How can you fix the flame in an electric fireplace?

It is without a doubt, modern electric fireplace models are by far a better substitute for traditional fireplaces.

How so? One might ask.

Well, they offer similar or even better services in comparison to the latter. In addition, they are safer, more convenient, and come without the stress of post-installation maintenance associated with traditional ones.

The realistic flame on an electric fireplace is a key feature in them being highly rated by most individuals. In that, numerous individuals with aesthetics in mind have made the decision to settle on taking an electric fireplace based on the flame only. Hence, when the flames are not working it defeats the purpose of owning an electric fireplace.

‘Flames on your electric fireplace not working?’ Worry not. From being in a similar position, we know that fixing this issue does not require the assistance of a professional. A few easy adjustments and changes to the fireplace and you will be good to go.

In this article, we have a breakdown of courses of action you should take to fix the flame on your electric fireplace.

But first, you need to understand how the flame in an electric fireplace operates.

Briefly, here is how:

The flame effect is created using a light source either a bulb or LED and a rotating rod with mirrors. The rod rotates and light reflects onto the front screen of the electric fireplace creating an illusion of a real flame

Steps in fixing electric fireplace flames.

1. Diagnose the problem.

First and foremost, check the electric fireplace to identify what makes the flame not work. This is an essential step since you cannot fix the problem if it remains unknown.

To identify what is the likely cause of the flame not working start with the basics, for instance:

• Ensure the power flow to the unit is sufficient by plugging the unit into a different power outlet.
• Check if the remote control is working well. If not replace its batteries.
• Check if the unit is on or off; if it is off proceed to switch the unit on.
• Check the flame settings and brightness. Adjust the settings and brightness to your normal state of use.

Now observe how the unit runs for a couple of minutes and note down anything that seems off from the norm. From your observation, you can identify what causes a malfunction in the flames by using the pointers below:

1. If the flames are glowing but without motion then the issue is probably with the fireplace motor.
2. If the flame sound is on but the flames are not visible then the issue is probably with the bulb or LED lights.
3. If there is a flame motor noise without glowing flames then the issue is probably with the rotating rod.
4. Finally, if there is no glowing flame, heating, or operating noise then you have a major issue at hand.

    2. Check the unit's warranty

Once you have identified what causes the flame not to work, get hold of the unit's warranty and go through it keenly.

With the warranty:

• Check whether it is still valid
• Check the parts that the warranty covers
• Check the terms of invoking the warranty

After ascertaining that the warranty is still active and your unit satisfies all requirements for the warranty to be put to use. Simply pick up your phone and reach out to the manufacturer of your electric fireplace and you might end up with an all or partially catered-for repair or replacement of your unit. Quite impressive, right?

3. Take precautionary measures

If you are unable to use the warranty to fix the faulty flame, take matters into your own hands, literally.

 But before you get your hands dirty let’s ensure that you are safe.

• First, ensure you have the right set of tools to open up the unit to avoid damaging the unit or making it a safety hazard after repairs
• Secondly, unplug the unit from the power source before you open up the unit. This is to ensure you are not electrocuted when touching the electric fireplace’s interior parts.
• Finally, ensure your hands are dry and the internal components of the fireplace are not exposed to water or you will have a catastrophe once the electric fireplace is powered and turned on.

4. Open the unit and fix the faulty parts

After identifying the likely cause of the issue and taking safety measures it is time to open up the unit and get down to work.

To open the unit:

• Put on a pair of gloves
• Get the right screwdriver from your toolbox
• At the back of the unit remove the screws starting with the bottom ones. Remember to place them safely to avoid losing any screws.
• Gently remove the back cover.

Once the unit is open proceed as follows depending on the faulty part.

Fix the light source

After observing and ascertaining that the light source of your unit is faulty making the flames not visible, you will need to replace the bulb. Luckily it is just like changing any other house bulb

First, locate the blown bulb and replace it with a new one of a similar type. To know the exact bulb required for your unit refer to the unit’s manual.

However, if your unit uses an LED strip on its ember bed instead of a normal bulb, replacing the unit with a new one would be cheaper than fixing the LED strip in case it becomes faulty.

If at this point, the flame is still not visible, then the issue is with the connectors. Therefore, locate the connectors and replace them with a new ones.

Fix the rotating rod

Next up is fixing the rotating rod, this is only if you can hear the flame motor move but the flames are not visible.

As earlier mentioned, electric fireplaces have a rotating rod with reflective mirrors to create the illusion of a real moving flame. The rotating rod is attached on one end to a flame motor that makes the rod move. But if the rod’s movement is hindered the flame does not appear. To allow free movement of the rotating rod in a unit you simply need to lubricate it.

A key factor to note is using the right type of lubricant, for this reference from the unit’s guide/ manual. Additionally, ensure the lubricant does not spill onto other parts of the unit.

Fix the flame motor.

On the other hand, if you’ve observed that your unit has a stationary flame, it, therefore, has a faulty flame motor.

To fix this you will need to get a new flame motor either online or from a store and install it by yourself.

Additional tips to fix electric fireplace flame:

• Check for loose wirings and fix any if available.
• Check for a damaged fuse and replace it with a new one.
• Check for tripped circuit breaker and flip it back on.

After fixing all faulty parts and the flame is still not working, then your unit has a major issue. Our advice would be that you seek assistance from the unit’s manufacturer.

Conclusion

Electric fireplaces’ flames are a sight to behold, they light up any room the fireplace is in. The flames work perfectly for the most part of the time but unfortunately, they are prone to malfunction. The malfunction could be because of an error in the unit’s flame settings or even because of faulty parts.

However, this should not be of major concern to you because of how electric fireplaces are designed. All you need is a little guidance and fixing a flame malfunction becomes child’s play.

In this article, we have given a breakdown of how to identify the likely cause of an electric fireplace flame not working. And most importantly, we have also given an in-depth description of how to fix issues causing electric fireplace flame malfunctions.

That said we hope this article gave you the guidance you needed to effortlessly fix your electric fireplace flame.