The Best Electric Fireplace Heater We've Tested: Top Reviews by Experts

When searching for an electric fireplace heater that will be suitable for a certain room, it is essential to select the model that best meets your needs. When selecting on the best electric fireplace heater, there are many other factors to take into consideration as well. Some of these factors include the heating power, size, ease of installation, and aesthetics.

Electric fireplace heaters are available in a startling variety of designs, styles, and sizes. These fireplace heaters can be freestanding and simple to install, or they can be wall inserts that require more installation work.

• Flat and including brackets that enable them to be fastened to a wall, wall-mounted electric fireplaces have a look that is comparable to that of a TV that is mounted on the wall. The user has control over both the brightness and the color of the flame while using these units.
• A fireplace that is built into the wall is installed into a recess in the wall. When compared to more traditional fireplaces, this one has a surface that is flush with the wall, giving it a more contemporary appearance. In order to install a fireplace that is built into the wall, you will need to cut out a niche for it first.
• Mounted on the wall within a wall niche, a three-sided fireplace extends beyond the niche to create an illusion of depth and give the fireplace the appearance of having three sides. This particular style of fireplace has the form of a cube, which provides the user with a view of the flames from all three sides of the unit.
• A fireplace with two sides is comparable to a fireplace with three sides; however, the flames may be seen from only two sides of the fireplace rather than all three sides.
• An electric fireplace that is freestanding might look very much like a traditional stove that burns wood. They have the form of a cabinet and are supported by legs across the entirety of the fireplace. In most cases, the flames that are produced by these fireplaces can be seen from more than one side.
• Portable fireplace heaters can be positioned anywhere in your home to top off the heating supply in the areas that need it. The majority of these choices are rather easy to transport due to their portability features, such as wheels, handles, and lightweight construction.

Style

Even though electric fireplaces do not actually produce any flames, a significant portion of their style is derived from their capacity to produce a genuine appearance. Many people are able to achieve this result by utilizing LED light bulbs, which reflect light off of a rotating refractor to produce flames that appear to be genuine. The majority of electric fireplaces give the user the ability to vary the appearance of the fireplace through the use of controls that adjust the size of the flame, the brightness of the flame, and the color of the flame.

Electric fireplaces are available in a wide range of different designs, styles, and finishes. These fireplaces can be as simple and contemporary as those that are designed to fit inside walls, or they can be designed to seem like more classic wood-burning fireplaces. It is not possible to alter the factory finish of an electric fireplace heater, despite the fact that there is a wide variety of designs to choose from.

Size and Placement

Because it does not require a chimney or a gas line, an electric fireplace can be installed in virtually any room of the house. Keeping this in mind, electric fireplaces are available in a wide variety of sizes and forms to accommodate a variety of various sized rooms.

• Electric fireplaces that conserve space can be built inside TV consoles or corner cabinets. This gives the user the ability to bring the coziness of a fireplace into spaces that have only a limited amount of available floor space.
• Since freestanding fireplaces require more square footage, they are most suitable for use in rooms that have ample available space.
• It is necessary to take precise measurements in order to ensure that a fireplace insert will fit inside of an existing fireplace and that there will be no obvious gaps between the insert and the hearth of the existing fireplace.

Power for Heating

An electric fireplace heater, as opposed to an electric fireplace that only simulates flames but does not really provide any heat, comes with its own built-in electric heater. The greatest amount of power that can be drawn from an electrical circuit rated at 15 amps is 1,500 watts, which is the maximum amount of power that can be drawn by any sort of electrical heater. A heater with 1,500 watts generates 5,100 BTUs (1 watt is approximately equivalent to 3.4 BTUs), which enables it to heat an area of up to 150 square feet. These heaters can be purchased in one of three distinct varieties.

An infrared space heater and an infrared fireplace heater both function in a very comparable manner. The fireplace's coils generate heat, which is then transferred to the area around the heater. Although these heaters are excellent at keeping individuals close to the fireplace warm, they are not as effective at warming the air in the room as other types of heaters.
A fan fireplace heater functions by drawing air through a series of heated coils. The heat produced by this kind of heater may not be as intense as that produced by an infrared heater, but it performs an excellent job of circulating the heat around a room. The buzzing of the fan, on the other hand, can make the fireplace seem less genuine.
Convection heat is produced by a ceramic heater by directing air to pass through the fireplace and then over heated ceramic plates before returning the air to the space it was originally intended to heat. Certain types are equipped with fans that aid in the process of circulating air over the plates and throughout the space.

Safety

Electric fireplaces are generally safer than either wood-burning or gas fireplaces. This is due to the fact that electric fireplaces do not have true open flames and do not emit carbon monoxide from the burning of wood or gas. Having said that, they are not risk-free and your home should be equipped with safety measures if you choose to use them.

Electric fireplaces do produce a significant amount of heat; hence, they are needed to be equipped with automatic shut-off switches that turn the unit off when it reaches the predetermined level of heat. This is done to avoid the electric fireplaces from overheating. In addition to these safety precautions, it is essential to maintain a distance of at least three feet between the fireplace and any furniture in the room, and to make sure that any vents running into or out of the fireplace are clear of obstructions.

Added Advantages and Functions

Some electric fireplaces come with supplemental features that not only improve their functioning but also make them simpler to operate. These fireplaces are called "smart fireplaces."

• Automatic timers give the user the ability to select a shut-off period for the fireplace of up to about six hours, after which the fireplace will turn off by itself.
• The adjustment of the flame controls enables a variety of flame sizes and hues.
• The majority of electric fireplaces come complete with their own remote controls.
• Cabinet electric fireplaces that also function as entertainment centers typically contain shelving and other storage options in addition to the ability to hold a flat-screen television.
• Tip-over switches are one of the most critical safety features that prevent portable units from toppling over and starting a fire or burning the surface that it falls on if it does happen to tumble over. When a device tips to a particular degree, an automatic shutoff feature kicks in to protect it from further damage.

Configuration & Putting in Place

The type of electric fireplace and the room in the house where it will be installed are the two most important factors that determine how difficult it will be to install an electric fireplace. The following is a list of some of the more common types of electric fireplace heater installations and configurations.

• It is necessary to have prior experience with house structure in order to install a recessed fireplace safely. This type of fireplace requires cutting into the wall.
• Installing a fireplace that is installed on the wall takes certain fundamental instruments, including a drill, a screwdriver, and mounting hardware.
• Putting together a piece of furniture may be required in order to install a cabinet-style electric fireplace.
• In most cases, fireplace inserts are installed within an already-existing fireplace; nonetheless, accurate measurements are necessary to ensure that the correct size is purchased.

How much electricity does a heater for an electric fireplace require?

Electric fireplace heaters typically consume between 1,000 and 1,500 watts of electricity per hour; however, certain models may also include a lower option that operates at 750 watts. If you are able to establish how many watts the heater consumes in an hour, you will be able to calculate how much it will cost you to keep it running. You will need to multiply the watts per hour by the number of hours per day that you intend to use your electric fireplace heater. Following that, multiply this result by 30, and then by 1,000. This will give you an estimate of the total kilowatt-hours that the heater will use over the course of a month. You may estimate how much it will cost you to use the electric fireplace heater by looking at the cost per kilowatt-hour listed on your electricity bill.

Do vents have to be installed for electric fireplaces?

There is no need for a vent when using an electric fireplace heater. Because these heaters do not use any kind of fuel, there is no exhaust that needs to be vented because there is none produced.

How large of a space can be heated by using an electric fireplace?

The majority of electric fireplace heaters have a heating capacity of approximately 400 square feet when equipped with a 1,000-watt heater. Electric fireplaces equipped with a more powerful heater of up to 1,500 watts may be able to warm rooms with a total area of up to 1,000 square feet.

There are a variety of other kinds of electric fireplaces, such as wall mount, mantels, stoves, logs sets, TV stands, and more. All of these kinds of electric fireplaces have the capacity to generate heat, but they are not designed to be moved as readily as an electric fireplace heater.