What are steam fireplaces? What types are there and how to choose without making a mistake?
A steam fireplace is an electrical appliance that is filled with water and runs from a 220-volt socket. The water is turned into vapor by steam generators and illuminated. This creates the impression of a burning fire. But to the touch it is cold.
Advantages of a steam fireplace in the interior:
• Easy installation
• Safety (not hot, nothing burns)
• Water is cheap compared to bioethanol for bio fireplaces
• Can be built into any structure with minimal requirements
• Bright and striking appearance
• Can be colored (multicolor lighting)
• Humidify the air in the room
Disadvantages:
• Fairly high price
• Tap water should not be used, only demineralized or distilled water.
• Some models are rather bulky.
Which steam fireplace manufacturers are available in Ukraine?
A-Fire (Luxembourg), Dimplex (Ireland), Decoflame (Denmark), Planika (Poland), RoyalFlame (China), SteamFire (China) and other Chinese analogues.
New manufacturers appear every day, so how do you choose the right fireplace and avoid getting burned?
Let's start with lighting. There is LED lighting and halogen lamps. Halogen lamps consume more electricity, look worse and have a shorter service life. That is why any self-respecting manufacturer uses LED lamps for lighting.
The next important point is installation. This applies to linear steam fireplaces that are built into a flat surface. This means that an opening must be made in the structure into which the steam fireplace will be built, and the fireplace body lowered into it. Here there is a subtle point. Some fireplaces cover the opening with their top front panel and actually rest on the surface. Others are placed inside the structure and adjusted in height to be flush with its front surface. As a rule, the second type of installation has a number of drawbacks:
• A visible gap between the fireplace and the structure
• Worn edges of the opening (due to the constant need to remove the cover to refill the fireplace)
The materialthe fireplace is made of. There are usually two options: plastic and stainless steel. The difference is only in maintenance and the fireplace's equipment. Plastic is usually easier to take apart and clean of limescale and dirt. A stainless steel body is not so easy to clean, so this type of fireplace should have built-in infrared lamps to kill bacteria inside the water tank.
The sizes of steam fireplaces from different manufacturers range from 25 to 200 cm. The most popular size is 100 cm, which every steam fireplace manufacturer offers.
Another important aspect is control of the steam fireplace. Control options include:
• Buttons on the body
• Remote control
• Combined: manual/buttons/remote
• Smartphone app
The most budget fireplaces are controlled only with buttons (and sometimes a remote). As a rule, they look a little worse than their counterparts.
A combination is not always the best option, so it is worth paying attention to this point so you do not experience inconvenience later.
App control. Here you need to pay attention to what exactly you can control from the app. When it comes to any software, apps and electronics in general, the best quality is of course from European brands: certification is stricter and the approach more thorough, but the price will be noticeably higher.
I have briefly described the main points to consider when choosing a steam fireplace. For more details, you can consult me personally or our managers at our showroom in 4ROOM shopping center.
