoline and 9 parts alcohol). The fuel consumption will be greater than that of bioethanol: up to 1 l / h. But self-made fuel is still more profitable, since it requires cheap raw materials.

Popular brands:

• Art flame;
• FANOLA;
• "Biothermal".

Solid fuel

Solid fuel - firewood or dry fuel. It is not used for the operation of bio-fireplaces. The amount of heat received during the combustion of these fuels exceeds the permissible norms for eco-fireplaces.

How to make a bio fireplace with your own hands - step by step instructions

An outdoor biofireplace in its appearance may be indistinguishable from a real one, laid out of brick and having a chimney. The structural solution of the housing may be different:

• with columns;
• with protrusions;
• to have the shape of a bowl or stand on legs.

The basis of a biofireplace is simpler and cheaper to build from drywall and metal profiles. From these materials it is possible to make a geometrically regular, semicircular or wave-like body. Instead of GCR, you can use wood, durable plastic or metal.

The requirements for the installation of the chimney can be found here:https://aquatech.tomathouse.com/en/otoplenie/dimohod/kak-sdelat-dymoxod-dlya-kamina.html

Design and drawings

At the design stage, a biofireplace is determined with its size and installation location. Floor constructions are stationary, so you need to choose a place so that the fireplace fits harmoniously into the interior after changing the design of the room or acquiring new furniture. For small-sized apartments, floor constructions of medium sizes indicated on the drawing are suitable.

Body manufacture

To install the biofireplace enclosure you will need:

• drywall 9 mm thick;
• metal profile PP 60/27;
• self-tapping screws;
• screwdriver;
• serpyanka;
• primer;
• putty;
• spatula with a narrow metal blade;
• roulette;
• ruler;
• bubble level at least 80 cm long;
• pencil or marker.

For decorating the body fit:

• fake diamond;
• ceramic tile;
• “brick-like” or “stone-like” plastic panels.

Housing Installation Steps

1. Marking the wall and floor. Focusing on the previously drawn drawing, on the wall, mark the corner points of the rear wall of the fireplace and connect them with straight lines. Mark the location of the front of the cabinet on the floor.
   

   On the floor and wall make markings, attach metal profiles

2. Mounting the frame. Build the frame of the structure from the metal profile. Note that the strips must not be in close contact with each other. Between them should remain a gap of a width of 2-3 mm. This will prevent distortion of the structure during its heating and cooling.
   

   Mount the fireplace body from the metal profile

3. Covering the frame. Using an electric jigsaw or clerical knife, cut the GKL canvas of the desired size. Attach them to the metal profile frame. Caps of self-tapping screws “drown” in GKL by 1-2 mm.
   

   Cut drywall sheets

4. Drywall preparation for finishing. Paste the joints of the GKL cloths with a fiberglass mesh tape - serpyanka. Apply putty in the places of installation of screws and cover with a thin layer of sickle. After the putty dries, proceed to sanding it. To do this, use a special grout with a sanding pad.
   

   Ready-made housing sheathed with drywall

5. Case lining. Paste the biofireplace body with the previously selected facing materials.
   

   For finishing the fireplace body use only special facing materials

Installing the fuel block and burner

The metal tank for the fuel block can be made with your own hands from stainless steel 2 mm thick. It is necessary to make a rectangular structure with a bottom and low sides. The dimensions of the block must correspond to the dimensions of the housing.

The burner is a metal cartridge that is installed in the tank. Together they form a fuel block. An important element of the burner is the perforated damper, by means of which the flame is extinguished and its intensity is regulated.

With self-production, the following is taken into account:

• the burner must freely enter a metal container;
• the top panel of the burner may be a metal plate with slots;
• the internal cavity of the burner can be filled with mineral wool insulation or medical cotton wool.

The principle of operation of the fuel block:

• eco-fuel is poured into a metal container;
• burner filler absorbs liquid;
• set fire to fuel with a lighter.

Fireplace decoration

A protective screen made of ordinary window glass with polished edges is installed on the front wall of the biofireplace. The fuel block is decorated with ceramic firewood or stones.

A fireplace in a private house is not only a decorative element, but also a source of heat. Step-by-step instructions for laying a corner fireplace are located in this material:https://aquatech.tomathouse.com/en/otoplenie/uglovoj-kamin-svoimi-rukami-poshagovaya-instrukciya.html

Recommendations for use

In order for the operation of the biofireplace to be safe and in order to increase its life, it is recommended to follow a few simple rules.

1. Do not place a container with fuel near an open flame.
2. Refueling of the fuel block is possible only after it has completely cooled down.
3. It is unacceptable to light a fire with flammable materials: paper, wood chips, plastic.
4. Do not add fuel to the burner with fire.
5. If drops of bioethanol get on the ecofire’s body or floor, carefully wipe the fuel with a dry cloth.

Reviews

I personally made a small outdoor biofireplace. The main materials are metal profiles and MDF. Sheathed, trimmed under a brick. In the store I bought semi-charred ceramic firewood, which can not be immediately distinguished from real ones. Now I have my own cozy corner at home. Everyone is happy, both the wife and the children.

In fact, a biofireplace is a container with alcohol, beautifully designed. I made it from a regular small ceramic flower pot. He laid stones at the bottom, and set a burner at the top. I did not install glass, since the fireplace is on the table and gives a small flame. Use for romantic meetings.

We bought a beautiful Decoflame outdoor fireplace. It has built-in microprocessors that control fuel consumption. This technology is called CEVB. The fireplace is powerful enough, able to heat a small space. A large fireplace needs good ventilation. We installed forced with a built-in hood. Never regretted a purchase. Biofireplace makes the apartment cozy.

We have a warm climate, we bought a bio fireplace for beauty, not heating. We took the wall model and now in the evenings we admire the live fire.

My grandchildren gave me a biofireplace. With him, my lonely evenings became warmer and more comfortable. Fuel consumption is low. 1 liter is enough for 3 hours of continuous burning.

Video: making ecofire from glass

Video: a workshop on the manufacture of a desktop bio-fireplace

The biofireplace will help to create a microclimate favorable for an emotional state, will decorate the room and will cause admiration of guests. This simple design can be made independently from inexpensive materials.