Can Ethanol Fireplaces Be Cozy?

Needing no flues, chimneys or natural-gas hookups, these fireplaces are fueled with ethanol (also known as alcohol), a byproduct of organic matter such as corn and potatoes. Some use a gel,  both forms are sold at hardware stores or online. 

Combustion creates no smoke or soot and emits little carbon. “If you rub the inside of the fireplace, you won’t feel that carbon dust,”.

Installation and operating costs are low. (Fuel cartridges for HearthCabinet’s models run $7.99 each, for example, and burn two hours at 5,000 BTUs, enough to warm a 12-by-12-foot room.) Fireplace prices range widely, from a few hundred dollars for a big-box-store version to thousands dollars for custom designs.

As for safety, the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) consider ethanol fireplaces suitable for home use. “The safety guidelines are pretty much the same as a regular fireplace,”