Heat output and room size
Most electric fires give up to 1.5 or 2 kilowatts (kW) on full heat, with a lower setting, which typically warms a room of 15 to 20 square metres on its own or tops up central heating in a bigger one. Bioethanol fires give up to around 2 kW of real flame heat. Then choose the width for the wall, from table-top fires to media wall models around 2 metres across.
Electric flame effect or bioethanol
An electric fire's flame effect is made with light, so it runs with or without heat and can glow all year, and many add a remote, a thermostat, a timer and a choice of flame colours. A bioethanol fire burns a real flame from liquid or gel fuel and needs no electrics, but every flame gives off heat and a fill lasts around 2 to 3 hours. Choose electric for convenience and control, bioethanol for a real flame.
Sockets, stud walls and refuelling
Electric fires run from an ordinary 13 amp socket, and a media wall fire needs a stud wall built around it with the clearances its instructions give. The flame effect alone uses very little electricity, while full heat uses up to 2 units an hour. A bioethanol fire needs a ventilated room, since the flame uses oxygen and gives off moisture, and must be cold before it is refilled with fuel made for fires.
