Before you choose to purchase an electric fireplace, it’s important to consider how much it’ll cost to use the feature every time you turn it on in the home. You may be asking, “Do electric fireplaces save money?” Knowing the cost to operate the fireplace can allow you to budget for the expense and determine how much it’ll increase your electric bill each month. It can also allow you to decide if an electric fireplace is the best type of fireplace to consider when you’re looking to save money.
Those who are looking to increase their energy savings or reduce their carbon footprint can resort to using electric fireplaces to obtain the same benefits as a wood-burning or gas fireplace that relies on materials like wood or natural gas. Switching to an electric fireplace can save hundreds of dollars throughout the year, even with consistent use of the product. You can use it multiple times a day without noticing much of a difference in your electric bill. It can even reduce your bills at the end of the year because it’ll make you rely less on your main heating source in the building.
Electric fireplaces use an average of 1,500 watts of electricity and range from 0.003 to three cents to use each hour. The main factor that determines the cost is if you choose to have the heating element turned on while the flames are activated. If you choose to heat the room, the fireplace costs nine cents per hour to use on the lower heat setting. Those who want the most warmth and heat possible can expect to pay 18 cents per hour.
Fortunately, electric fireplaces emit enough heat to increase the temperature in the room within minutes of turning them on, which means you don’t have to wait long to feel comfortable. There’s also no heat loss because there isn’t a chimney or venting where the heat can escape as the fire is in use, which can minimize the cost of your utility bills. Wood-burning fireplaces can lose 50 to 80 percent of the heat they produce. Compared to a traditional wood-burning fireplace, you also don’t have to keep a window open for added ventilation, which can make it easier to maintain the temperature in the space without feeling the chill of the outside air.
The low cost to operate an electric fireplace can make it affordable for most budgets. You can expect to pay $50 to $80 each year to make it work well when you’re trying to keep your energy costs down. Those who own a gas fireplace or wood stove typically pay $200 to $500 annually, depending on the climate and where they live.
The amount of heat it emits can supplement your central heating system to ensure you rely less on your heater throughout the colder months of the year. You can turn the thermostat down in the building to reduce your energy usage for additional savings. Compared to a wood-burning fireplace, electric fireplaces don’t heat the entire house, which can prevent rooms on the second floor from becoming too warm. The heat is contained in the room where the fireplace is installed to ensure you can stay cozy and avoid using more energy than necessary. You don’t want unused rooms of the home to get extra heat, which can increase your energy bills. With zone heating, you can control where the heat is present instead of eating the whole house and adjust the heat settings at any time.
Not only can you save on the cost of energy usage with an electric fireplace, but you also don’t have to purchase additional tools and equipment that is needed with other types of fireplaces. Because electric fireplaces don’t use wood, it means you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on wood logs during the fall and winter months each year. You can also avoid purchasing fireplace tools needed to stoke the fire because the flames never die out. You can even forego the costs of installing additional carbon monoxide detectors in the room because electric fireplaces don’t release any chemicals or particles due to their advanced technology.
Additionally, you don’t have to budget for annual chimney sweeps that are needed to reduce the risk of chimney fires. Because gas fireplaces don’t produce any smoke, there isn’t any creosote that builds up in the chimney, which means you don’t need to pay for cleaning. The lack of ash in the firebox also means you don’t have to maintain the fireplace after each use and get your hands dirty.
If you want to increase your savings without turning the feature off, consider using the electric fireplace during the day instead of during peak hours. Not only does the option of turning the heating element off save more energy, but it allows you to use the fireplace in the spring and summer when you want to enjoy the feature for the look of the flames. You can enjoy the stunning flame effects without increasing the temperature in the building. This can create a cozy ambiance in the room when you’re entertaining and are throwing parties.
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