What Is an Electric Fireplace?

Installing a fireplace once meant adding chimneys, venting, gas plumbing, and masonry work. But the advent of electric fireplaces coupled with advances in cabinetry and technology have made them a smart choice for apartment dwellers, condo owners and even homeowners who want instant glow and ambiance without knocking holes in walls, running flue pipe, or hauling logs.

Electric Fireplace Features
Electric fireplaces offer a cozy ambiance and warmth. Logs glow, simulated flames flicker, and heat is pushed into the room by an internal fan. You can select "flame only", "heat only", or heat-and-flame combinations on most models. These fireplaces can be operated from mantle-mounted controls or by remote, and the brightness of the flames can be adjusted to suit your mood on some models. The amount of warmth generated varies among manufacturers and models, but normally around 4,500 BTUs of heat is generated from an average unit. However, electric fireplaces are not intended to replace a heat source. They are built to provide comfort and a focal design element in a room.

Fast, Safe and Easy
Electric fireplaces can be installed anywhere there's a plug and a wall. Unlike traditional fireplaces, electric fireplaces don't require chimneys or venting. Thus, they provide flexibility to renters, condo owners, even home and business owners who want a plug-in fireplace that can go anywhere. There are no installation costs, no additional wiring requirement and no clearance or approval.

Electric fireplaces can be installed quickly and packed up for a move like any piece of furniture. They require virtually no maintenance, are completely self-contained. Since they are low-heat, they are cool to the touch and very safe to use. An electric fireplace is also cost-effective and provides great value for money.

The Options
You can choose from a number of different options when selecting an electric fireplace. There are inserts that can be purchased for use in an existing fireplace with a fireplace surround purchased separately. You can also choose free-standing fireplaces that are designed to look like wood stoves. There are two and three-sided fireplaces, as well. These electric fireplaces come in rustic, contemporary, classic, or period styles to match your decor.