Comments on: Gel Fuel Fireplaces: A Frugal Home Heating Alternative

By: Sibusiso

Sibusiso — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 18:19:26 +0000

i have a request to supply gel for stoves in South Africa to thousands of homes. who can help me?

By: Social Studies Guy

Social Studies Guy — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:26:03 +0000

We received our Gel fireplace today. Though we plan to only use it during power outages, we gave it a 3 canister burn (9000BTUs)just to try it out. We mounted it on the wall in our livingroom. Prior to lighting it I turned our electric heat pump down to 69 degrees and it was 70 in our 10×15 livingroom. Two hours later the heat pump had not kicked on once and it was 77 in our livingroom with the thermostat being on the opposite side of the room from the fireplace. As for burn time on the canisters: one lasted 2 hours 45 minutes, the other two went 2 hours 53 minutes. The brand we had purchased suggested a 2 1/2 to 3 hour burn time. Call me impressed and slightly more relieved if we have another 14 hour power outage like we did earlier this winter.

By: heydietsch

heydietsch — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:33:03 +0000

We received a gel fireplace for Christmas and really do love it. It’s main purpose is for “ambience”. The gel cans are expensive and we are attempting to make our own; still experimenting with difference recipes and some are more successful than others. Our home (like a lot of people)does not have a built-in wood or gas fireplace, so that’s not even a consideration when the electricity goes out in the dead of winter. It’s -13 degrees here in Kansas and our gel heating fireplace could keep us from freezing to death in such an emergency!!

By: cafay1

cafay1 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:06:34 +0000

I love getting any news on any kind of new way to save on heating with where we live in Upstate New York we get some very cold weather here. This is the 4th year for our Wood Pellet stove and I spend about $50.00 a month through the winter to heat my whole house. If you are looking to save money and really heat your house efficiently you need to check out a wood pellet stove. I have more on my site: athomelifestyle.com and more on the prices of pellets. We burn a 40 lb bag of pellets in about a day and a half. It is a very efficient affordable heat that you are not dependent on the price of propane or natural gas to use.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:29:22 +0000

I have one in my living room and it works great. I actually too the metal box about of the frame and installed it in a wall in my condo. It really does warm a room for a few hours. I keep it very cool in my place (I Live in the northeast) If its 63 by the time I have this fireplace one for an hour or two it will go up to 70 with out me turning up the heater.

By: Nathan Hughes (Malden)

Nathan Hughes (Malden) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:18:19 +0000

No matter what anyone says (especially the “Frugal Dad”), gel fuel fireplaces are for AMBIANCE — they will NOT noticeably warm a room or give off enough heat to offset the price of the gel cans. Even if you follow the recipe and make your own, they won’t. It is deceptive and unethical to advise people that they will…even more so when you consider that a cash-strapped parent might be considering whether or not this is a viable alternative to paying a $200/mo. natural gas bill.

I mean, really, Frugal Dad, why don’t you just set up a scam that promised to have one delivered if they wire you the money? Or, better yet, tell them that you a the king of gel can city and need their money to pay for the legal fees barring the release of your gel can inheritance?

This is NOT a home heating alternative. Not in any way. Not at ALL!!!

This is decorative and offers a little ambiance. To claim otherwise is deceptive and unconscionable.

By: Thermostat Setting For Winter Nights | Frugal Dad

Thermostat Setting For Winter Nights | Frugal Dad — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 11:00:52 +0000

[...] around the fireplace. In the early evenings a fire in the fireplace can replace the need for central heating, assuming [...]

By: Gary M

Gary M — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:13:10 +0000

I have two gel fireplaces, and I love them. However, no way are they economical. The cans last 2 1/2 hours (tops) and cost $3.00 a piece. And actually, they put out 3000 btu’s per can, so if you burn 3 cans, you’ll get 9000 btu’s.

By: lil mike

lil mike — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:06:20 +0000

This alcohol gel sounds interesting. Wood, even when free, is not free of harmful pollutants that it adds to the air when burnt. In my region ( Northern California) one can get fined for burning wood on certain days.

By: Susan Redfeather

Susan Redfeather — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:42:41 +0000

I have the recipe for gel fuel. I will happily give it to you if you email me at Airanda2@aol.com With the economy the way it is we all need a little help.