Electric Fireplaces are such a common sight in so many homes nowadays, and they have become very popular for a number of reasons. But what if you do not have one and need to know what they are all about? Here we will explain fully and concisely exactly what an electric fireplace is, and its advantages and disadvantages compared to the traditional fossil fuel burning fireplace.

An electric fireplace is quite self explainatory. Yes, it is a fireplace, but instead of using coal, wood or natural gas, it uses electricity to power an electric heater to provide warmth and comfort to the room. Quite often now, electric fireplaces can be placed in the existing position of the old traditional fireplace, and plugged into a wall socket or hard wired into the mains supply. However, if the electric fireplace is placed in the original hearth, it can no longer be used by traditional methods. Electric fireplaces can be classed as ventless fireplaces, which is a fireplace that does not need any ventilation in order to operate.

There are now many electric fireplaces that not only heat the room they are situated in, but they also look very attractive because of flame effects that are often displaying when the heater is turned on. These electrical flame effects first began to be used in 1981, with Dimplex claiming to have made the very first realistic wood burning flame effect fireplace in the mid 1990’s.

There are many advantages to an electric fireplace, which comes as no surprise because they have become so popular. Electric fireplaces do not need chimneys to work, which means they are very flexible in terms of where they can be situated. They are also often very portable, and can be moved from room to room, or to an entirely different house. They are so much cleaner than a traditional fossil fuel burning fireplace, with no mess to worry about, and also no need to clean up the morning after or “make the fire” before you can enjoy some heat. They are also much safer than the traditional method, with most electric fireplaces now made from a cool touch material.

However there are some disadvantages to an electric fireplace. Depending on what the power rating is on the heater, they can be less efficient than traditional ones, because of the amount of electricity it needs to consume. They can also be quite expensive to buy compared to just a normal portable heater that would manage to do exactly the same job. And also, even though the flame effects are fantastic, they still do not recreate the beauty of real flames coming from a real fireplace, but there has to be a trade off somewhere!

Overall though, an electric fireplace can be a fantastic investment for you and your family, making your living room look more attractive, cleaner and less messy, providing heat and warmth through the coldest parts of winter.

Forced Water Systems

This sort of system can be found in gas or oil burning heating systems, and works by water being heated up in the boiler and the being forced around the house through copper pipes to radiators which then heat up the rooms. This method is slower in heating up a room compared to a forced air system, but it is more efficient as once the radiators are up to temperature, they will retain their heat for long periods of time meaning the boiler can be turned off and heat can still be delivered.

Forced Air Systems

This heating system can also be found in gas or oil burning systems, and works by air being heated by a boiler and then being pushed through ducts within the walls of the home. This hot air is then delivered into the rooms through vents that could be on the floor, the walls or on the ceiling. This method is the fastest way to heat up a room, however it is also less efficient as the boiler needs to be kept on for longer periods than forced water heating systems.

Gas & Oil Heating Systems

These two heating systems are very similar, and in both cases the heat generation begins with a furnace or a boiler. Most heating systems work on a thermostat system, that monitors the temperature of certain rooms or the house in general. If the thermostat reads a lower temperature in the house than it is set at, then the boiler/furnace will kick in and will burn gas or oil to heat up either the air or water, depending on the type of heating system. This will then travel either through the pipes or ducts and deliver the heat to the rooms. As soon as the desired temperature has been reached, the boiler will switch itself off. This system is very efficient and is probably the best type of heating system available

Electric Heating Systems

This type of system isn’t quite as efficient as gas or oil burning heating systems, but they are becoming more popular as the technology is beginning to catch up. Electric heating systems are generally easier to install and are lot less expensive, as there is no need for a furnace or boiler, and no need for any pipes or ducting to run around the house. They work by heaters in the room that are usually fixed to the walls being wired up to the mains electric supply, and they too work on a thermostat system. When heat needs to be generated electricity will be passed through coils inside the heaters which will then radiate and heat up the rooms.

Ultimately, all these heating systems work in slightly different ways to deliver the same result of heat and warmth within the home.

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The first step is to take a large heavy piece of cardboard and place it onto the hearth. Then very gently place the insert onto the cardboard, and slowly slide the unit to the rear wall of the fireplace, making sure that the insert is central within the space. The next step is to take a flue liner, slide it from the top of your chimney and attach it to the flue liner adapter which is situated on the top of the electric fireplace insert. Secure the flue liner in place with screws and remove any excess liner at the top of the chimney . Once that’s done, get some chalk and mark the position of the insert in correlation with the front and sides of the fireplace.

Now what you need to do is with care slide the electric fireplace insert out giving yourself enough room to get to the screw holes on the top of the unit and also on the sides. Now you need to attach the top panel to the top of the insert using the screws provided making sure you have enough room to get in there. Position the panel so that the chalk lines are hidden from sight, and then tighten the screws up. Do exactly the same with the side panels, and then put some chimney caulk into any gaps between the panels themselves and the unit and the original fireplace. What this does is seals the gaps and makes it much more heat efficient. The final part is to correctly place the insulation strips on the back of the panels and then slide the electric fireplace back into place.

If you’ve done it right, you should now be switching on and enjoying your brand new fireplace. Although it sounds hard, once you get on with it, it couldn’t be simpler.

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A Dimplex electric fireplace comes in many differents styles, you really are spoilt for choice.  You have an array of colours, sizes, designs, finishes specifications and power capacities to choose from.  They are a very attractive looking unit that will look perfect in any home or office, and they are often so impressive in terms of looks that many people are fooled by the fire and flames coming from the unit, as they look that realistic that its easy to think that it is actually a real fireplace!  On top of that, there is a host of different options and features that you can choose as extras depending on what you need from the heater and of course how much you are willing to spend.

Providing that you research the heaters you are interested in thoroughly, and make sure you heater you purchase meets all your requirements in terms of capability and size, there is very little that can go wrong with a Dimplex electric fireplace.  There is no mess to clean up or to worry about, as there is no coal or wood to burn, you are simply using electric to provide the heat and also the faux holographic flames and burning embers!  It will also be much more economical as you can control how much heat you want, when you want, you can turn it off instantly when you don’t need it unlike a burning fire, and because you are using electric as opposed to coal or wood it will work out considerably cheaper.

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Why an Electric Fireplace?

Electric powered fireplaces are practical alternatives to the traditional fossil fuel powered counterparts.  They can be an eyecatching addition to any living room in a home or an office workplace, glowing a bed of embers that provide comfort to all that is around.  They are designed with realistic flame effects and built into the design are powerful heaters that can produce as much as 9600 BTU (British Thermal Units).  A major advantage of an electric fireplace is they are constucted with material that is cool to the touch despite providing a high amount of heat to its surroundings.  This makes them practical and versatile and also safe for the young, the elderly and pets alike.

How To Decide What Is The Best Model For Your Home

There are a number of questions that need to be answered before you can decide which electric fireplace is right for you.  Do you want a permanent “in wall” installation?  How much space do you have?  Does it need to stand alone or be portable?  Do you require additional features, such as housing your TV and media units? What are your heating requirements? Once you have answered these sort of questions, then you can begin looking for your perfect electric fireplace.

Built-in electric fireboxes can be a good option as they are permanent additions to a home or office and ideal to out in renovation or new build projects.  They are very flexible in terms of position, they can be placed on an inside or outside wall or in corners, and they are usually hardwired into the mains electric supply. Plug-in fireboxes are stand alone units that come seperately or are paired with cabinet, corner or entertainment center fireplace mantles.  They can be used on walls or in corners, aslong as it is in reach of the nearest plug socket.  Another perfect plug-in unit is an electric log insert set, which could convert and existing wood or coal burning fireplace to an electric one.

Considering An Electric Fireplace Insert As The Best Choice

Obviously there are many factors that will affect your decision in choosing an electric fireplace, but there are two main types to choose from which will narrow down your search.  The first type of electric fireplace insert comes as a seperate unit that can be mounted up on a wall or in a corner, or it could come as part of a cabinet for your entertainment units for example.  The advantage of this type of unit is that it can be moved around the room or even into a different room very easily and quickly, and it doesn’t require an existing traditional fireplace in the room.

The second type is an electric log set, which is ideal for keeping your old wood or coal burning fireplace feature whilst at the same time bringing it up to date and revitalising it.  It is safe and clean, and costs very little to operate.  The electric long set is a plug-in unit, which means all you need to do is connect it to the mains power, and away you go, however you will have to get to correct size in relation to you existing fireplace feature.

When choosing the right electric fireplace for you, doing your research on which type is best is essential.  Search for customers reviews of different products on the internet, don’t just take the manufacturer’s word for it.  It also comes down to determining which type of electric fireplace will serve you best in terms of functionality and style and searching to find the best deal and option.

Want to know why electric fireplaces are so popular? Click here.