Fireplaces! Over the years they have evolved to become a necessity in most households. This can be tied to the fact that they not only improve the ambiance of living spaces but also come in handy during the winter and cold nights. The feeling of staying indoors, cozying up to the warmth from a fireplace and watching the flames, while it’s dull outside because of snow, is unmatched.
Apart from the utility aspect of fireplaces, what makes them even more popular amongst the population is that they come in different types. As a potential buyer, you are spoilt for choice. Depending on your preference you can acquire an electric fireplace or set up a traditional fireplace (wood burning and natural gas)
If you have already settled on acquiring a fireplace but don’t know which fireplace option to go for, you came to the right place.
Honestly speaking, all fireplace options have their pros and cons, but in hindsight we found electric fireplaces to be the most ideal option. This is because of the benefits they hold over traditional fireplaces.
Without wasting much time, here are some of the benefits of electric fireplaces;
It goes without saying, one’s health and safety are always a top priority when looking to set up a fireplace. With that in mind, there is always an inherent risk factor when dealing with anything that uses natural gas. And that remains the case when using a gas fireplace.
Similar to using a gas fireplace, a wood-burning fireplace indoors spells disaster. With them, you face the risk of chimney fires, ash, smoke inhalation, and finally carbon monoxide poisoning.
On the flip side, electric fireplaces give you the look and feel of a real fire, without the dangers associated with real fire. They are a, tried and proven, safer option.
The high standard of safety in using electric fireplaces stems from;
- Them giving you greater control over how the fireplace operates. By dictating the functionality of the fireplace, the chances of fire raging out of control, as with the other options, are significantly reduced.
- They don’t use a real flame and therefore have zero emissions. This completely eliminates the risk of inhaling smoke or carbon monoxide.
- They come equipped with safety front glass, which remains cool even when the fireplace is running to prevent burns. This feature is especially essential when you have kids or pets that could come into contact with naked flames.
- To give an extra degree of safety, most electric fireplaces are fitted with a thermostat to ensure constant temperatures. And an additional overheat protection mode to prevent the fireplace from overheating, even if the fireplace is left unattended.
- Affordability
The majority of people tend to shy away from the idea of owning a fireplace because of the high cost associated with setting up a fireplace. However, the high cost is only true if one opts for a traditional gas or wood-burning fireplace.
Here’s a brief breakdown of the costs tied to traditional fireplaces;
- When setting up a wood-burning fireplace you will have to incur masonry costs, and wall and chimney construction. In addition, you will need to regularly buy firewood to have the fireplace running. And still, incur maintenance costs such as chimney cleaning after installation.
- As for a gas fireplace, the amount required to put in place proper venting and gas lines is significantly high.
Luckily, an electric fireplace is a cheaper option that gives the same, if not better output. Electric fireplaces come in different sizes and models. This ensures that you will certainly find a model that is within your price range when you are out shopping for one.
During the Installation phase of electronic fireplaces, costs are non-existent. Most electric fireplaces just need to be plugged into a power outlet and they are ready to function.
However, other electric fireplaces such as those with a larger-scale feature wall may require additional work and hardwiring. But even the additional costs incurred here are no match for the high cost of installing traditional fireplaces.
To further lower the cost of running, electric fireplaces have the option of choosing the timeframe for the fireplace to run and then automatically shut off.
And to add to the amazing cost-saving features of electric fireplaces, have an option of just having the flames showing, for aesthetics with the heating being off. It might not seem like much but in the long run, this feature saves you a lot of running costs.
Another major benefit of electric fireplaces is their ease of installation once they arrive at your house. Based on their minimal design you don’t need to worry about knocking down walls, venting, heavy remodeling plans, or hiring a professional to install the fireplace.
The installation often depends on the model you have acquired. Some need to be mounted on a wall while others can be left to stand alone in the room of choice. But generally, you simply need to get it out of the packaging and then plug your electric fireplace into a power outlet. This also makes it affordable to start using. With electric fireplaces, the only installation concern is finding a power outlet.
If you opt for a larger-scale feature wall with a linear wall-mount electric fireplace, which will certainly require additional work and professional assistance. The installation work required is by far less than those of installing wood burning and gas fireplaces.
- Low maintenance
The amount of care and maintenance required to keep traditional fireplaces working effectively is another major drawback to owning them. The maintenance work required after installing traditional fireplaces is just astonishing, it includes;
- Regularly chopping up wood yourself or buying wood, to add to the fire.
- Removing ash residue after firewood burns.
- Cleaning the chimney once the cold season is over to avoid soot and creosote buildup, which can cause fires in the chimney or prevent the free flow of smoke out of the house.
- Ensuring there’s constantly proper ventilation to provide enough oxygen to keep the fire up.
Fortunately, electric fireplaces don’t use a real flame and therefore have zero emissions such as ash, soot, or smoke. This means they require minimum maintenance services. All you need to do is just wipe the dust off the front glass like any other surface and occasionally change the fireplace bulb.
- Ecofriendly
If you have the planet in mind, as most of us do, then traditional fireplaces are not the best option. This is because wood-burning fireplaces aren’t energy efficient and use up a precious natural resource, which takes a couple of years to generate. Additionally, they pollute the environment by releasing toxic gases such as carbon monoxide.
Some might argue that natural gas fireplaces burn cleaners, but unfortunately, they also use up natural resources.
On the other hand, what makes electric fireplaces a perfect fit is that they are energy efficient, use up a small amount of electricity, and most importantly they release zero emissions to the environment when in use.
With an electric fireplace, you will never feel guilty about negatively impacting the environment when heating up your house.
- A taste of nature indoors
If you’d love to be outside cozying up by a fire and enjoying the ambiance around it, but sadly it remains just a fantasy. Since you live in an urban area with no nature spaces or even it might be too cold, rainy, or snowy outside to light up a fire, electric fireplaces are a match made in heaven for you.
With an electric fireplace, you can have the campfire experience in the comfort of your home any time you want. A huge bonus is that the LED screen on an electric fireplace showcases realistic flames ensuring you don’t miss out on the visual aspects of being around a large campfire.
When it comes to design, every person has their own taste and preference. Most times committing to setting up a fireplace in your house becomes an issue unless you find one that suits you.
With electric fireplaces whether you are looking for something with extra storage space or just a piece of furniture to fill the empty corner of your room, you will certainly find one that ticks all the boxes for you. This is because there is a plethora of options to choose from, ranging from modern styles to contemporary and traditional styles.
Depending on the electric fireplace model you pick, you will always find a unique feature such as a large mantel and decorative elements with the crown molding. Additionally, you can customize the doors on the fireplace or even the lower portion of the fireplace with sand, river rock, pebbles, and a glass of your choice.
- Compliments your decor
Because electric fireplaces are so customizable, the design possibilities with them are limitless. Regardless of the direction, you took with your home’s design you will always find an electric fireplace that enhances or compliments it.
Electric fireplaces in a room tend to be a focal point on their own. This is down to them immensely improving the aesthetics and ambiance of a room. To take this a step further you can incorporate a fireplace feature wall.
To create a fireplace feature wall you can set up a wall-mount electric fireplace within your drywall or even use stylish melamine panels, which come in an array of patterns and textures to choose from.
If you use your home’s main heating system during the winter then you’ve probably noticed the energy bill tends to skyrocket during this period. Alternatively, you should use supplemental heating, whereby you only heat up the spaces you are occupying frequently, while the rest of the house remains cool. Following this plan, you will end up enjoying the warmth and still save up on the cost of energy.
Electric fireplaces are up there with the best heating options when following a supplemental heating plan.
In addition to wood-burning and gas, fireplaces lose 50-70% of their heat depending on different factors. But electric fireplaces waste little of their energy making them a better option when taking the energy-efficiency route.
- Usable all year round
One of the most impressive things about electric fireplaces is that they can be used throughout the whole year. Be it summer, spring, autumn, or winter they remain essential.
Even when the temperatures haven’t dropped you can put the fireplace to use. Here’s how; you can adjust the settings on the electric fireplace to improve the ambiance of a room by creating an inviting cozy look with the realistic flames running on the LED screen but turning off the heating component.
- Portability
Electric fireplaces are designed to be light and small in size. The compact size makes them ideal for use by people such as tenants who want a fireplace but are unable to make changes to the structure of the house. They can be fitted without requesting approval from the landlord because they don’t require any modifications to the existing structure of the house.
The portable free-standing design of most fireplaces makes them easy to move since they are not fitted to a wall or ceiling. Unlike traditional fireplaces which are difficult or nearly impossible to move, you can easily move them when changing the layout of furniture or even shifting to a new property.
- Take up little space
When compared to wood-burning or gas fireplaces, an electric fireplace occupies the least space on your property. Typically when hanged or recessed into a wall, they protrude 6 to 8 inches only.
If you want to go for a minimalist look or live in an apartment or condo with little space, but want a fireplace an electric one is a right pick for you.
Certainly, from the wide range of electric fireplace design options available, you will find one that fits like a glove in your house
- Convenient
When using wood-burning fireplaces you waste loads of time splitting wood or fetching wood from the shade to light a fire. Maintaining constant temperatures after lighting the fire is an extreme sport. When it’s too cold, you have to add more wood to the fire and when it’s too hot inside you have to crack open a window.
Electric fireplaces are built for convenience. When using an electric fireplace the hassle of starting a wood fire remains a thing of the past. With a single touch of a button, you will have instant heating of the room. They come equipped with a multifunction remote control and built-in controls. You can adjust the temperatures while relaxing on your couch. They are also fitted with a thermostat that guarantees temperatures remain constant.
And the icing on the cake, electric fireplaces have multiple themes available on the LED screen to match the occasion or theme of the rest of the room.
- Longevity
One of the main benefits of electric fireplaces is that they can be of service to you for many years before you need to replace them.
Impressively, unlike other heaters and gas fireplaces, electric fireplaces don’t develop a lot of wear or show corrosion and rust over time. Even after some years of use they look and function as good as when they were new.
Conclusion
Well, after looking at the benefits of electric fireplaces, picking the best option for your house should now be easy.
If you settle for an electric one, it will save you money, space, and maintenance work over time. To add to that, they are a long-term investment due to the fact that they don’t wear out, corrode or rust easily. And even better you are able to move with it from one property to another.
It doesn’t get any better than that!
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