Electric Fireplace Guide 101- What’s, Why, How’s of These Fire Mimickers

A cozy and comfy home is the dream of every homeowner, especially on wintery nights. While you switch to rugs, couches for the comfort part, electric fireplaces take care of the coziness criteria pretty well.

These affordable, clean, safe, and easy to install options are even on the list of renters who don’t own a home. In fact, as per a renowned magazine, electric fireplaces sales crossed a 1.5 million mark. Plus, with so many options available in the market, it’s trending even more now.

After all, who loves to inhale those toxic fumes or smoke that are the part of conventional fireplaces? So, if you are thinking of making the switch from conventional fireplaces, this guide will help you make an informed decision.

Let’s start with the basics first!

In this article:

What is an Electric Fireplace?

It is an electric heater that mimics the conventional fireplaces that use coal, wood, or natural gas. You are only required to plug them into the wall and let them run in the desired mode that you opted for.

With the rising popularity of these fire mimickers, you’ll have a plethora of options to choose from. What are they? Let’s find out now!

Wall-mounted Fireplaces

These are quite an amazing option if you are looking to save floor space and portability. People living in condos or apartments can go for this particular option. You can either mount it to the wall or get it fixed inside your wall with a recession.

Fireplace Inserts

If your home has a traditional fireplace, you can use this option since they are easily inserted in that space. So, by practically doing nothing, you transform the wood-burning fireplace into an efficient and appealing electric fireplace. In fact, certain options available might project as a campfire which is quite easier to maintain.

Fireplace Media Consoles

If you again wish to save space, this option will help you combine your TV stand with a fireplace. Or it could be like you can place a fireplace in the middle and two units around the fireplace as a storage space for gaming consoles, DVDs, stereos, or speakers. Just make sure of the screen size of your fireplace to determine the TV that can safely fit on top.

Corner Fireplace

They usually resemble traditional fireplaces and can be placed at any corner of the room. These usually have collapsible panels which sit against the wall or in the corner. They also come with a mantel to upgrade the home decor. However, it would be best if you consider the mantel support weight before buying this option.

Is that all?

Not really! Since there are many styles and sizes available to suit any home decor. You can either opt for a modern, sleek look or go for a traditional look with the ones with wood carvings. For instance, you can opt for stainless steel, espresso, mahogany, stone, or black or white.

Since you have an idea of what will be better now, the next probable question is to find the functioning part. Please scroll down to learn more about it.

How Do They Work?

Unlike solid or gas fuels used in the traditional options, this equipment requires electricity to run. In addition to that, they also have a specialized technology that produces heat and a flame that looks real. Although there might be a few differences from brand-to-brand, the basic functionality is the same, i.e., cool air gets replaced with hot air. Certain options might opt for modern infrared technology to create a cozy environment.

Also, there is no single way to create the flame effect. A lot of brands use a motorized mechanism to create the illusion by refracting the light off the panels or metal strips. Others use ultra modern technology to create realistic flames. For instance, it uses a video of the actual fire to create the flame. The log bed usually contains LED lighting that flickers and pulsates to create a look of smoldering flames.

Are there any other features?

Well! It offers zone heating which supplements the standard means of heating your paradise. Hence, it improves heating efficiency. Plus, it mostly comes with a thermostat that makes it easy to set the temperature.

Anything else you must be aware of?

Ideally, using electric fireplaces allows you to heat between 400-1000 square feet. But it might vary from one brand to another. The majority of electric fireplaces only require a standard 120-volt wall socket. So, you won’t have to do anything out of the box to install it.

Just make sure to keep surge protectors or fire-safe sockets to ensure that the fireplace does not heat up.

But why would anyone invest their money in an electric fireplace? Keep reading, and you’ll find out.

Why is it Better Than Conventional Fireplaces?

The first and the foremost reason for using them is the safest option that only requires electricity to work. There is no actual fire, or heat, smoke, or any byproducts. There won’t be any worries regarding installing fireplace safety gates for babies in this case as there is no actual fire involved. In fact, they are a great option for households with small children, pets, or people with respiratory issues.

The rest of the benefits are mentioned below.

They are an Inexpensive Solution

Since there is no smoke, so ideally, you won’t require any ventilation to maintain the indoor air quality. Plus, most models only cost you 1 cent per hour after installation, and if used in heating mode, it is not more than 8 cents. All you need to do is plug into the socket and enjoy the ambiance without increasing your energy bills.

They Can be Easily Installed

This type of fireplace is easily installable without the need for an electrician. They have all the plug-in configurations that make it a less time-consuming process than it usually is for natural gas or wood-burning fireplaces. So, you can save on expensive masonry or related renovation work or those building permits.

They Are Energy Efficient

Electric fireplaces are usually designed to act as a zone heating source. So, you can save on the central heating costs by setting your electric fireplace at an appropriate temperature where you can relax.

Plus, the Eco mode allows the heat output to heat rooms around 1000 square feet using an energy-efficient heating system.

They Require Minimal Maintenance

You must be aware of the ashes or the left-out wood pieces or the wood chopping and hauling inside the fireplace? It won’t only be time-consuming. You can easily prevent yourself from scraping off the soot or the wood stove with an electric fireplace.

They Are Easily Accessible

Since we already mentioned that you don’t have to chop or clean the ashes with electric fireplaces, it becomes quite easy to use. With this option, all you have to do is click on the remote control to turn up the heat or the flames. One can say that using this fireplace is just a click away.

They Are Worthy All Through The Year

Since you can switch off the heat, they are quite usable all year long compared to the traditional fireplace. Plus, depending on the times they are used, they last for anything around 10 years.

Not only that, but you can also upgrade its look using some traditional decorating approaches to make the mantel pop. Here are some considerations.

You can refresh the look by adding vibrant colors as per your home style. You can also add fresh pomegranates or mini potted conifers. Moreover, sometimes even metallic finishes might make it even more noticeable. You also go for classic red and green classic themes.

Who doesn’t like vintage-looking displays? You can turn your focal point, i.e., your electric fireplace, into something that’s vintage by adding sculptures, candles, or traditional metallic containers.

You don’t have to wait for Christmas to create a Christmassy look. You can hang large wreaths or go for a large rectangular mirror to give a 3D look. You can also add candles on either side of the mantels.

Wrapping up

Technological advancements are making it possible for humans to improve their standard of living without costing too much. For instance, technology is getting smarter when it comes to home appliances. This is becoming a need of the hour, with carbon footprint gradually increasing in the last few years.

One good example of such smart technology is— electric fireplace. The name often seems fancy. However, unlike the popular beliefs, it’s quite a reasonable investment that stays with you for years. Plus, you are helping the environment since you won’t require any wood or natural gas to create a cozy home for yourself. Just browse through the plethora of options, choose your favorite piece, and purchase it. Remember, you must go for the option that suits your home decor and increase its curb appeal.

So, did you select your favorites yet? If not you must read the article to make a decision that will be beneficial to you. Did you do that yet?

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