When purchasing an electric fireplace, whether for the first time or replacing an older piece, there are so many particulars to pay attention to. Each tiny detail, from the style model to the heat specifications, add up to the perfect electric fireplace for your unique home. At PortableFireplaces.com, we make it easy to research everything you need for your new fireplace, without all the confusing jargon. Start your shopping journey with our quick and easy Beginner’s Guide to Electric Fireplaces.
Electric Fireplace Buying Guide
Once you’ve begun your quest to find an electric fireplace for your home or business, there are plenty of questions you’ll want answered. Before you place an order on the first fireplace you love, be sure to check out our 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Electric Fireplaces. In the realm of home improvement and décor, there are innumerable ways to make mistakes that will cost you time and money. Careful evaluation, reading reviews, and advice from experts (like our sales team!) can help make the process much smoother.
Style:
The first thing you will notice about electric fireplaces, when browsing is style. Eye-catching design is important, especially for such a large piece to bring into your home or business. While functionality is of upmost importance, if you don’t like how a fireplace looks in your living room, you won’t want to use it! Try to stick to similar design aesthetics to help narrow down the selection. For contemporary homes and apartments, look for clean lines and minimalistic inspiration. Are you more vintage style? Look for a homey faux-wood fireplace for instant coziness. A beautiful fireplace is adds both style and function to the room. Visit our full catalogue for decoration inspiration.
Electric Fireplace Features
When shopping online, or in-person, keep a list of features that fit with your home needs.
These are only some of the features available on today’s innovative electric fireplaces.
- Safety Shutoff Switch
- Heating Timers
- Adjustable Flame Brightness
- Multiple Heat Settings
- Remote Control
- Realistic 3D Flame
- Smoke Effect
- Automatic Thermostat Control
- Cozy sound effects
Freestanding VS. Electric Inserts
The next matter to consider is the choice between a freestanding electric fireplace or an electric insert. Freestanding electric fireplaces can be placed against the wall or in a corner, creating a snug environment out of any room of your choice! These fireplaces also offer a bonus of portability. Simply unplug and move the freestanding fireplace to the kitchen, bedroom, or basement, to keep the house toasty warm without open flame.
If you rent your home or apartment, you can enjoy a “fire” anytime without worrying about leaving your fireplace behind when you move. There is no damage left behind by an electric fireplace, and it’s easy to take with you to your next home. If space is at a premium, look for a stylish unit under 30.” With an electric fireplace insert, you will need take careful measurements of the inner cavity of your existing fireplace before purchasing the insert. Usually, inserts fit without any extra equipment needed. Learn how to convert a gas fireplace to an electric fireplace insert.
Hardwired vs Plug-in
Electric fireplaces are available with two different power supplies: standard electric plug-in or hardwired. The easiest option for most homes is to use a plug-in electric fireplace, as these run off standard 120V wall outlets. Most power outlets in the U.S. are 120V and are rated at 15 amps.
Hardwired electric fireplaces require an electrician connect the fireplace to your home’s power supply for the 240V current. The higher current means that hardwired fireplaces produce more BTU’s of heat. Hardwired inserts can produce up to 9,600’s BTU’s of heat, which enough to heat a 1,000 square foot area.
Units of Measurement
Electric fireplaces can typically produce anywhere from 4,000-10,000 BTU’S, heating between 400-1,000 square feet. Learn about BTU’s here. The higher the BTU rating, the higher the heating compacity. The standard ratio of watts to square foot heated is 10 watts to 1 square foot. Using the ratio of 1:10, you can estimate how much space an electric fireplace will be able to heat. These small details are important to pay attention to when shopping for an electric fireplace. For more information about electric fireplaces and heating, check out this heating comparison between traditional and electric fireplaces.
Best Brands
Some of our favorite electric fireplace brands are Dimplex, Amantii Fireplaces, Classic Flame Fireplaces, and Ambella Fireplaces. Visit our full brand list to find even more fireplaces and accessories. Reading reviews, researching products and manufacturers can take up a lot of time. So, we did the research first, for all of our customers. Each fireplace in our catalogue has been hand-selected for quality, safety, and reliability.
As always, our experts are available to answer your questions about electric fireplaces, fireplace inserts, and even outdoor fire pits and heaters! Contact us here
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