At first glance, alcohol gel and bio ethanol fireplace fuel might seem very similar. However, there are some key differences between the two.
Gel fuel is made of pure isopropyl alcohol, salt, water, and thickening agents. The salt in the gel fuel is designed to create a crackling sound, imitating the sound of a wood-burning fire. It comes in ready-to-use canisters that usually can’t be refilled and are disposed of when empty. Gel fireplaces require slightly more work compared to bio ethanol fireplaces, as the alcohol gel canisters are smaller and need to be changed more often.
Whereas bioethanol fuel burns with playful, scattered, orange flames, gel fuel offers more slow-burning, yellow, gathered, and thicker flames. While an alcohol gel fire lights up quickly in about 30 seconds or less, it doesn’t produce as much heat compared to bio fuel, typically 2,500-3,000 BTUs per hour.