Home is where the hearth is: Snuggling by the fireplace on a winter night

Nothing like the warmth of the fireplace when the mercury plummets and the sun plays truant. There are several options in the market from wood-fired ones to those run on biofuels

You wouldn't have missed the ubiquitous fireplace featured in many of the fairy tales you read as a child. There was a certain romanticism about watching an old lady sitting on a rocking chair with her knitting gear, soaking in on the warmth of the hearth—a visual captured effectively both in print and in cartoon films.

But fireplaces are no longer just fantasy, and people have been using them to get more than a little relief from the harsh cold in northern India—especially this year, with temperatures in Delhi dropping to their lowest in more than century in December. While the popularity of the room heater is well established, the romantic setting of the hearth, with its crackling fire decimating the cold and providing some much-needed comfort, is beginning to capture the imagination of the Indian consumer. 

Fireplaces are favourites with people for the ambience they create and the vitality they add to the house. "India is at home with the concept of sacred fire," says Daniel Belnick, Director Master Fireplaces. "Ancient Indian Vastu talks of spiritual balance flows between man, nature and the cosmos that supports wellbeing; and the fire element in particular encourages auspicious outcomes, shielding from harm and negative energy." 

Adds Belnick: “A fireplace located in a home space where your family relaxes together, augments a positive directional flow of cosmic energy that deepens family ties, sharpens intelligence and permits creative expression. Nothing enhances the warm feeling of home more so than a beautiful fire—the ‘light of life’—besides which you can relax and entertain friends and family.”

Besides residential interiors, architects are also adding fireplaces to hotels and resorts, in order to create a warm ambience and add to aesthetics, apart from imparting utility. Recently Poland-based Planika installed the first bio-ethanol fireplace on a yacht as well.

Looking deceptively real, electric fireplace Opti-myst has a fully three-dimensional effect that creates authentic looking 'flames' and smoke. You can even install it under your television set

What's available 

To put it simply, a fireplace is a structure made of brick, stone or metal designed to contain a fire. There are different types, such as wood, pellet, gas, electric and ethanol-based fireplaces. The current bestsellers in the market are the ventless ethanol and electric ones because they are practical, affordable and eco-friendly. However nothing can beat the old-world charm, ambience and heat generated by a real wood fire. People still love the traditional, wood-burning fireplace, but due to factors such as safety and environmental sustainability, electric and gas fireplaces have become commonplace. Also the installation of wood and gas fireplaces is cumbersome as it requires a chimney pipe to terminate either outside a wall or through the roof. Electric and ethanol fires are a lot simpler as they require no vent or chimney.

Fireplaces can be divided into two broad categories primarily - indoor and outdoor. They can be further sub-divided based on the fuel used, such as bio-ethanol and gas. The price range starts from Rs 35,000 for a simple burner to Rs 10 lakh-plus for a single-unit, 2.5-meter intelligent fire place with very advanced features.    

Besides the “real fire” hearths, you even have artificial ones that are getting very popular. These are the kind with fire appearing on an LED screen. You can change the colour and crackling sounds of the fire, and can also control the heat levels of the appliance. Then there are artificial fireplaces with 3D technology.

Demand drivers

"The demand is typically from HNIs and second-home owners, individual hill-home owners and a few resorts in Kodaikanal, Ooty, Conoor, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan," says Viraj R Chopra, spokesperson, StoveIndia. He adds that queries peak as winter sets in, and shipments are often determined by construction schedules. Constructing a fireplace in a new home is a lot easier. Stove India’s stoves and fireplaces are priced anywhere between Rs 40,000 and Rs 5 lakh. “I would still say that compared to Europe , North America and Australia, where the climate is colder and the winters are longer, demand in India is low,” says Belnick. However, it is steadily growing and generally it is driven from the colder regions and cities of the northern and highland areas of the country. Belnick adds that there is a gradual increase in fireplace interest, as affluence in India grows and the perceived value of fireplaces increases. This is because the wood burning kind heat brilliantly, are cost effective, and are a great feature in the home. Both the middle class and the upper end of society are driving fireplace demand with the middle-income earners preferring cheaper options, mainly in electric.

A transparent ethanol fireplace from Poland-based brand Planika, available with S T Unicom in India

Setting up a fireplace

It is possible to install a fireplace in the smallest of areas. Can you have one in a flat too? Experts say that one needs technical help in calculating air circulation, volume of space, ceiling height, air flow, and such like to get the right fireplace for the right space. According to Chopra of StoveIndia, “Apartment clients can opt for the electric or ethanol varieties, but not a wood burning fireplace or stove unless one lives on the penthouse and the building rules allow it.”

Modern fireplaces are easy to install. Nowadays, there are suspended fireplaces and some free-standing wood stoves that occupy very small footprint. Manufacturers also offer some larger wood- or gas-fired or biofuel fired contraptions measuring 2.8 meters in length and only nine inches in width. According to Navin Kanodia, Interior Stylist & Creative Director, S T Unicom Pvt Ltd, “Indoor fireplaces are very easy to install and more like DIY (do-it-yourself). They can be inserted in a cavity, plugged to a power point, filled with the fuel and just played to get a clear line of blue fire, with no smell, ash or smoke. It is patented technology that offers the cleanest combustion, natural golden flames and long burning time. No chimneys are required for the bioethanol types. They can simply be hung on the wall or positioned as a free-standing unit that can be placed or ported anywhere indoors with an electric point. The installation is so simple that a fireplace can also be installed below the TV to create a distinguished, sharp look that defines the interiors in a way previously not possible.”

The safety aspect

Contemporary fireplaces are high on safety. Kanodia of S T Unicom explains that his company's indoor fireplace units have microprocessors and advanced safety sensors, such as  child safety sensor, fuel sensor, over-heating sensor, external temperature sensor, seismic activity sensor and many more safety sensors that are required for indoor fireplaces. He adds that unfortunately, a lot of Indian consumers are using outdoor fireplaces indoors. This is risky as the outdoor varieties usually come without any of these safety devices. Outdoor fireplaces are operated manually with the help of “lighters” and poses a big risk to life, health, property and surroundings. If you are installing a gas fireplace, flu systems (chimney) would be required indoors.

Outdoor fireplaces are more like the free-standing varieties that do not require any electric point connection. These are for outdoor only and are strictly not advised for indoors. The outdoor fireplace can be even installed on the ground or even in a swimming pool, and is also available in portable models.

Cost

The low-priced ones have a high maintenance and running cost, and also carry higher risks and health hazards, says a spokesperson from Stunicom. But quality fireplaces, which may have a higher one-time initial cost, and are made by specialist companies in Europe, are zero-maintenance units with very low running costs--less than half of the low-cost fireplace. They are also much safer.  

Fireplace Safety Measures:

• In a gas fireplace, be fully aware of the gas shut-off point and make sure the control key is nearby. The shut-off should be easily accessible and within six feet of the appliance.

• Keep the controls of the gas fireplace away from children or install a switch lock to keep them from accidentally turning on the appliance.   

• In pellet fireplaces, the front glass and metal chassis can really heat up. Do not touch them while the system is on. Inspect and clean the vent regularly, since ash build-up can cause the system to clog.

• In electric fireplaces, ensure the unit is connected to a properly grounded outlet and is on a circuit that has the load capacity to support the appliance. Also, take care to keep liquids away from the unit at all times. 

• It's important to have the proper set-up for wood-based fireplaces, with a hanging wire mesh screen that prevents embers from escaping the fireplace, while a free-standing screen is even more durable and would also help stop a shifting log from rolling out. Use dry and well-aged wood.

• Make sure the area around the fireplace is clear of anything that is potentially inflammable -- furniture, drapes, newspapers, books, and such like. If these items get too close to the fireplace, or if a piece of wood "pops" and throws sparks, they could catch fire.

• For a household with very young children, it is wise to use a reinforced three-panel fireplace screen. The spreader bar on such screens makes it difficult for a child to knock the screen over.

• Always use fireplace tools when adjusting the fire, never move the logs with your hand. Fireplace gloves should be worn when adjusting hot doors or screens to prevent burns.

• The chimney should be checked annually by a professional. Even if it is not due for cleaning, it is important to check for animal nests or other blockages that could prevent the smoke from escaping.

• Never leave a fire unattended. Make sure it is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house. If you do leave the room while the fire is burning or the fireplace is still hot, take your small child with you.

• Install both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Keep a fire extinguisher at hand.

Price list of various hearth categories
Fireplace type	Installation Cost (Rs)	Fireplace Cost (Rs)	Running Cost (Rs)
Wood	15,000	1.5 lakh	25/hr
Gas	25,000	2.2 lakh	70/hr
Electric	5,000	80,000	3-4/hr
Ethanol	10,000	80,000	150-250/hr
Pellet	15,000	2.5 lakh	n/a
Source: MasterFireplaces India, retailer and distributor of major global brands of fireplaces in India