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Everything You Need to Know About an Electric Fireplace
by Sam Streubel
When you buy an electric fireplace youll be getting a 100% efficient heater PLUS a fine piece of furniture thats sure to become the focal point of any room. What you won't be getting is the smoke, potentially deadly CO2 fumes, and the mess associated with a conventional fireplace.
Its portability and range of sizes also makes the electric fireplace well suited for smaller homes, apartments, condos, and even RVs.
The heating unit, called the insert or electric firebox is the heart of every electric fireplace. It includes the blower, log set, flame display, and controls.
Depending on the model, heat output varies from 1,350 to 1,500 watts which is sufficient to comfortably heat 150 - 200 square feet.
The electric firebox can be purchased separately and used as a stand alone heater, inserted into a traditional fireplace, or serve as the starting point for those of you with the skills to build your own mantelpiece.
The quality of the flame display within the firebox varies by manufacturer. In general, great strides have been made in creating more realistic looking flames through the use of LED lighting. The sound of crackling flames can also be heard from models equipped with audio.
Fireplace StylesIn addition to the standard fireplace design there are a myriad of styles to choose from to suit your taste and pocketbook. Some popular styles include corner units, Amish style rolling fireplaces, and combination TV stand/media centers. Other models offer enhancements such as built in book shelves or a curio cabinet.
The mantel piece and surround are usually constructed of finished wood, but can also be faced with faux masonry, wood with tile inserts, or expensive cast marble.
Fireplace SizesElectric fireplace heaters are also advertised by size. Besides the standard small, medium, and large designation, they are alternately described in terms of inches.
For instance, you might see something like this: Dimplex Stratford 30Oak Corner Electric Fireplace Mantel Package. The 30 measurement represents the width of the fireplace insert. The larger the fireplace insert, the larger the log set and flame display.
Usually, a larger insert means a larger mantelpiece, but combination of different sized inserts and mantels are commonplace. To avoid confusion and ensure the fireplace you purchase is properly sized to meet your needs, check the product description for the exact dimensions.
Quality of ConstructionWhen you shop online for an electric fireplace you more or less have to judge the quality of the merchandise by examining a photograph. Most of the time it's easy to spot second rate construction, but sometimes its not.
One way to judge the quality of a fireplace is by its shipping weight. All things being equal, you could reasonably assume an electric fireplace weighing 210 pounds is built to a higher standard than one weighing only 120 pounds.
Standard Features and ExtrasStandard features on most electric fireplace heaters include the mantel, electric insert, 2 speed blower, on/off remote control, and log set. All models plug into a standard 120V receptacle and are completely portable.
Also, the flame feature can be enjoyed at any time of the year with or without the heater.
Some of the extras include hand carved glowing logs, bi-fold glass doors, flame display dimmer, audio, and thermostat control.
About the Author
With the heating season winding down its a great time to take advantage of electric fireplace winter clearance sales.
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