The Cleaning InstituteThere’s no better way to warm up the look and temperature of a room than by adding a fireplace. And when constructing one isn’t an option, an electric fireplace is a great alternative. It can provide your home with all the warmth of a wood or gas burning unit but without the dangers. Not to mention they can be real space savers.
We developed special criteria for evaluating electric fireplaces based on our years of experience in product testing.
Effectiveness: While an electric fireplace may not generate the same kind of heat as a real one, it’s still expected to warm a room sufficiently.
Appearance: An electric fireplace should still have an authentic look when it comes to the logs and the flames it generates.
Ease of Use: We evaluated where the controls were, whether there was a remote, and any safety features.
This 1500 watt, 120v fireplace can warm up to 400 square feet. Safety features include a cool glass cover and locking remote that controls temperature, timer, and more. The facade requires assembly.
Most notable upside: The Southern Enterprises versatile electric fireplace was named our favorite because it can be used for ambiance with flame only if heat isn’t needed. We found it ran almost silently and was still able to fill the room with heat. Assembly was simple and quick although its weight was cumbersome at times.
Biggest downsides: The Enterprises does come in two boxes which can be deceiving when both boxes aren’t received at one time. It was also smaller than expected however, it still provided a nice welcoming touch to hallways, living rooms, and bedrooms.
This LED-powered fireplace insert can be used for heat or a flame look. Intensity and brightness are adjustable. The remote control allows various settings and can warm up to 400 square feet.
Most notable upside: We liked the PuraFlame because we were able to complete the setup easily within minutes. The flames were very authentic looking and gave us a real fireplace feel. We also found the PuraFlame to be a good size to fit an average sized living area or room.
Biggest downsides: Our only complaints are that the PuraFlame doesn’t heat larger spaces as well as other models we tested. Also it is a bit on the bulky side which can make installation cumbersome.
The BTU heater uses infrared quartz heat that doesn’t dry out a room while warming up to 1,000 square feet. There’s an automatic safety shutoff. Flame color, intensity, and speed are adjustable.
Most notable upside: We really like the precision of the Duraflame digital thermometer to set the fireplace stove at an optimal temperature. The auto-shutoff plug in the event the fireplace overheats provides real peace of mind. The Duraflame runs quietly, looks very much like a real flame, and the remote control makes operation convenient.
Biggest downsides: We did find that in rooms with high ceilings, the Duraflame fireplace wasn’t up to the job of fully heating the space. Also the legs of the fireplace stove weren’t as sturdy as we expected.
An electric fireplace is a type of heating unit that produces heat and mimics a wood or gas fireplace in appearance. Most people install an electric fireplace where traditional fireplaces can be used in their homes, and once an electric fireplace is installed, it cannot be used for gas or wood again. Electric fireplaces are best for single rooms or smaller homes, as they are generally rated for around 400 square feet.
There are both benefits and drawbacks to using an electric fireplace.
Pros:
Cons:
Even if electric fireplaces do have their drawbacks, their benefits far outweigh the cons for people who find that electric fireplaces are a better fit for their lifestyle, home, and budget. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider putting an electric fireplace in your home:
The biggest advantage of electric fireplaces is that they do not produce smoke, soot, or other toxic gas emissions that are common in gas or wood fireplaces. If you have small children, pets, or family members who have respiratory issues, electric fireplaces are a great alternative to provide heat to your home. What’s more, your home will not smell like smoke if you use your electric fireplace, as smoke can seep into clothes, carpet, and furniture, making them smell unpleasant.
If you have a small home or you only want to heat a single room, an electric fireplace is an efficient way to provide heat. Since electric fireplaces don’t use chimneys, the full amount of heat produced by the fireplace can be directed into the room. What’s more, if you use renewable energy in your home such as solar energy, you can hook up your electric fireplace to this power source, which decreases the cost of electricity needed to power your fireplace.
With electric fireplaces, you won’t need to worry about cleaning up burnt logs, soot, and ash, or cleaning the chimney. You not only save on costs, but also work and effort. You won’t need to worry about finding gas or propane, and you won’t need to gather, split, and store logs. What’s more, you won’t need to worry about having to light the fire; simply turn on the electric fireplace and enjoy the warmth!
Traditional wood-burning fireplaces can cost as much as $10,000 if you’re paying for materials, remodeling, and professional installation! Even gas fireplaces can cost anywhere from $2000-$6000 depending on the model. With electric fireplaces, you won’t need to worry about remodeling and installation costs, and you only need to pay for the actual fireplace setup itself, which can be as cheap as $300, with more expensive and high-end models only costing around $1500.
Electric fireplaces can be installed and used anywhere, even in mobile homes and RVs! You won’t need to worry about finding a permanent and large space to install an electric fireplace; you simply need to make sure that the electric fireplace can warm up the space.
Compared to combustion fireplaces, electric fireplaces have longer lifespans. Even after a few years of use, as long as you clean it properly and maintain it regularly, your electric fireplace can still look and function as good as new!
Most electric fireplaces only have one-step installation! Simply look for a place to put it, plug it in, and turn it on. You won’t even need any professional help to install an electric fireplace in your home.
There is a wide range of options for consumers when it comes to choosing an electric fireplace. You can choose from a wide range of sizes, appearances, models, and power. Modern electric fireplaces even have digital displays that look like a traditional fireplace.
Aside from not having any toxic emission and open flames, electric fireplaces come with automatic shut off timers. You can program an electric fireplace to run anywhere from 30 minutes to 9 hours, and you can leave it alone knowing that the heat will turn off on its own. You won’t need to constantly mind the fireplace to make sure that the fire does not spread. What’s more, modern electric fireplaces remain cool to the touch even when operational, which reduces the risk of burns.
Since electric fireplaces don’t produce any toxic emissions, they are environmentally friendly and you can reduce your carbon footprint.
