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Tips for buying an electric fireplace

Tips for buying an electric fireplace

A fireplace in the home looks inviting, cozy and also romantic. It creates a special ambiance with its crackling sound of wood, flickering flames, the glow and the warmth. Fireplaces are captivating and you cannot stop staring at them. They instantly make you sit in from of them with a fuzzy blanket and a cup of hot chocolate.

However, you cannot have a traditional fireplace if you are living in a condo or an apartment complex. For people who want to have a fireplace but cannot install one, electric fireplaces are the way to go. They can be installed quickly and do not require any vents or chimneys. When you are planning to buy a fireplace for your home, the following are the things that you need to consider.

Heating capacity
First, determine what capacity heater you really need. Most of the electric fire units work on a standard 120-volt outlet, 12.5 amps, and 1500 Watts. To understand the heating capacity of a fireplace, divide the watts by 10 and the answer would be the approximate area of square feet that it would be able to provide heating. Depending upon your requirement, you can choose a higher range one or a lower range one.

Easy installation
Electric units are very easy to install and are inexpensive. All you need to do is bring in the fireplace and plug in to an electric outlet. You can also move the fireplace from one room to another. You can keep this fireplace wherever you have an electric point. This is the main advantage of fireplace electric version over the gas ones. Gas fireplaces need more serious installation. A permanent gas line needs to be drawn and once you install it, it cannot be moved.

Advantages
Electric units are always a better option because if you have kids or pets, you are in constant fear that they might get hurt from fire. But if you buy the electric one, you get heat and there is no fear of getting burnt, because its surface will be cool to touch even when it is working. Some of the other benefits include:

Mobility
You can move your electric unit anywhere you want inside the home or to you RV when going on a vacation or to a new home if you are relocating.

No refills
To keep the traditional wood-burning fireplace burning, you need to stock wood mindfully. If you run out of the logs, there will be no fire. Similarly, the natural gas fireplace also needs a constant supply of gas. But with electric ones, you only need the electricity to generate heat. If there is a power cut, it can also run on a generator.

Easy operation
Operating an electric fire unit is very simple. With the push of a button, the unit starts generating heat. You can also adjust the temperature settings with a remote.

These units come with various options and features. The more you pay the more options you get. Do your research and pick an electric fireplace that suits your home decor and needs.