Many people are confused about whether or not electric fireplaces have blowers, which is understandable because the answer isn’t straightforward. Here’s what you need to know: Most modern fireplaces don’t require a blower (sometimes called an “electric fan”), but some older models do.
If your fireplace was built before 1990 then it will likely require a blower to circulate air within the unit and push heat out of the front opening. But if your fireplace was made after 1990, it should be able to work without one!
Do Electric Fireplaces Have Blowers?
An electric fireplace can have blowers. Some are designed for this purpose, while others simply use the heat generated by the fire to blow air around it so that your room feels warmer. Electric fireplaces without a blower will still help keep you warm but may not feel as effective due to less circulation of hot air in your home or office building.
Many companies prefer models with vents regardless because they allow homeowners more flexibility when choosing where their unit goes and how it should be placed within its intended area.
Most of the time vents are not required, but it is up to you whether or not you want them. Blowers can be turned on and off depending on your preferences as well so that they do not create too much noise during certain hours of the day when everyone else in your household has gone to bed.
Electric fireplaces have blowers for circulation purposes rather than heat production. These units work by using an electric heater element that heats ceramic logs inside a ventless infrared enclosure. While these models provide warmth just like other types without any moving parts that would require electricity, their main purpose is to keep air warm throughout rooms where there are no windows or doors open for ventilation systems such as garages, sheds, workshops, entertainment areas outside homes and other similar areas.
Fan Forced Electric Fireplace Heating Systems
The most common type of electric fireplace heating system is the fan-forced unit. In this type, a blower circulates air from inside to outside and transfers heat in the process. The hot flames are behind glass panels that help radiate warmth around you while creating an inviting fire scene on your wall or hearth.
Fan Forced Electric Fireplaces have been enjoyed for many years because they offer quality, safety, and convenience at a reasonable price point without compromising home decor styles.
Infrared Electric Fireplace Heating
Electric fireplace heaters do not use fans or blowers to distribute the warmth. Blowing air is inefficient because it will only carry the warm air away from your body, leaving you cold and shivering in its wake!
There are different brands of infrared heating with their own unique features that let them stand out above other products on this list. There are also some options that can be used as additional pieces for a larger setup, rather than being complete solutions themselves.
We hope that our guide has helped narrow down your search somewhat by highlighting many of these choices so that you’re better informed about what might work best for your home space needs!
Conclusion: There are different brands of infrared heating with their own unique features that let them stand out above other products on this list. There are also some options that can be used as additional pieces for a larger setup, rather than being complete solutions themselves.
We hope that our guide has helped narrow down your search somewhat by highlighting many of these choices so that you’re better informed about what might work best for your home space needs! Only time will tell if an electric fireplace is a right choice for you.
Electric fireplaces heaters do not use fans or blowers to distribute the warmth. Blowing air is inefficient because it will only carry the warm air away from your body, leaving you cold and shivering in its wake!
There are different brands of infrared heating with their own unique features that let them stand out above other products on this list. There are also some options that can be used as additional pieces for a larger setup, rather than being complete solutions themselves.
We hope that our guide has helped narrow down your search somewhat by highlighting many of these choices so that you’re better informed about what might work best for your home space needs! Only time will tell if an electric fireplace is a right choice for you.
Blower function
Blowers do not need to be in the same space as gas-powered fireplaces. More often, the blower function is used for decorative purposes or heating multiple rooms. Blowers are also useful when it is difficult to install a wood-burning fireplace (in an apartment building, for example). It can act as a traditional electric heater by blowing warm air around the room instead of producing flames and smoke.
Axial Fan or Blower?
If your fireplace does not have a blower, then the answer is no. Electric fireplaces without built-in blowers do not include axial fans and cannot use them as replacements for an aftermarket unit.
Centrifugal Fan or Blower?
If your fireplace does have a blower, the answer is maybe. Centrifugal fans and axial fans are similar in that they both spin to push air. The difference between them lies in how much airflow each produces: centrifugal fan blades can produce more than double the amount of airflow as an axial fan. If you do not need such high volumes of air movement (for example if you only plan on using electric heat), then an axial might be enough for your needs.
Do All Electric Fireplaces Have Blowers?
No. Some electric fireplaces are designed to be vented through a wall, while others require you to install the blower separately. We recommend using an inline fan for ventless models so that it can draw air in and help circulate heat around your room more quickly than without one.
A blower is necessary when there is no way of connecting your fireplace directly to outside vents or chimneys because the hot gases need somewhere to go after they leave the unit’s chamber where they were created by combustion with oxygen from inside of the house (i.e., not outdoors).
Does An Electric Fireplace Need A Blower?
Electric fireplaces are often referred to as fake, imitation, or electric logs. This is due to the fact that there are no real flames involved in their operation. Electric fires burn via a heated element inside of an artificial log shell and offer heat without any actual flames or smoke since they do not rely on combustion for heat production. They’re also very easy to install by anyone who knows how to wire them into your home power system.
There’s no need for ductwork nor venting systems like you find with gas fireplaces either! No chimney is needed here so it makes sense why many people have preferred this type of fireplace design over traditional wood-burning models ever since they were first introduced around thirty years ago. Since these types of fireplaces are often referred to as fake or imitation logs, some people wonder if there is a need for an electric blower.
Safety Tips
- Do not touch the glass front of an electric fireplace, as it is hot.
- Be aware that logs are very heavy and can damage a floor if they fall on it. They should be placed carefully on a hearth rug or fireproof pad to protect the surface beneath them from heat damage. Logs may also sit on top of each other without falling off, but this could cause some instability even with proper placement. Keep children away from any source of heat in order to avoid burns and injury. In addition, watch pets closely around an actual fire as well as its embers after extinguished for their safety too! It’s best to keep furniture at least 18 inches away from the fireplace so no harm will come to them.
- Do not put anything in front of an electric fireplace that will obstruct the bottom vent, as this is where it draws air from to produce its flame effect. Another important thing to note about this vent is that any items being placed on top of or around the fireplace should be kept at least three feet away from said opening for proper ventilation and safety reasons too! This area can reach very high temperatures even when a fire isn’t lit, so make sure everything near one is out of harm’s way.
- If you have children, always teach them how to turn off the fireplace in case of an emergency. Make sure they know where your fire extinguisher is and what it looks like too so that if necessary they can use it correctly and safely. You should also put a protective barrier around electric fires or any other open flames when you’re at home alone with small children who might be playing unsupervised nearby. For example, this could mean placing something heavy on top of a hot stove burner or covering up outlets (or using child safety plugs) for further protection from injury by electrocution as well as burns!
FAQs
Do electric fireplaces have blowers?
No, they don't. Electric fireplace heating systems use a special kind of wiring and glass to create an even warmth in the room. There is no need for a fan or any other type of mechanism because there isn't really anything that needs to be blown. The only fans you will find on most electric models are ones used for looks rather than function – such as with fake flames.
Is it okay to use an extension cord with my electric fireplace?
Using a shorter, heavy-duty extension cord is fine. The exception would be if you're using more than one and they are all very long cords. That could cause problems for the electricity in your home (and potentially trip any safety switches that shut things down when there's too much power being used at once). If this happens, call your local electrical company so someone can come out and have a look at what might need adjusted or changed so everything returns back to normal working order as quickly as possible!
Is it better to have a real log in my electric fireplace or fake logs?
That is entirely up to you and your personal preference. Real wood fires can be beautiful, but they also require special mantles that prevent sparks from flying out onto the floor which can cause damage in some cases. Fake logs are safer for pets and children since there aren't any hot spots where someone could accidentally get burned if they decide to touch the firebox without meaning to (which happens all of the time with kids!). At least one manufacturer offers programmable timers on their models so it's like having an authentic fireplace experience minus the mess!
Do I need anything else besides electricity?
Some units do come complete with everything you'll need such as the firebox, the mantel, and a few logs – but it doesn't hurt to check with your manufacturer or retailer first before buying anything. Some models require you purchase a remote control for additional cost while others come free of charge (or included in their price). If there is no need for any type of external energy sources such as propane or natural gas, then all that's necessary is an electrical outlet!
Is my fireplace ready to use right out of the box?
There may be some minor assembly required depending on which model you go with so be prepared by having some tools handy just in case. In most cases, everything can be connected together without needing any screws or nails though. There are even options available where the unit plugs into the wall and is ready to go, but some assembly might still be necessary.
Are there any precautions I should take?
Since you're dealing with the electricity of course it's always best if no pets or children are around while your fireplace is in use (not only for safety reasons but also so they don't get tempted to touch anything). There may even be additional steps needed before turning on the unit such as attaching the mantel correctly which could involve inserting screws directly into walls where studs can easily be found (or using drywall anchors if that isn't possible without breaking things). If this sounds confusing then you really shouldn't attempt doing it yourself unless you know exactly what you're doing! Instead, contact an electrician who will be able to walk you through what will need to be done before your fireplace can be used.
Are there any safety concerns I should know about?
Always keep in mind that the heating system is only meant for keeping a room warm and not for cooking food or drying clothes! Unless it says so on the label, never leave anything resting against the unit while it's turned on or closed up because this could lead to hot spots being formed which are very dangerous when touched by anyone (even pets). Electric models don't have flues like gas units do which makes them easy to install just about anywhere without needing much space around where they're placed. If something does happen, then at least it'll catch fire faster compared to other types of heaters but that doesn't mean it's safe to leave unattended.
Do electric fireplaces have blowers?
No, they don't require any type of fan or similar equipment in order to work properly so there is no need for such a component! Fireboxes tend to be either convection-type (which uses the heated air that rises naturally) or radiation types that use infrared heating elements instead so if you do want an extra cool breeze included then consider investing in a ventless gas fireplace instead since their systems involve both heat and airflow (and can even include fans as part of what comes installed). However, not all manufacturers offer this option with their products but at least it will help circulate air more evenly throughout your home without having anything blocking where the heat is blown out.
Do electric fireplaces provide enough warmth?
Electric models don't produce any type of hot air like typical types do which means that the only source of heating comes from their built-in flames since they have no ducts or pipes to vent out anything either! This can be both a good and bad thing depending on what you're looking for in your fireplace so keep reading before making a final purchase decision… On one hand, there's no need to worry about ventilation systems being installed incorrectly because fumes will never escape into other rooms due to the lack of an exhaust system (which can easily happen with gas units during installation). You also won't have to deal with the smell left behind by burning wood chips but this all comes at the cost of not being able to use it as a source of supplemental heating.
Do electric fireplaces require any maintenance?
For starters, you should always make sure that both electricity and water aren't allowed to mix since this is dangerous for everyone involved! If there are children or pets around then invest in safety covers where necessary but even if nobody lives with you, still take precautions because your fireplace can be affected by nearby showers too (so don't place it directly underneath an eave). It's also wise to keep everything clean so check for lint buildups inside those fake logs which could cause overheating issues later on down the road. Lastly, never attempt fixing anything yourself unless you know exactly what needs to be done beforehand, and instead hire an electrician to get the job done right (especially if you don't want your warranty voided).
Conclusion
As you can see, electric fireplaces are very easy to use. You do not have to worry about venting or chimney maintenance with these models since there is no need for either. Since many of them come with blowers included, they will keep your room warm all winter long. If that was not enough incentive for you then the fact that most of these fireplaces look like actual logs burning should sell it!
They definitely make a more natural-looking flame than propane heaters which is always an added bonus in my book. Just remember, if you are getting one be sure and check what kind of voltage they run on first so as to avoid any potential damage caused by overloading outlets or wiring issues later down the line when plugging them in.