Electric Fireplaces
Electric fireplaces, are they heaters?. The short answer is Yes! Almost all are heaters but they come with a built in on/off switch, so if you don’t want or need heat, just say OFF. Some, but very few, come with no heating element. I looked at the specs of several that advertised no heat and sure enough, they all had the heat option, or on/off switch.
There are three types of electric fireplaces, free standing, wall mounted and inserts. We will go into some detail later but first I’d like to address some of the pro’s and con’s of electric fireplaces.
-Pro # 1, They are eco-friendly. Electric fireplaces do not burn wood, coal, or gas.
I was confused about the ECO part of this word. Turns out that it comes from the Latin root “oeco”, which means household. Oeco evolved to mean home, habitat, or earth, thus, eco-friendly means earth friendly.
-Pro # 2, They are cost effective. Let’s face it, a traditional wood burner loses lots of heat through the chimney, Up Up and away in my beautiful – oops, sorry.
The fact is, free standing and wall mounts are more efficient than traditional wood burners and an insert still has to contend with heat loss to some extent.
-Pro # 3, They are easy to install.
Some free standing fireplaces need to be assembled. However, once assembled, pick your location and plug it in.
A wall mount comes with brackets and instructions.
An insert slips inside the fireplace opening and a little into the firebox. Make sure the insert is the right size for your fireplace. Do Not buy a 32 inch insert for a 28 inch fireplace.
-Cons, None that are earth shaking.
There are no real flames. (DUH)
They must have electric to work. (DOUBLE DUH)
Pick colors and sizes that compliment the room. An electric fireplace that is too big or small for its location is not a good look.
-Power Usage. Most use 1500 watts. This is the same as kitchen appliances. Plan ahead and don’t overload your system. This equates to roughly 20 cents an hour and $50 to $100 per year. I found these price estimates online and they are pre-inflation 2022. Also, a switch to LED lighting will save lots of electricity.
Now, back to the three types of electric fireplaces, free standing, wall mount and inserts.
-1, Free Standing. As stated above, position it and plug it in. But Wait! Most are ordered online and delivered to your door. Some are fully assembled, with accessories like shelves and remotes packed separately. Some require assembly, so follow the directions carefully. In store purchases are almost always boxed, so have a plan on how to get it home.
P.S. I looked at many specs for free standers and it seems like there are few or no flame color options.
-2, Wall Mounted. If you are buying a wall mounted electric fireplace for an existing home, you’re most probably going to surface mount it. They come in lots of sizes so plan your location carefully. A wall mount comes with brackets and instructions. Make sure the wall can handle the weight and stress of the wall unit. Recessed wall mounts take a lot more work and planning. Wall mounts, for the most part, come with flame color options and brightness control. Some are manual and some come with remotes and some are blue tooth compatible.
-3, Inserts. As you might suspect, these go inside the existing fireplace opening and slightly inside the firebox. Inserts eliminate the need to use your wood burning fireplace and come in many styles. Many, if not most, emulate a wood burning fireplace with logs in various configurations. Inserts also come with color choices and brightness controls. Again, the most important consideration is to buy an insert that fits your fireplace. Do Not buy a 32 inch insert for a 28 inch fireplace opening. Also consider where the plug will go. It’s best to plug all three types directly into an outlet, no surge protector or extensions.
In conclusion, these three types of electric fireplaces, placed with care and thought, enhance any and all living spaces. They are easy to install and inexpensive to operate and come with so many options. Used for heat, they can warm up rooms 400 sf and larger, depending on what model you purchase.
Take your time and explore all your choices, one is right for you.