I recently wrote a post on ways to ensure your bathroom stays nice and toasty warm, even on winter mornings. But there’s one great option that I didn’t mention because it’s just a little bit out there: the bathroom fireplace. But this offbeat option is becoming more common – and more popular – as biofuel fireplaces become more widely available. So if you’re looking for a slightly more dramatic, eye catching way to raise the temperature in your master bathroom? It might be worth considering a bathroom fireplace.
A Fireplace In Your Bathroom (Without The Renovation)
Except in new construction or maybe a very old building, the chances are next to nil that you’ll have a traditional fireplace anywhere near your bathroom, let alone in it. But while conventional wood fireplaces require a lot of construction just to make sure they’re adequately vented, modern biofuel fireplaces don’t. They’re completely self-contained, which means you can install them anywhere, often with little or no actual construction. Now, I’m not talking about electric space heaters; biofuel fireplaces create a real, live flame just like a traditional fireplace, but use ultra clean burning ethanol fuel in place of wood or natural gas, so they don’t need a chimney or flue.
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The Benefit of Clean-Burning Biofuel
Biofuel fireplaces consist of a glass or metal container with a fuel reservoir in the bottom. The size of the reservoir controls the height of the flame. That means you can install the whole fireplace unit into a wall safely, without any ventilation. And because the liquid fuel is completely clean burning, you don’t have to worry about harmful emissions or ventilation, either. The flame only produces heat and a small amount of carbon dioxide.
How Do I Use A Biofuel Fireplace?
Unlike natural gas fireplaces, biofuel fireplaces burn entirely on their own; you don’t need to hook them up to your gas lines. Simply fill the reservoir and light with a match or grill lighter to enjoy about five hours of use. That said, you don’t have to let the flame burn out all the way. If you finish your bath early, you can use an included metal cover to smother the flame between uses.
Best Places For A Bathroom Fireplace
In a bathroom, the most common place for a fireplace is generally right alongside a large, freestanding soaking tub. Having the heat right where you bathe adds a nice extra dimension of luxury; even the parts of you sticking out of the water stay warm. Plus, in this configuration, the actual flame is at the perfect height for you to look at while you’re soaking, turning even a simple fireplace into a piece of living art. And if you install the fireplace in a wall, on a recessed shelf, or any other piece directly connecting to the bathtub mount, it also creates a nice little ledge for personal items.
Can They Really Heat A Bathroom?
Because biofuel fireplaces come in such a wide variety of size and shape configurations, though, it’s possible to install one almost anywhere in your bathroom. You can recess thinner fireplaces directly into the walls, or use larger freestanding models as a centerpiece for your bathroom. The smallest ones make great table top decorations. They put off a decent amount of heat, too. Depending on their size, biofuel fireplaces can produce up to 8500 BTUs per hour, or enough to heat about 375 square feet. Since you’re not losing heat up the chimney, they’re much more efficient than traditional fireplaces, too.
Double Sided Fireplaces For Your Master Suite
It’s also becoming quite popular to install double sided fireplaces that are open to the bathroom on one side and the bedroom on the other. That means you can both see and feel the fireplace from both the bedroom and the bathroom. This type of bathroom fireplace can help connect a master suite, providing little glimpses through instead of a solid wall. Unfortunately, the heat also gets divided between both spaces, which can make the heating less efficient. But if you’re in it mostly for the looks, this is a great way to double your mileage.
The notion of installing a brand new fireplace is probably a little off-putting. But biofuel fireplaces take a lot of the risk, hassle, and expense out of the experience. So whether you’re looking to warm up a chilly bathroom or just add some luxury to your soaking tub, a ventless fireplace might be just what you need.
