Best Electric Fireplaces

Fireplaces are a beautiful addition to the decor of any house, lending a warm and relaxing feeling. Electric fireplaces are also an eco-friendly alternative to wood or gas fireplaces. They are stylish, safe, affordable, and easy to install. There are different types of electric fireplaces, and choosing can be a difficult task. This guide will help streamline your options for easy selection.

• Electric Fireplace Inserts: This type can either be plug-in or built-in. Plug-in inserts come with an integrated cable that requires you to plug it into an electric outlet for it to work. They are meant to be inserted into an existing open fireplace, as an alternative to using firewood. All you need to do is to buy one that is smaller than your existing fireplace. Built-in inserts must be hard-wired into your home’s wiring. They are appropriate if your home has a limited amount of space.

• Wall Mount Electric Fireplaces: These are mounted on the wall. The fireplaces are long and narrow, and they have the option of being hardwired or just plug-in. An example is the Fidoovivia Electric Fireplace Wall Heater.

Fidoovivia Electric Fireplace Wall Heater

• Electric Fireplace Log Sets: They are ideal for an existing open fireplace. The fireplaces are small and compact, making them versatile for use. They need to be plugged into an electric outlet for functioning. Some models come with smoke effects to be more realistic. They can also come as rear or panel projections for the smoke effect.

• Electric Fireplace TV Stands: They offer the advantage of having a TV stand and an electric fireplace in one unit. You can pick a size suitable for your TV, and a color that is ideal for your interior decoration. They come with storage areas, such as a side cabinet and media console area.

• Electric Fireplace Mantels: This is a combination of a fireplace insert, surrounding fireplace, and mantel. It is to be placed against the wall.

• Electric Fireplace Stoves: They look like wood-burning stoves, but need to be plugged into electricity to function. They are portable and can be used anywhere in the house.

• Outdoor Electric Fireplaces: They are for outdoor purposes. They come with protective covers for wet weather.

• Style: You want to go for a style that suits your home design. A good option is a traditional electric fireplace design that usually has wood carvings. You could also decide to be more modern and go for sleek models.

• Safety: An electric fireplace is the safest type of fireplace to use, but there are other features to look out for that can guarantee additional protection. The features include; cool-to-touch surfaces, overheat protection, and safety approval of the brand.

• Flame effect: This is when an electric fireplace produces an appearance of having a real fire. Electric fireplace can't produce flame, but the flame effect is usually beautiful. The flame realism depends on the brand. A more expensive brand usually has a more realistic flame effect.

• Power: Electric fireplaces are powered by electricity, but the installation usually differs. Most electric fireplaces come with a plugged-in option. If you are going for this, it means your electric outlet has to be close by, because the fireplace shouldn’t be plugged into with an extension cord. The other option is going for one that needs to be hard-wired.

• Heater power: Electric fireplaces are supplemental heat. Most brands offer heating power of between 750 to 1500 watts for the low to high heat setting. This power is usually enough to produce warm heat for any room and basement.

• Heater type: There are two main types of heaters in electric fireplaces. The fan-forced heater works like a conventional home heater. It is appropriate for smaller rooms and produces heat for space up to 400 sq. ft. Air is blown over a heating component to get warm air. On the other hand, the infrared heater expels warm air and can be a primary heat source. It is suitable for outdoor and large spaces, as it can produce heat for spaces up to 1000 sq. ft.

• Maintenance: This is dependent on the material used to create the flame effect. An electric fireplace can either make use of a LED or bulb. LEDs usually last many times longer than bulbs. Buying an electric fireplace that uses a bulb requires changing when it burns out or becomes weak.

• Additional Features: These are the selling points of top brands. The features make an electric fireplace easy to use and enjoyable. These features include; remote control, timer functionality, thermostatic control, overheat protection, flame-only functionality, multi-color flames, flame speed, and brightness control.

• Dimplex: This brand is one of the world's largest manufacturers of electrical heating. They have a patented LED technology that produces a realistic 3-D flame effect (flame dance). They have designs for large houses and small apartments. In terms of style, they manufacture both traditional and modern models of fireplaces. Their fireplaces also have a programmable thermostat.

• Amantii: Their products are all wall-mountable electric fireplaces. They make use of glass ice flame beds that gives multiple flame color options and backlighting. Their fireplaces feature flame-only options and a heat setting that can heat a space of up to 500 sq. ft. Their fireplaces also have a programmable thermostat.

• Napolean: They are a top creator of traditional electric fireplaces with a sophisticated look. Their fireplaces have the additional features of a timer, remote control, and adjustable heating.