Electric fireplaces: Types, what you should look at and opinion sincere

Electric fireplace

Within the different systems for electric heating that we can find in the market; electric radiators, thermal emitters, convectors, etc. There are the famous electric fireplaces (Electric fireplace) that create a fairly realistic fictitious "flame effect" fire and, in many cases, provide heat.

You have to understand that the classic fireplace is disappearing due to its many drawbacks to the benefit of other systems that are simpler, less dangerous, cheap to maintain and that simulate fire in a quite realistic way.

They're all the rage! You just have to see the sales from chimneys TOP electrical (they are specialists in the sector). From here, and especially in the decoration and furniture sector, the electric fireplace is appearing with force, but, before buying, we have and we must look some interesting points…

How an electric fireplace works heater

The electrical llar was created to initially decorate (See history Electric fireplace) and, only used as a decorative element – widely used in city apartments – whose structure imitates a real fireplace ; a solid casing, logs – firewood, a bed of ash and coal, imitated with some resistant material and, some embers and flames that reproduce the effect of fire created by a LED lighting system .

Currently, most models on sale already incorporate the option of being able to turn on the heater, that is, Provide heat to the room by means of a electrical resistance becoming an element of supplemental home heating.

As we have seen, and according to its base functionality, we would have two models of electric fireplaces for sale at home:

Obviously, decorative electric fireplaces realistic flame effect that do not add heat to a stay, are much cheaper than those that radiate heat by have a more convoluted mechanism, which is very similar to the thermal emitters or electric portable radiators.

Due to market trends and demand, most of the modern models already include the heater option electrical , whether in lesser or greater power, apart from other electronic functionalities that facilitate its use.

A fairly common question is… Is the flame simulation function and heating in the fireplace electrical? Directly, yes. You can create an environment cozy and friendly with "just call", controlling the intensity of led lighting without using the function of heating.

Types of fireplaces electrical

Although we have an interesting range of models of realistic electric stoves with more or less systems complexes that influence the price (we will see later). The types of fireplaces that we can find, are more depending on if they heat or not, from the aesthetic aspect or from the possibilities from location:

Prices for electronic fireplaces more modern vary greatly; both for its functionalities (Thermostat, control, control with mobile, with furniture, etc.) and power, how by its finishes (MDF, plastic, cast iron, steel, wood – firewood, stone, etc.), or if, for example, they have the option to feign smoke (in this case they will have a deposit with water, which, when evaporated, we achieve an effect of smoke)

The units embedded in the wall or in furniture usually have higher prices ; mainly for their good finishes, as by a complex system of fan heaters (later we will see some interesting facts on noise) that will distribute and provide heat quickly to the stay, as well as different characteristics technological.

Here, the aesthetic game is very important and as examples of design, we have as many as we can imagine: Insertables, panoramic electric fireplaces, on wall, in tunnel, similar to the village stove, suites (They are modules - basket electrical), etc…

So you can see how far they are reaching in aesthetics, realistic effect and design in the most modern models, we want leave the next video, awesome!

Keys to choose well

The question is simple… What should be looked at before buy an electric fireplace? And although beforehand we some points may seem like a no-brainer, make sure, if not you want to throw away the money of the purchase:

1.- Basic keys to choose the best apparatus

There are several basic points to consider in your choice; Type of model (floor, suspended or embedded in furniture or wall), according to the dimensions we have, according to power we need and the exterior design (style, black color, grey, etc, ornamentation and exposed materials).

2.- You need an electrical outlet – socket

Of course we all know that already! But if it's a electric fireplace built-in wall , the same you need to do some small work to have a plug nearby take measurements before buying the device!

Remember that those mechanisms with heating and great power, example 2000 W, if we have an electrical installation old or contracted very little electrical power in the housing, we could have problems when plugging different gadgets.

3.- Functions and features

The modern electric fireplaces are riddled with functionalities. Some that will help us on a day-to-day basis, and others, not so much. Of course, the more plugins and realistic effect in the design, the more expensive the device will be. Some features in new equipment can be:

• Real simulation of fire and smoke with adjustment of the level of the flame and intensity of lighting
• Ambient light that can be modulated (Both firewood and fire), touch panel with Led screen and even with music
• Built-in thermostat for weekly and daily programming temperature (Highly recommended)
• Power regulator (Highly recommended)
• Operating modes: Anti-freeze, Comfort and Eco. Even with window detection function open
• Remote control to program the ignition and off
• With Wi-Fi for mobile management

4.- What power do I need to heat a stay

Keep in mind that these systems consume a lot of electricity to heat a room and fight a fierce cold, it can be a spending problem. Later we explain the efficiency and how we can save a little electricity.

The electrical fireplace with heater must be use as a complement to the heating you have at home installed Its primary objective is not to warm up a stay, is to imitate a village stove or fireplace traditional.

To combat the cold, as an rough estimate of the power we would need; calculates values between 80 and 100 watts per square meter of the room to be heated . For example, for a room that is 12 square meters, you will need a model with 1200 watts of power.

5.- Be careful with noise when They have heating

You will not be the first to buy an electric grill and hardly use it because of the noise of the fans. You must verify when noise they make “dB – Decibels” (You can also look at the energy label).

It is better, if you have the possibility to regulate the appliance with a thermostatic system or some type of control to regulate intensity and hours of ignition! As in all heating, it is very important to have control of the device!

6.- Do not buy cheap and look for brand

These are devices that we will use for many years and we want it to have a good decorative aesthetic, above all, a realistic flame effect. Therefore… look for quality! brands such as Orbegozo , Castleton Suite , Ambifire , Glen , Dimplex , kamin klaus , Amantii, etc, are benchmarks in durability and quality aesthetics.

Compare prices! from large surfaces like Leroy Merlin , Carrefour , El Corte English , Mediamarkt , Bricomart , etc To online offers to compare, for example, Amazon , while still looking at the neighborhood stores There is always a sale in winter!

In my opinion, I don't see second-hand viable, mainly because the difference with the new ones is very low And when we talk about technology, we must have special watch out!

Electric fireplaces are efficient energetically

Although the web is full of diverse opinions about electric decorative fireplaces and their energy efficiency when we talk about spending on electricity and your savings. The reality is that from a point of view technical, it is better to use them as possible elements than complement and help in specific cases to a heating more efficient.

If we compare with other heating systems traditional we would have the following graph:

As we can see in the previous image, these electrical equipment is at the bottom of the table with a low level of efficiency – saving energetic . Other models; gas stoves, stoves paraffin, wood heating or the efficient boilers and pellet stoves are ahead.

The concepts that are sold in some stores of « low consumption electric fireplaces » rather is a marketing technique that a palpable reality and effective on these models.

Here, the possible energy saving is given – mainly – for the electricity we use, that is, we can save more if we turn it on at a time when the electricity is cheaper (time discrimination in Spain) or if we control the temperature (not too high) and, the on and off, as we are at home.

Summary advantages and Disadvantages

Although possibly some aspects are debatable from From a technical perspective, the main advantages of electric fireplaces are:

Certainly, they also have shortcomings that we should be aware of and that can influence the final purchase:

There are other alternatives that also offer designs excellent when it comes to heating: from the article of type of decorative fireplaces for heating, even that of design radiators where the most modern are a madness.

You have to weigh all the options and, of course, ask much and compare prices is the best you can do!