Recently, an article on Treehuggger was published by Lloyd Alter commenting on a recent Scientific Research Study published by Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research. The study concluded that ethanol fireplaces are a health hazard and should only be used in well-ventilated spaces. Here is an excerpt taken from Science Daily:

“These stoves do not feature any guided exhaust system whatsoever, so all combustible products are released directly into the environment.. …On a case-by-case basis, precisely how the course of that incineration runs really depends on the quality of the fuel and other factors – like the type of fuel, or the incineration temperature. As a rule, ethanol does not burn out completely. Rather, the incineration process results in CO2 – along with poisonous gases (like carbon monoxide, a respiratory toxin), organic compounds (like benzene, a carcinogen), and irritant gases (like nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde), as well as ultrafine combustion particles.”

-Dr Wensing, Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research

The Walton Ethanol Fireplace by Holly & Martin, one of the most trusted manufacturers.

Here is the original article published by Science Daily and the original study by Franhofer-Gesselschaft.

So Why is this Misleading

“If ethanol runs out when filling the combustion chambers and it ignites, then the entire room could go up in flames.”

-Yes, if you spill ethanol and light the fire, it will burn. The same can be said about wood logs. If you dropped a wood log outside of your firebox and lit the fire, your whole house could “theoretically” burn down. Never refill an ethanol fireplace while the fire is lit. Always clean up any spills before lighting the fire.

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