If you want to add a little more warmth and ambiance to your living room, fireplace inserts are the way to go. Fireplace inserts come in all shapes and sizes, with many different features that make them perfect for any home. When choosing an insert, there is one crucial question that needs answering: what do I need for my electric fireplace? For help deciding which model would be best for your home, keep reading!
An electric fireplace can make your living space more cozy and comfortable. But before you go out and purchase one, it is important to know all of the components that are needed for an electric fireplace to work properly. Here some information on what is needed for an electric fireplace.
The first thing that you need is a power outlet near the location where the unit will be placed. You also need to have enough room for airflow around the unit so that there isn’t any risk of overheating.
What Is Needed For An Electric Fireplace?
A fireplace is a great addition for any home. It provides warmth, ambiance and can be very useful when you have guests over in the colder months of the year. Many people are also drawn to electric fireplaces because they don’t take up so much space or need ventilation like wood burning ones do. There are three main things needed when considering an electric fireplace: plugging it in, placement options for where to put one, and safety precautions to keep your family protected if there is ever a problem with the unit itself.
Picking the Right Place
When you’re deciding where to place your new electric fireplace, there are lots of different options. The first step is making sure that it won’t cause any sort of issues with regards to ventilation. If there isn’t enough airflow or air circulation in a room then an electric fire could pose problems for those living within it. You don’t want anything like carbon monoxide building up and causing health problems for anyone inside either so make sure to consider this before placing one near other household appliances like ovens, furnaces or water heaters as these can contribute towards poor airflow if they are too close together.
The next thing needed would be finding out what kind of power source you have in the room. If you have a fireplace that is only using electricity then it isn’t too much of an issue, but if there are any gas lines nearby for example and they aren’t shut off completely while you use your new electric fireplace unit, this can be dangerous because many people assume that once gas has been turned off it means the supply will not be present at all times which could lead to leaking or even explosions when someone forgets about turning on their electronic device again.
Electrical Supply
- A standard home outlet for the electric fireplace to plug into. The cord should be a fire resistant, three pronged grounded type with at least 14 gauge thickness and about six feet in length. If you are using an extension cord make sure it is also of high quality (such as UL listed) and long enough to provide adequate distance between the outlet and fireplace on all sides – cords can become very hot after extended use!
- A standard wall receptacle for the electric fireplace to plug into. The cord should be a fire resistant, three pronged grounded type with at least 14 gauge thickness and about six feet in length. If you are using an extension cord make sure it is also of high quality (such as UL listed) and long enough to provide adequate distance between the outlet and fireplace on all sides – cords can become very hot after extended use!
- An electrician to ensure your electrical system can support your new appliance. This will include checking outlets, circuit breakers or fuses that may need replaced. Most people have 15 amp circuits installed which cannot handle appliances needing more than 12 amps so this needs checked first before purchasing any product requiring higher amperage.
A Suitable Location
- A good place to install an electric fireplace is in a room with high ceilings.
- Another good location is in a living room or family room.
- You will want to ensure that the fireplace does not obstruct any doorways, hallways, etc. before you install it.
- Finally, you should check to ensure that the fireplace will not obstruct any air conditioning/heating vents.
You Don’t Need For An Electric Fireplace
An Electric Fireplace is great if you’re looking to save space, or don’t have the option for a gas fireplace. You can even find electric fireplaces that are made with real flame effects that look just like their natural counterparts. They usually come in different colors too so that you get one that will match your decor best!
Your electric fireplace doesn’t need much at all either other than being plugged into an electrical outlet, but there are some things it does require to function properly though. One of them is a fan inside which sucks up air and blows it out through tubing behind the unit. This creates the sound of crackling wood logs while heating your room naturally without any harmful emissions from burning fuel which makes it the perfect choice for apartment dwellers or those with allergies.
An electric fireplace also requires a means of regulating its temperature, so you’ll need to have it plugged into either a thermostat operated outlet (just like your space heater) or an on/off switch that has no built-in heat sensor which is how some older units were made. An adjustable control knob located somewhere easy enough to reach will allow you to fine tune and maintain a comfortable warmth in the room where it’s installed. If you want more details about what’s needed for an Electric Fireplace check out this blog post!
Chimney or Flue
- Chimney or flue is needed to allow the smoke and gases from wood burning fireplaces to exit. Electric fireplaces have no such issue which makes them great for homes without a working chimney.
Vent less Fireplace
- This is the most common type of electric fireplace. Instead of a built-in vent, it uses an additional fan to circulate heated air throughout your home.
- A great thing about these fireplaces is that they do not need any exhaust so you don’t have to worry about heavy installation or ventilation issues. However, this can be negative as well because without proper vents, there’s no way for smoke and fumes from the fireplace combustion process to leave your living space which means poor indoor air quality unless filtered properly.
- These fireplaces are also called sealed units since they’re installed in one self-contained unit with their own blower fan system that forces warm air into rooms through registers (also known as baseboard heaters).
- “This is the most common type of electric fireplace.” “These fireplaces are also called sealed units since they’re installed in one self-contained unit with their own blower fan system that forces warm air into rooms through registers (also known as baseboard heaters).”
Environmental Protection
While a traditional fireplace is a beautiful addition to any home, it does come with many problems. Because of the heat and smoke that comes from burning wood, they can release pollutants into your air including particles such as carbon monoxide gas. With an electric fire place you will not have this problem because there is no actual combustion involved in their operation.
An Electric Fireplace Will Enhance Your Home’s Decor: There are so many different styles and types of units available for purchase which makes these units ideal if you want something custom fitted to fit your specific needs perfectly. The design options range anywhere from glass doors or fronts allowing even more light through than ever before to realistic looking logs made out of fiberglass or resin giving off great amounts of warmth without the real flames.
Safety Tips
An electric fireplace is a great addition to any home. However, it’s important that you know the basic safety tips before purchasing one. For example, make sure all cords are behind furniture and out of walkways. This will prevent your child from tripping over them when they’re playing around in the house or pulling something on top of themselves if they stand near an outlet while holding onto a cord. You’ll also want to check for hot surfaces periodically throughout the year since heat rises up through carpeting and wall paneling during winter months where fires aren’t burning inside fireplaces. When unplugging these devices, pay close attention so kids don’t think it’s okay to be touching things without watching where their fingers go at first!
FAQs
What is the difference between gas and electric fireplaces?
Gas fireplaces are fueled by natural or propane gas. They burn extremely hot, which produces more soot than an electric fireplace does. Electric-powered fireplaces use electricity to produce heat—but not nearly as much as a traditional heater would—and mostly rely on their flame effect for ambiance.
Do I need any special tools or skills to install an electric fireplace?
No! This self-installation guide will help you get your new hearth up in just two hours with basic household equipment like drills, measuring tapes, levels and screwdrivers.
What type of outlets do I need for my electric fireplace?
You'll want to install an electrical outlet within three feet on either side of your new, installed unit. If the power supply is not nearby—or if you're planning any future renovations that might affect where it's placed—you can always get a licensed professional installer to run an entirely new line in order to ensure safety and maximum performance. Electric fireplaces are only meant for indoor use, so please don't attempt outdoor installation!
Conclusion
When you are deciding to buy an electric fireplace, make sure that it is the right size for your room. The other important factor when buying a fireplace is how much heat does it put out? You should be able to find these information in the product descriptions of each website. And don’t forget about safety! All fireplaces need proper ventilation and smoke detectors. Also consider getting decorative pieces like candle holders or vases which will fit perfectly with any decorating scheme you have chosen. If you follow all the recommendations above, then you are guaranteed success in choosing an electric fireplace whether its real flame realistic looking logs or something else entirely!