How to choose an electric fireplace: pros, cons, important aspects

Firewood crackling in the fireplace, reflections of the flame, dry, even warmth - many people, imagining comfort, think precisely of such a picture. And although it is not possible to equip a fireplace with real fire in the interior of an apartment, you can make a choice in favor of an electric fireplace. And the result will be no less comfortable and beautiful.

Advantages and disadvantages

Any thing, any service has its pros and cons. Electric fireplaces for an apartment are no exception. Among their advantages are usually called:

• Aesthetics. An expensive electric fireplace with a 3D hearth will look a little worse than a real fireplace. Designer accessories can imitate the smell of a burning tree and crackling wood, a complex set of devices will make electric fireplaces with the effect of a live fire at first glance indistinguishable from the original.
• Simplicity. Where a real fireplace needs a complex system of pipes and hoods, where it needs firewood and a poker, where you need to take care of a fire, an electric fireplace with a fire effect does not require any difficulties. It is enough to mount it in the wall or put it on the floor and wipe it from dust from time to time.
• Heat. A simple floor heater can do just as well, electric fireplaces provide good heating and help you survive the coldest winter. Moreover, the heat is distributed evenly and maintained at the same level.
• Security. At this point, modern electric fireplaces outperform conventional ones with a crushing score. They are not able to cause a fire, they do not have heating surfaces that can be burned, even small children can be allowed into them.

But, of course, there are also disadvantages:

• High load on the power grid. Even decorative electric fireplaces consume a lot of energy. You need a compensator or even a dedicated line so that when you try to turn on another device (for example, a kettle), fuses do not fly out.
• Difficulty in handling. It is especially important for the elderly - electric fireplaces for the home are difficult to manage and it is not always possible to guess how to use all the additional functions without instructions.

In addition, electric fireplaces with steam, sound, smoke and the effect of a live fire are quite expensive, although, of course, a cheap analogue can be bought for a very small amount.

Device and classification

To understand how to choose an electric fireplace, you need to at least minimally understand what it consists of. The electric fireplace device includes:

• The case - it depends on it how much the electric fireplace with heating will look like a classic fireplace;
• Heating element - it determines how the electric fireplace with heating will look and how much heat it will give. It can be a spiral between ceramic rods, a spiral with ceramic beads, a spiral on a ceramic base, a ceramic rod on which a wire is wound.
• Decorative details - it depends on what style the electric fireplace with heating will relate to.
• The protective screen - performs both a decorative and protective function.
• The control panel from which you can give commands to the electric fireplace with heating.

The combination is simple and remains unchanged, but the design can vary greatly, and it depends on the options to which type the fireplace will belong.

Mobile electric fireplaces are divided into several types:

• built-in electric fireplaces are mounted on the wall or are installed close to it, they look very thorough and look like classic fireplaces;
• portable, on the contrary, can easily be moved from place to place and can be equipped with wheels for more convenient movement - very rarely are electric fireplaces with the effect of live fire.

At the location of the electric fires can be:

• wall-mounted electric fireplaces are usually thin and can be used as an additional source of lighting - corner electric fireplaces stand out among them, which are mounted not just on the wall, but on its corner section;
• desktop electric fireplaces are usually very compact and lightweight, they can be rearranged from place to place as desired - these are never electric fireplaces with the effect of a live fire;
• floor electric fireplaces, as a rule, are mobile and can move around the house at the request of the owner;
• built-in electric fireplaces are mounted in a niche specially hollowed out for this purpose and are the least different from the classic ones - they can be designed so that at first glance the guest does not distinguish them from the real ones.

Fireplaces also vary in size:

• mini-fireplaces are easy to carry, can be installed in a car - these are electric fireplaces for summer cottages, for small rooms, for student dormitories;
• large-format ones are usually either mounted on the wall, or move with difficulty - they are suitable for large rooms, the interior of which allows the cost of space.

Electric fireplaces can be made in various styles:

• classic electric fireplaces look as if they had just been removed from an English house of the nineteenth century - simplicity, minimalism, a stone shelf, additional accessories like simulating fuel are attached;
• retro electric fireplace with heating are usually made of imitation stone, look medieval and brutal;
• hi-tech electric fireplaces are made of glass and metal, very simple and elegant;
• Baroque, on the contrary, is replete with stucco and ostentatious luxury;
• Provence looks like a fireplace was removed from a country house in France - artificial stone, scuffs, roughness;
• The chalet combines warmth, simplicity and style - often these are wooden electric fireplaces.

Electric fireplaces in the interior can be a real find, most importantly, use them wisely. Small device in a small room. Luxurious baroque fireplace in the pompous living room.

In addition, the importance of the technical side should not be forgotten.

Technical aspects

When choosing electric fireplaces for a city apartment, you need to pay attention not only to the design, but also to other key aspects.

Power

The larger it is, the warmer it will be in the room in which the fireplace is installed.

Ability to adjust technical aspects

The brightness control is especially important - in the twilight the fireplace turned on at full power will dazzle.

Fire decoration

• Imitation of decay. The cheapest, simplest and unpretentious design, which is just a highlighted picture. The fire is unnatural.
• Fabric imitation. A slightly more expensive way - strips of fabric stretched inside, tremble under the jets of air that drives the fan. Below are illuminated by a light bulb. This design looks a little better than smoldering, but not by much.
• Simulation using a monitor. An already more perfect design - such a fireplace, in fact, is a very simple TV that shows an exceptionally beautiful imitation of fire.
• Simulation using mirrors. Artificial firewood around mirrors and reflectors. This design shows flicker well and can even fool you at first sight.
• Imitation using steam.Built-in electric fireplace with the effect of smoke is much more effective than the others. In it, a special device generates cold vapor, which is illuminated by a lamp. The image is very natural - such electric fireplaces with the effect of a live flame of the road, but also beautiful.

Additional functions

An electric fireplace with a humidifier makes the air less dry, which distinguishes it from all other devices that greatly dry the atmosphere. Electric fireplaces with sound imitate the crackling of firewood, which adds comfort.

You need to choose together, the important thing in the end:

• Color - black electric fireplace or white electric fireplaces are suitable in different styles and fit into a different interior.
• Size - a large electric fireplace in the interior of the living room will be appropriate, but not suitable for a small room.
• Location - built-in fireplaces are good in separate rooms as well as a wall-mounted electric fireplace should be in place.

Proportionality, accuracy and balance - and the living room with an electric fireplace will look just magical.