Frequently asked Questions

What is the EcoSmart burner? The Ecosmart burner is the newest in innovation for fireplaces.  In it’s fabrication it is a 12” stainless steel square box with a 4” deep reservoir that is completely portable and can be installed in an non-combustible surround such as steel, stone, concrete, etc..  The EcoSmart burner only comes in that one size and can be installed alone, in a Renovator Range, Designer Range, or Grate Range.  The Ecosmart burner has recently been voted the most innovative product of the 2006 and has recently become UL listed by United Laboratories.

What does Ecosmart burn on?  Ecosmart burners use denature ethanol, a corn based fuel, in liquid form that is safe to store and is purchased through Marin Outdoor Living.  This is not a gel ethanol but a pure liquid fuel.

How long does the fuel burn?  The Ecosmart burner will hold one gallon of fuel and that gallon will burn for 5 hours on high and as long as 8-10 hours on low to medium.  You can adjust the output of the burner from high to low with a slot lever located on the burner.  The Ecosmart burner can hold a maximum of a gallon and ¼ and burn as long as 6 hours, but it is not recommended to fill more than one gallon.

Does the Ecosmart burner put out any heat?  This always surprises people, but the answer is yes!  The EcoSmart burner puts out 13,000 BTU”s at 90% efficiency. This means it will warm most any room.

What is a Renovator Range?  The Renovator Range is a ready-made stainless steel box that a burner is inserted into.  The Renovator can be built into any framed wood space such as cabinets or walls.  It comes with stand offs for quick installation into any cavity just like any other framed in gas fireplace.  All Renovator Ranges include the burner kit and it can be noted that they are the insides or the steel housings that you see inside the Designer ranges.  The 650SQ, for example, is the insides of the Designer range Cube, and so on.

What is a Designer Range?  The Designer ranges are used for no hassle, no assembly installation.  A designer range is a complete out of the box fireplace that can installed anywhere in a new or existing home.  All Designer Ranges include the burner kit.

What is a Grate Range?  The Grate range is a ready made non-combustible grate that the EcoSmart burner can go in and allows for installation on a counter or in an existing fireplace. All Grate ranges include the burner kit.

What makes EcoSmart different?  The key difference between Ecosmart any other fireplace is it’s portability, there is no other un-vented portable fireplace built.  Another difference is the openness of the EcoSmart burner, it is not sealed like conventional fireplaces, but burns open allowing one to truly appreciate the warm ambiance of a fire.

Can the EcoSmart burner be used outside?  The EcoSmart burner can be used outside, we only recommend that during the rainy season it is brought it or if left out for long periods that a little cover is built for it.

Can the EcoSmart be used in my bedroom or inside?  The Ecosmart fire is UL listed for burning inside a bedroom or anywhere in the home and has been the most rigorously tested fire appliance to date.  EcoSmart is not listed as a radiant heat fireplace but as a decorative fireplace.  EcoSmarts UL rating should allow it to pass most any local building code or permitting, but you must still check with your local officials to be sure.

Can I put an EcoSmart Burner in my existing fireplace?  The answer to this is most definitely yes!  Here are some requirements that need to be noted, the minimum space that an EcoSmart burner can fit into for combustions requirements is a 24” x 24” opening, by 13” deep as measured at the bottom of the fireplace.  That means it will fit most any fireplace except for the old coal burning fireplaces.

Are there any space requirements?  Yes.  You need a minimum of 2000 cubic feet (in square feet it would be 20x10x10’ ceilings) of oxygen to burn the fireplace correctly, this should not be installed in a walk in closet, but most any living room or bedroom will accommodate this.

Why does the burner cost so much?  We are asked this question daily.  The answer is the R&D that goes into making a burner that will burn clean, efficient, and safe.  If you were to take a stainless box, pour ethanol in it, and light it; you would find that it would smell terrible, go out, and not be safe.  The Ecosmart burner has truly created a one of a kind open, un-vented, eco-friendly fireplace that can allow you to have a fireplace anywhere in your home.

Is it safe to place this under my plasma TV?  Yes.  Unlike large radiant gas or wood fireplaces, the EcoSmart burner burns at a low temperature and is completely safe for an installation under a plasma TV.  For this type of installation you would use a Renovator range or a Designer Range.

What is the clearance for the Burner kit to combustible?  If you are installing the EcoSmart burner in a bench or open application (not built it) then you need 2’ of clearances to the side, 10” of clearance to the back, 2” of clearance to the front, and 5’ (60”) of clearance above the burner kit.

How can I install EcoSmart?  The great versatility of EcoSmart if you can install it as a stand alone unit on a bench or open area, you can retrofit it to an existing fireplace, you can build it into any cabinet or open space, and lastly, using any Designer range, you can simply place it into any open space that you desire a fireplace.  There is no other fireplace that offers this many options.

What is the lead time to get an EcoSmart product?  Depending on the product it can take as little as 2 weeks to as long as 6-8 weeks.  Please contact us for availability of the unit you are most interested in.

Do I need to know anything else?  We welcome calls to talk about your project. We have been in the fireplace industry for the last five years and understand construction, clearances, and design.  We have helped many people to build and design beautiful installations of the Ecosmart products.  Marin Outdoor Living is a member of the Green Businesses of Marin, Build it Green, and Diamond Certified.

Who buys EcoSmart?  I only meant to have my top 20, but this may be the most important question.  If you want an open fireplace and don’t need it as your main heat source and want a clean open unsealed fireplace that doesn’t have to be tended to and maintained like the old fashioned wood fireplace then EcoSmart is the product for you.  If you have a modern aesthetic and you love clean lines and minimal appearance, EcoSmart is the product for you.  If you are environmentally friendly and want to burn a renewable green energy source then EcoSmart is the ONLY product for you.