Gee It’s Good To Know I’m Near the Home Fire

Ecosmart makes a gel alcohol fireplace that you can put damn near anywhere. Doesn’t generate much heat but, unlike the electric fireplaces, they don’t have a fan that sounds like a Sopwith Camel kicking in.

Sure hope you read your condo bylaws before putting one of these in your unit.

BTW, who says the combustion doesn’t generate any harmful emissions…and at what dose?

#2, I expected a few comments like yours and this comment probably wont end them. Still here’s my rebuttle:

These are as safe (safer?) than fondue in your condo if you’re using a sterno can for fondue. In the case of the fireplace the sterno can sits in a fireproof box. With the Williams-Sonoma fondo set I have at home, the sterno can sits in the open, under the fondue pot. There is not quick extinguish with that fondue pot as there is with the fireplace.

And I use that same fondue pot example for the emmissions. Yes you can read up on the exact emissions sterno (also an alcohol based gel fuel as well) or the fuel for this fireplace at any website that sells them. But I don’t think any of us worry when we have fondo at our house that we’re going to die of Carbon Monoxide poisening.

Based on the size of the flame from the pic, something tells me that these fire places require the use of more “fuel” than a fondue pot.

While you may likely find relevant prohibitions for these devices in condo bylaws, I’d check the fire code as well.

Funny,

I have a fireplace in my very small one bedroom condo which looks a bit out of place. The 2 years I have been in the condo I have never used it! I guess because the place is so small, I really dont know why, but I do know I dont need it.

#4, the fireplace requires the use of as much or as little fuel as you want, up to 3 cans at the same time. The photo show the max number of cans. Just as there are chaffing dishes that can use more than one can of sterno.

Is anyone really more concerned about this type of fireplace than they are about having a smoker in the unit next to them? Or a person who illegally bbq’s on their balcony? Or a person who uses candles in their home?

Of all those examples, the only one where the fire is contained in a spring loaded fireproof box is the fireplace.

Columbo,

I’ve never heard of such a device, but it looks really awesome. Can you really feel the heat coming off of the fire? And how tall is it? Looks like it comes up to waist level maybe. Pretty neat.

I agree with the concerns expressed.

#6, If not compliant with applicable fire protection provisions, I would report this fireplace just as I would report anyone with a smoker, bbq or real christmas tree in my building. When living in tight quarters, courtesy for your neighbors goes farther than a simple hello on the elevator.

#7. The photos do lack other objects to give it perspective, but it measures roughly 2′ high, 3′ wide, and about a foot deep. All in all not very big.

You can feel the heat, but it’s not very hot. You wouldn’t use it to warm a room, but if you stand next to it you can feel the heat.

3 cans at once was a good bit of heat, 1-2 cans you really have to be right next to it. I haven’t had a fire on for more than a few minutes at a time, so perhaps the stone log retains and displaces some of the heat as well?

The gel fuel is treated with a bit of water & salt which (apparently) makes the flame burn yellow rather than blue/clear as alcohol flames usually do. That (again, apparently) also adds the slight crackle sound that is supposed to imitate the sound of a real fireplace.

It’s hard to tell from my photos but the source of the heat is about 6 inches off the ground and 6 inches from the back of the unit. Both the bottom & back have a fire retardant insulation. This is supposed to move all the heat towards the room/out from the fireplace.

#8, fair enough (assuming it’s not compliant with rules/laws). Are smokers and christmas trees not allowed in your building? Candles? Gas stoves?

If there is a specific rule against any form of open flame in a condo building then I can see this not being allowed. Otherwise I don’t see what courtesty has to do with it.

In my apartment I have a gas fireplace that doesn’t work– the landlord originally said it did work, then later admitted it didn’t after I’d spent hours trying to figure out why the pilot wouldn’t light.

I’m a little disappointed and would like to have some form of fire in the fireplace. Any ideas? I could do a bunch of candles, but is there anything that would more closely resemble a real fire?

The developer put fireplaces in all of the units in my building. I have never used it. Some people take them out. I thought I wanted it when I saw it, but in reality, its just not worth having. The developer has since told me they put them in because people “think” they want them, even though they ultimately don’t use or dislike them, it helps sales. The same is true for some of the light fixtures.

Anon #12, what building are you in? I actually want a condo with fireplace in it because I love fireplaces. It would be nice to know which buildings in or around Penn Quarter have working fireplaces.

The folks who think these gels are a hazard probably think that gas stoves are dangerous, too. For that matter, plenty of small fires (the kind you put out in 10 seconds) start with rags left next to electric burners. I choose to not give too much consideration to people who don’t want us using our stoves.

FWIW, I’ve seen developer installed fireplaces in some condos in The Cosmopolitan on 6th and The Lafayette on D Street. there may be others.

I’ve had one of these gel burning fireplaces for about 3 years and have been very pleased with it. It does throw some heat and the crackling is pleasant. I usually use one can of gel at a time. Mine didn’t come with a spring loaded fireproof box to contain the cans, but I’d like to get one–Columbo can you say where you purchased it? The firebox on my unit is very sturdy and deep and there is a wire mesh screen that covers the opening. The gel can fits snugly behind the fake logs. Also the firplace adds a focal point to the room and mine has a mantle.

#16, I bought from these folks. Note I found them by doing some quick price comparison web searches, I have no affiliation with the company.

Wow, that fireplace looks really tacky. Might as well just get one of those DVDs that will show a constant fireplace on your TV. You can get the same sound without any safety issues.

Only an idiot, a selfish idiot, would use one of these. All it would take would be one clumsy step & you will burn down the entire block.
Why not just use a can of gasoline?
Alcohol burns hotter & is just as dangerous.

I am very surprised that PQ is allowing 18 and 19 to attack Columbo in such a unneighborly fashion.

I sent in a comment the other day in response to be polite, but that wasn’t posted.

To Joe…wow, what a rude comment. I am sure that you have “idiots” in your building who smoke in their apartments. Wow, they could fall asleep with their burning cigarette, set their sofa or bed on fire and burn down the whole block. (This has happened in more than one occasion.) Or the selfish idiots who burn candles in their apartments, get drunk and fall asleep and burn down the whole block.

Get real. Columbo appears to be a mature and responsible person. I am sure he doesn’t want to risk his life and the lives of others.

You live in a communal building, you are always at risk for someone being irresponsible and building down the building. I find cigarette smokers to be more careless about this, than someone enjoying a firelplace in the privacy of their home.

#19, I agree with your general point. I intend to raise the issue of these fireplaces at my next condo board meeting.

Our condo came with a gas ventless fireplace and we love it! It does have a safety device that shuts down the fireplace if oxygen drops below safe levels. If you go to the current Design Center house, you will see a beautiful sterno fireplace in operation.