any info on gel fuel fireplaces?
how long does gel fuel burn a can what is the exact composition of the gel fuel is it safe heating mechanism? does the fuel really emit no odors ? please be very specific thank you
how long does gel fuel burn a can what is the exact composition of the gel fuel is it safe heating mechanism? does the fuel really emit no odors ? please be very specific thank you
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Favorite Answer
A gel fireplace is designed to function in environments where normal fireplaces, even gas units, may be impractical. They use an environmentally friendly gel that burns a flame clean enough to be used indoors or outdoors, often without the need for a chimney fluke or other ventilation system. When people refer to a gel fireplace, they usually mean one of two things: using gel in an existing fireplace, or using a fireplace constructed specifically for the flammable gel.
If you already have a fireplace present in your home, you can upgrade it to a gel fireplace through several easy steps. Existing gas or ventilation lines must be closed, and the fireplace is often re-designed to include ceramic logs or other atmospheric materials similar to modern gas fireplaces. You can then purchase gel in canisters and set them strategically in the back of the fireplace where they are ready to be lit. Up to three canisters can be used at one time, the fire spreading from one to the other for a more realistic and longer-lasting flame.
Gel fuel working:
Fire gel is created with an alcohol substance, usually isopropyl alcohol that has been treated to be as environmentally safe and slow-burning as possible. Each company has their own gel recipe, and the gels vary slightly in productivity and cleanliness. The thicker the gel, the longer the flame will last, while the faster-burning gels tend to produce hotter and brighter flames. Before being mass-produced, the gel must be cleared by OSHA and the EPA for use, proven to be both safe enough and clean enough for households.
When mass-produced, the gel is carefully injected into can, each holding enough gel to last about 2 1/2 or 3 hours when burning. According to some estimates, this works out to approximately one dollar per on-flame hour. When it comes to heat, gel fuel produces around 3,000 BTUs per hour, per can.
The gel flame is not perfectly clean, but it is designed to produce minimal odors and a small amount of carbon dioxide, unavoidable by-products that cannot be fully removed.
Gel fireplace Construction:
A fire gel fireplace uses gel exclusively, and you can buy kits to put them together yourself at the desired location. Most gel fireplaces begin with a metal shell that includes the decorative ceramic logs and grating. The shell is covered with some type of wood, often a cheap base such as pine. The final layer can then be added on top of this, such as a layer of finer wood like mahogany or an enamel. If the fireplace is intended for outdoor use, a stronger ceramic or metallic shell is used instead.
Fire gel fireplaces are designed to function with either fuel gel canisters or a system where fuel is injected into a tank. Sometimes you can buy and trade out the tanks themselves, depending on company and model.
I hope this information will help u a lot. For more information, check out this link:
http://www.furnituredepot.com/
Make the best use of it....!!
c_kayak_fun
The fuel is jellied alcohol which is non-toxic and produces no fumes (it is the same as Sterno in the cans that you can buy in the grocery store to heat a fondue pot). Some people claim they can smell the fuel but I have a sensitive nose and have never detected any unpleasant odor. I've had a gel fuel fireplace insert for over 20 years that I have used in the decorative fireplaces in two homes. It keeps my fireplace nice and cozy on cold nights and makes a realistic crackling noise, more like a real fire than those natural gas fireplaces do. I like it a lot and it's an easy safe way to add a little warmth and atmosphere to a room.
The only drawback is the cost of the fuel cans. Most of the fireplaces take 2 or 3 cans at a time and you only get 2 or 3 hours max out of a can. Even buying them by the case they run about $2.50 to $3.00 per can. I have heard you can buy the jellied fuel in gallon jugs to refill the cans more cheaply so that might be an option that would be more economical.
Anonymous
Gel Fireplace Insert
lemanski
Gel Fuel Cans
Judy L
I have a gel fuel fireplace and it stinks to high heaven, or at least the Sunjel fuel does. It could be the batch I got but it smells like burning rubber. I'm going make my own using 91% isopropyl alcohol and calcium acetate with a bit of essential oil mixed in for "crackle" and scent. It can't stink any worse than what I'm using now, and it will cost one helluva lot less.