Should You Buy an Electric Fireplace?

Many homeowners like the idea of a fireplace to help their furnace warm their homes and create a cozy ambiance. However, the costs of installing and maintaining a wood-burning fireplace are often not worth the benefits.

But there might be an easier way to get many the same benefits of a traditional fireplace without having to invest in significant masonry and construction costs. Getting an electric fireplace is a great alternative and even has several advantages over a conventional fireplace, as well.

In this article, we’ll cover some of the key benefits of installing an electric fireplace.

It helps keep energy costs down

Zone heating, such as the type generated by an electric fireplace, heats areas of the home that would otherwise be cold.

A fireplace is also often found in your home’s high-traffic area. Keeping that area warm without having to crank up the thermostat keeps energy costs down.

By contrast, wood-burning fireplaces can be inefficient. Depending on the installation, size, and other factors, you may lose up to 70% of the heat they generate since a significant portion of the heat escapes through the chimney flue.

They’re easy to install

Installing an electric fireplace could be as simple as plugging it into an electrical outlet. Some models are more complicated, but even if you’re building an entire feature wall, the process is relatively quick.

One of the key benefits of such easy installation is full-home accessibility. You can install an electric fireplace in rooms where having a traditional fireplace would be impossible. This ease of access also ties back to the supplemental heating benefit by giving you a source of heat wherever you need it most.

Electric fireplaces are safer than conventional ones.

A wood-burning fireplace is a safety hazard; there’s no way to avoid that fact. They can cause unintentional fires, create a smoke inhalation risk, and other dangers.

An electric fireplace, by contrast, is much safer. It gives you full control over the temperature of a space and doesn’t produce any hazardous gases. Modern electric fireplaces also come with automatic shut-off and a slew of other safety features.

You have numerous design choices

A fireplace is a practical home feature that can lower energy costs and a great way to make a design statement.

An electric fireplace allows you to make that statement any way you see fit. There are countless models and customization options for electric fireplaces.

And when you want to make a change, you can opt for a different model. The easy installation and low cost make replacing them a cinch.

Heat zone areas in your home without breaking the bank

Hopefully, this list of benefits will help you decide if an electric fireplace is right for your home. They may have a few downsides, but they’re far superior in many ways to a conventional fireplace when it comes to making a small area cozy without using your furnace to heat the entire home.

Modern Air Conditioning & Heating is a Boulder City-based HVAC company offering 15 years of experience in residential and commercial HVAC services for all makes and models. You can also call us directly at (702) 919-4365.