Electric Fireplaces
About Electric Fireplaces
Traditional fireplaces require a lot of work to install and maintain. Some people might find the amount of cleaning they require to be too tiring. Electric fireplaces can be a great option for them as they can provide all the functionality of a traditional fireplace without any effort whatsoever.
Electric stoves have been taking over the kitchen for the last few decades. Now it is pretty much clear that going electric is the future. That’s why an electric fireplace is a future proof way to decorate and also to heat the interior of your house. When you consider the cost of operating a traditional mantle and an electric fireplace, the latter offers significant savings in the long run. So, the price you are paying for them is actually worth it. Another great benefit is the ease of installation. But before you start shopping for them, read this article to learn more about them.
A beginners’ guide to buying electric fireplaces
These fireplaces are a modern alternative to conventional fireplaces that burn wood or coal. They require little maintenance and are easy to use. You don’t have to gather wood or clean the chimney. Moreover, you don’t have to get any permits from the authorities to install one. A benefit of an electric fireplace that most people overlook is the range of choices that it has. They are highly customisable, and you can install them literally anywhere without any trouble. That’s why these fireplaces are growing in popularity among small homeowners and large homeowners alike.
Understanding an electric fireplace
Basically, an electric fireplace is just an electric heater that is dressed up as a fireplace. Therefore, it consists of two elements: a heating coil that produces the heat and a screen that makes it appear as a traditional fireplace. Such fireplaces also employ elements like LED lights and mirrors to create a convincing appearance of a real fireplace. Therefore, an electric fireplace gives you the convenience and efficiency of an electric room heater while also serving the decorative function of a traditional mantelpiece.
Wall-mounted electric fireplace
This type of fireplace actually resembles a television set. The mounting of such fireplaces is also similar to how you mount a TV on a wall. Interestingly, both of these are of comparable sizes. But unlike a TV, a fireplace is a high energy device. Because of that, it requires more care and planning when you install it. Almost all wall mounted fireplaces come with all the necessary mounting hardware, including the screws. Therefore, apart from the installation tools, you don’t need anything else to set it up and get it running. But you might want to get professional help to install to make sure that you follow the building code.
Electric fireplace inserts
If you already have a traditional fireplace in your home but want to convert it to an electric one, you should go for this type. To add a realistic touch to the system, these fireplaces have large LCD displays in the front that displays burning logs. Some of them even have visuals of embers popping to make things even more realistic. Be careful to run the wires under the wall so as not to ruin the realistic feel of the fireplace. You will need to find a dedicated 120-volt outlet to plug electric fireplace inserts. If you only want the visuals of the fireplace and don’t want the heat, this fireplace will let you do that too.
Electric Fireplace TV stands
Usually, TV stands take up a large portion of space in everyone’s living room. By integrating the electric fireplace within the TV stand, you save a lot of space and also add the visual appeal of a traditional fireplace in the most noticeable part of the room. It is also easy to hind the power chords of the fireplace if you are using this type of stand. Apart from being a showpiece, electric fireplace TV stands can also provide ample storage space in your house. When you are buying them, you should also look at the quality of the wood and the construction of the cabinet beside the fireplace itself.
Tips on how to buy Electric Fireplace Online
Finding the right electric fireplace is a daunting task. As there are so many different varieties of them, it is difficult to choose the right one out of them. But it gets easier if you know what to look for in an electric fireplace. Such criteria will help you narrow down your choices without much effort. Here are some tips that you can follow when you are shopping for them.
- Choose your style – They are primarily decorative items. For that reason, the first thing to consider when you are shopping for them is design and style. Just like any other furniture, these fireplaces also come in lots of different varieties. If it is something similar to a fireplace cabinet, the colour of the wood and the finish also matter.
- Size – This depends on the type of fireplace you are going for. If it is a wall-mounted fireplace, you should decide the perfect spot on the wall before choosing the fireplace. That way, you can make sure that the size of the fireplace is suitable for the available space on the wall. For fireplace cabinets, you should choose the size you would do for any other furniture.
- Heating power – The heating component is also a main part of the electric fireplace. To get enough heat in the room, the heating element of the fireplace should have an adequate amount of power output. Just like all other electrical equipment, the power of an electric fireplace will be specified in Watts. A fireplace that has an output of 750 to 1500 watts is good for an average-sized room.
- Price – For most people, the price of the fireplace is going to be the major determining factor. First, keep in mind that these fireplaces are significantly pricier than regular electric heaters. But you shouldn’t settle for poor quality fireplaces in order to save money. Over time, it might cost you more than you save in the form of electricity charges.
Apart from the main points, you can also look for other handy features while choosing a fireplace. Some of them have a flame-only operation that let you just use the visuals of the fireplace without actually heating the room. Having an adjustable thermostat is a really useful feature. With a thermostat, you can just set your preferred temperature and let the fireplace run on its own. Apart from these, don’t forget other products from Home & Living.
Question & Answer
Are electric fireplaces worth the money?
There are different ways to look at it. Firstly, the functional part of heating the room. If you measure the worth of an electric fireplace based on how well it can heat a room, then it is not at all worth the money. You will find plenty of options to do the same thing for way less money. But you should also think about the fact that they are also a decorative element. It is hard to quantify the worth of a decorative item. The worth of it actually lies in the eyes of the beholder. It depends on how much you want to pay for interior decorations.
How much does it cost to run an electric fireplace?
It is hard to answer this question with a number. As a matter of fact, these fireplaces are like any other electrical equipment, and the amount of electricity it consumes depends on several different factors. Generally, the maximum power output of one of them is between 750 and 1500 Watts. This is similar to that of an air conditioner. But it might not run at this rater power all the time. The actual power output will vary depending on the temperature setting and also the ambient temperature. Therefore, the cost of running an electric fireplace will depend on your usage pattern. But you can expect it to consume electricity similar to an air conditioner.
Do electric fireplaces need to be vented?
The working of an electric fireplace is way different from that of a wood-burning fireplace. Therefore, there is no need for ventilation like that of a traditional fireplace. This is because electric heaters do not produce heat. That’s why you won’t see a chimney on top of them. But they do require some level of ventilation. This is to keep the electrical components inside the fireplace from overheating. But this is unlike any ventilation that you will find in a wood-burning fireplace or even a pellet stove. Usually, such ventilations are just slots on the sides of the machine.
Where to buy an electric fireplace online?
An electric fireplace is both a functional and decorative item to have in a living room. So, If you are looking to buy modern fireplaces online in the UAE, look no further as you are in the right place. You will find anything from cheap electric fireplaces to the best fireplaces online in Shops.ae. All you have to do is to look for them using our shopping search engine. You can also compare the prices and features of different models and find out the best one among them.
There are more than 500 shops and brands offering electric fireplaces here on Shops.ae. These include some of the popular brands like Ameriwood Home, SEI Furniture, Classic Flame, Duraflame Electric, LIFE SMART, and Touchstone.