Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Electric or Traditional Fireplace?

An electric fireplace has several advantages over a traditional fireplace.
  • It requires no chimneys, venting, installation cost, additional wiring, clearance or approval.
  • An electric fireplace is great for apartments, condominiums, mobile homes or houses that have no venting or gas hook up.
  • An electric fireplace can also be moved from room to room making it the perfect portable fireplace. It can be easily packed up for a move like any piece of furniture.
  • You can enjoy the beautiful ambience of a fireplace with or without heat.
  • The look and brightness of the flame can be adjusted on some models to suit your mood.
  • An electric fireplace can be inserted into an existing fireplace or can function as a stand-alone unit.
  • You don't have to bother with loose sparks, messy ash, matchsticks or wooden logs.
  • The glass on an electric fireplace stove is cool to the touch - it's a great safety feature if you have young children in the house.
  • An electric fireplace doesn't use any combustible materials or gases, and so it is completely safe for your family members.
  • The heater of an electric fireplace is equipped with a fan that evenly spreads out the heat, so you don't have to worry about your room becoming over-heated.
  • An electric fireplace requires little or no installation.
  • An electric fireplace has very low operating costs ranging from 2 cents to 7 cents per hour.


source : electricfireplacesource.com

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Electric Fireplaces: Adding Efficiency to Eleganc

The flame of an electric fireplace uses slightly under 300 Watts of power. With an average electricity rate, the unit operates for a remarkable 2 cents an hour providing all the warmth, ambiance and romance of a fireplace. When you choose to activate the heat feature, the total cost to operate the flame and heater is approximately 7 cents an hour.

The cost of operating may vary slightly among different models. However, since the operation cost of a gas fireplace runs around 17 cents an hour, an electric fireplace proves to be extremely cost-effective and a great value for your money.

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Source : www.electricfireplacesource.com

Advantages of an Electric Fireplace

An electric fireplace requires no venting or installation, simulates a fire very realistically and simply needs to be plugged in. Electric fireplaces may either be inserts that can be used in an existing fireplace or free-standing units designed to look like wood stoves.

An electric fireplace gives the exact look of a wooden fireplace with its flickering flame. It is an ideal alternative to traditional fireplaces. If you live in an apartment, condo or a house that doesn't support a chimney, the electric fireplace is the right choice for you. Some styles can be fitted even on a wall, and all you have to do is plug it in and sit back and enjoy warm, cozy ambience.

Some electric fireplace models give you the advantage of a remote control and all model provide freedom from ash, matchsticks or wooden logs. You can take this portable fireplace with you when you move, and it's hassle-free so you don't have to suffer a hectic installation or wiring program. Since there are no toxic fumes, it leaves your home clear and pollution-free.

The amount of warmth generated by an electric fireplace varies among manufacturers and models, but normally around 4,500 to 5,500 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.They even blend with your house decor, as they are available in a variety of designs and styles.

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Source : www.electricfireplacesource.com

Monday, June 23, 2008

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.