ELECTRIC FIREPLACES

Information current as of

As we moved into the modern age we no longer wanted to deal with the heavy lifting of firewood or the soot and ashes of a fire long burned out. We are in an age of instant gratification, fast movements and no time to waste. Hence the electric fireplace emerged. Just think, you can get fire at the flick of a switch. They don't require real wood or even a gas source like your regular gas burning fireplaces. Instead these require only electricity and are therefor less expensive to run than their gas counterpart.

Some can be hung on the wall for out the way convenience, others are mounted inside your regular hearth and made to look so authentic it can sometimes be hard to tell if its real or not.

Some electric fireplaces only have a red glow and no real heat production. Others produce a radiant heat that circulates throughout the room. Cheaper models look cheap, more expensive models look authentic. Which one you get depends on your budget and your room. You can get just the insert or a complete self contained model.

There are corner units, wall mount units and those than can be moved on casters like a regular piece of furniture. The best options respond to a thermostat and can product 6000 BTUs, plenty of heat for an entire room or more.

Safety is a big issue. Be sure the outlet you plug into is of the right amperage and voltage so as not to blow a fuse or cause a short in the wiring which could result in a house fire. You also don't have sparks shooting out and damaging your carpet, causing a potential house fire.

The most obvious benefits to an electric fireplace are not having to clean it. Its more expensive than free wood, but it's cheaper than gas or propane units and you get instant heat. There is also no venting of heat or smoke so your heat stays entirely in the house instead of going out the chimney. They are a much more efficient heat source.

New! Watch our instructional fireplace videos for visual help before you purchase.