Watching a fire has long been considered a pleasant and soothing activity. However, not everyone can install a real fireplace at home. Firstly, it is quite expensive, and secondly, the place in the house does not always allow this. That is why the manufacture of bio-fireplaces with their own hands began to gain popularity.
General information
The principle of operation of this device, as well as its design, is quite simple. The essence of the operation is that liquid fuel - bioethanol - is burned. Since this composition is pure ecological alcohol, nothing is released during its combustion, except for steam and a small amount of carbon dioxide. This immediately indicates that it will not be necessary to equip the hood, ventilation, etc. It is also worth noting that such alcohol without any additives will burn with a blue flame. Since it is customary for the fire to be yellow, bioethanol is mixed with special substances.
In addition, there are several variations of this device:
- There are wall-mounted bio-fireplaces for an apartment. The dimensions of such a device are usually somewhat smaller than those of a conventional biofireplace, since it is mounted directly on a wall orinstalled in a special niche. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that a closet, for example, may well become the installation site.
- Outdoor versions of this device are considered the most traditional and common. They are usually installed along the walls. You can also make them of a specific design to install in the corner of the room. Such equipment may already be quite large, and may be small enough to be installed anywhere in the room.
- They also make desktop bio-fireplaces with their own hands. This version is a copy of the floor fixture, but in a miniature version. The place of installation of such fireplaces is a bedside table, wardrobe, table and other interior items.
Features of eco-fireplaces
Naturally, initially you need to decide on the installation location of the device. This will depend on its design. Next, you need to know that the area for one burner of this equipment should occupy at least 16 meters. To increase the safety of the device, you must take care in advance to purchase such a special lighter as a pieza. Matches, paper, etc. are not allowed. The device of a biofireplace significantly increases its safety, as it is equipped with a special protective glass that protects the environment from fire, accidental ignition, etc.
It can be added that the device can have several burners. It all depends on the design, as well as on the size of the biofireplace. In addition, bioethanol can be used both liquid and gel. However, experts recommend using liquid, since after it there are no combustion products left. For miniature models, the fuel tank can be 60 ml and up to 5 liters for large biofireplaces.
Dual Screen Fireplace
In this case, we will consider the process of assembling a bio-fireplace with your own hands, which has two screens. Between them there will be a flame. In order to successfully assemble this option, you will need the following materials and tools:
- it will be necessary to make a panel of drywall, plywood or wooden beams with dimensions of 50 x 30 or 40 x 30 cm in order to install a container in it;
- self-tapping screws for fixing elements;
- necessary to buy fire-resistant transparent glass for arranging protective screens;
- you will need a fuel tank with a valve for adjustment;
- to fix the metal parts of the biofireplace with your own hands, you will need bolts, nuts, washers, silicone gaskets;
- metal or plastic legs are used as glass holders;
- also rubber gaskets will be needed for glasses;
- The last thing you need is some flame retardant paint or a fire retardant material that can be used as a gasket around the fuel tank shield to increase fire safety.
Assembling the model yourself
After all the necessary materialshave been purchased, you can proceed to the practical part of the assembly.
- The first step is to draw up a drawing of the device with all dimensions, so as not to forget anything and not make mistakes during assembly.
- Making a bio-fireplace with your own hands is best to start with assembling the base for the fuel tank. To do this, you need to saw off two identical pieces of timber, in order to then fix a sheet of plywood on them.
- At the top of the panel, a hole of the required diameter is cut out for the container. In addition, you need to prepare holes on the sides. Glass will be the frame for the biofireplace on all sides, because in addition to all other advantages, it is also much lighter, which will significantly reduce the weight of the entire structure.
- Next, it is necessary to process the edges of all elements well. If drywall sheets are used, putty is used to seal the edges. They are attached to the frame in its lower part.
- The next step is to drill holes for the bolts. Since glass will have to be drilled, it is necessary to do it very carefully or entrust it to a person who has experience in this. Although the element is heat resistant, it can still crack quite easily.
- In order to increase strength, it is recommended to thread the bolts together with silicone gaskets. They are threaded through the base and glass, and washers are put on the bolts from the inside, after which it is all tightened with nuts. Remember not to put too much pressure on the glass.
- Next, the sides of the glass screens are attached to the basedo-it-yourself bio-fireplace.
- The next step is to mount the legs for the fireplace. First, they are supplied with rubber gaskets, and then bolted in the same way as before.
- At this stage, we can assume that the device is almost ready. It remains to insert the fuel tank into the previously drilled hole.
- It is also worth adding that the entire free surface around the burner can be laid out with decorative elements, attaching them to glue, for example.
Biofireplace "Aquarium"
This model also does not have a complex assembly, but it looks much more attractive. To assemble a biofireplace from glass and other materials, you will need the following items:
- Medium-thick fire-resistant glass or other material that is thick enough not to burn through too quickly.
- Silicone glue, which will be used for lubrication and gluing of all joints, it is also used when assembling aquariums.
- You will also need a square-shaped wooden or metal flowerpot. If a tree is chosen, then it must be covered with a layer of flame retardant impregnation before being used, otherwise it will burn. It is best to use a metal mesh to attach to the flowerpot. On top of it, you can also lay firewood or decorative stones. In this case, it will seem that the biofireplace is made of artificial stone. It is also worth adding that the dimensions of the grid should be 2-3 cm larger than the dimensions of the flowerpot.
- Bin any case, you will need smooth decorative pebbles for decoration. Their number will depend on the area of the flowerpot, as well as on the depth of the grid installation.
- The feature will be that two containers are used here for biofireplace fuel. In addition, one of the tanks should be slightly smaller and easily fit into another, which will be larger. The height of these containers should be about 3-4 cm less than the base. A fuel tank is installed directly in the center of the fireplace. If it is made of wood, then it is worth additionally wrapping the container with isover to improve thermal insulation.
- It is best to use cotton cord as a wick here.
Practical part
After all the materials have been collected, you can begin to assemble the product.
- A drawing with dimensions for a biofireplace will also be needed in this case, so as not to make mistakes in further work.
- The work begins with the fact that it is necessary to cut out the glass walls to frame the flowerpot according to its size.
- The edges of the glass walls are vertically smeared with silicone glue.
- All elements are interconnected in such a way that a cube is formed without lower and upper walls.
- In order for the silicone to grip better and the walls do not move apart, it is recommended to support all corners of the base.
- Next, you just need to wait until the substance is completely dry. If surpluses appear somewhere, then after drying they need to be cut off.
- After that, in the center of the flowerpot you needplace the iron container. To fix it more securely, it is best to coat the bottom with silicone.
- Next, a smaller one is placed in a larger tank, into which fuel for the fireplace will be placed.
- The top of both containers must be covered with a metal mesh.
- The assembly is almost complete, and it remains to install the glass cube on the surface of the flowerpot. To fix the edges, they are smeared with a silicone substance.
- Next, if you wish, you can decorate the device.
It is also worth noting that you can make a biofireplace from a pipe with your own hands by installing fuel tanks inside the pipe.
Embedded model
This option for making a bio-fireplace is most often used in small apartments where space needs to be saved. For this reason, such a model is built directly into the wall. In order to assemble it, you only need a drill, one sheet of drywall and self-tapping screws with profiles.
Step-by-step instructions for a DIY bio-fireplace look like this:
- Of course, as in the other two options, work begins with drawing up a drawing with dimensions.
- Further, according to the dimensions, it is necessary to fix the drywall sheet on pre-installed profiles. At the same time, you must not forget that you need to leave a niche in the wall for the firebox.
- Next, a frame is installed through which the wiring is carried out, and then it is brought out to connect to the network. This way you can make a backlight, for example.
- The next step isapplying putty to the walls of the structure. As a cladding, you can use ceramic tiles, artificial stone, gypsum moldings, decorative plaster.
- The final touch is the coating of the entire inner surface with heat-resistant material. For more reliable protection, it is best to cover in 2 layers.
General recommendations for work
When assembling any bio-fireplace, you should remember a few rules and recommendations.
Firstly, any work with such a unit begins with the study of its design and shape. However, at the same stage, it is very important to take care of safety, as well as take care of the installation site of the protective screen. Here you need to know that it is necessary to place glass, even heat-resistant glass, at a distance from direct fire. Experts believe that 15 cm is enough.
Secondly, the tank for the bio-fireplace, which will contain the fuel, is best made from metal, the thickness of which is 2-3 mm. If the metal is thinner, then it is likely that it will simply burn out. If the biofireplace is large enough, then it is best to purchase tanks for it so as not to risk safety.
Installing a burner for a bio-fireplace with your own hands is also a rather dangerous task. It is important to know here that they need quite a lot of space, and therefore it is best not to put such devices in small rooms. If the room, for example, is 25-30 sq. m, then it is allowed to have two burners in a biofireplace, no more.
It is also worth saying that you can make your own burnerhands. If this method is used, then it is necessary to remember some rules. For an open fireplace, for example, it is best to paint it on the outside. Naturally, it is impossible to paint inside, since the paint will definitely burn out.
From above, the metal tank is reinforced with a metal mesh. If the grid cells are too large, then you can cut out several pieces and lay them in such a way that they overlap each other. The strength of this element is quite important, since decorative elements are laid on it. At the bottom of the container with the grid there should be a connection with the wick. If he looks out a little, then it's not scary. Subsequently, when decorative elements are laid, they will hide this defect.
Fuel for equipment
In fact, it is not difficult to assemble a biofireplace on your own. After its successful assembly, you will have to constantly add biofuel to it. Here it is important to understand that it can only work on fuel that has the prefix "bio". This prefix means that the fuel has vegetable or animal components in its composition.
The most important thing here is that when biofuels are burned, they do not emit toxic substances, and therefore their vapors are not dangerous. In addition, only with the combustion of such a substance can an even and beautiful flame be achieved. After the fireplace is ready, you must adhere to certain rules for its operation.
- Fuel for a biofireplace should be bought only from trusted manufacturers who have a quality certificate for theircommodity.
- Before adding biofuel to the burner, you must wait for it to completely go out and be sure to cool down.
- For ignition, a special long lighter with a metal spout is used.
- The fuel containers themselves should be stored in places away from open flames, as well as from hot surfaces.
Decoration
An armful of firewood laid in the fireplace area, as well as various forged elements in a circle from the device, will look quite impressive. The furnace space of such fireplaces is almost always laid with stones. This is done not only to give a more attractive appearance to the structure, but also to make the heat transfer more uniform. The following is considered quite an interesting idea. The fuel tank is made of metal, as usual, but the combustion process itself takes place in a specially prepared and installed plastic dish.
After all of the above, it becomes clear that answering the question of how to make a biofireplace is quite simple.
