The options are endless when it comes to the types of electric fireplaces available on the market, making it a good problem for consumers who want options. You can become more selective with the model you purchase and the features you want to be included.
In this post, you will learn:
- Where to Buy the Top Electric Fireplaces for Sale
- Do Electric Fireplaces Deliver Enough Warmth?
- Different Fireplace Options to Consider
- Why More People are Choosing Electric Fireplaces
Where to Buy the Top Electric Fireplaces for Sale?
There are a variety of websites to find the top electric fireplaces for sale. Start by comparing a few of the top brands available in the industry, which include MagikFlame, Dimplex, and PuraFlame.
MagikFlame has increased in popularity in recent years because of its impressive technology. We’re the only company in the fireplace industry to use holographic technology, which the founder invented and is a key part of the MagikFlame story. The MagikFlame best electric fireplace over years buying guide on the company’s website allows you to view various models that feature realistic flames to ensure you find a high-quality product that looks like the real thing.
Dimplex is another brand that stands out and has all types of fireplaces available, whether you’re looking for a wall-mounted electric fireplace or an electric fireplace insert. Many of the fireboxes heat up to 1,000 square feet in a range of sizes. You can visit the company’s website to order directly from the manufacturer once you make your selection.
Purchasing your new fireplace directly from the manufacturer’s website can also allow you to learn about the payment plans and financing available to discover the options available with that work for your budget. The website is also a great place to read how MagikFlame is built to ensure you’re investing in a quality product that will last long-term. This is also where you can purchase gift cards if you want to give a new fireplace to a family member or friend.
Amazon is another great place to look for your new fireplace. The website has almost every brand available and features different types of electric fireplaces for sale. You can read PuraFlame or MagikFlame reviews to help you make your decision and learn more about each fireplace model.
Do Electric Fireplaces Deliver Enough Warmth?
One of the main reasons consumers favor electric fireplaces is because they offer as much warmth as a real fire in a wood-burning fireplace. 100 percent of the heat that is generated is released into the room, which means less energy is used. It also allows the room to heat up quicker than a wood-burning or gas fireplace. Wood fireplaces lose up to 80 percent of the heat they produce, and gas fireplaces can lose 40 percent of the heat.
It’s easier to maintain the temperature in the room with a wall mount electric fireplace because more heat is released, which means you don’t have to use it as long compared to other types of fireplaces. You also don’t need cool air from outside to keep the fire going, which can make the room feel colder as the fire burns.
Electric fireplaces use various types of heat, which include infrared heat and fan-forced heat. The blower in the electric fireplace heater takes in the air from the room and pushes it back out over a heater, allowing warm air to release. This makes it easier to keep the room warmer during the day or night without leaving the fireplace on for several hours at a time.
Infrared light technology is used in fireplaces with infrared stove heaters, which release heat a lot quicker than other fireplaces. It makes it easy to heat the room in a few minutes to ensure residents feel cozy and comfortable in half the time. This is a great type of fireplace if you plan to use the unit in a large room or an open floor plan.
Those who purchase a fireplace with forced air heat can enjoy this safer option because it has more advanced technology. The heat is reliable and doesn’t dry the air out in the room.
Fireplaces with infrared heat are the best option for those who want the benefits of zone heating. The fireplace only heats the surrounding area instead of each room in the house. You don’t have to worry about spending more on your energy bill to heat unused rooms in the building. You can obtain more energy savings on cold days, and the heat will never rise to other floors in the house, which can cause other residents to become overheated. Zone heating even works well to supplement your central heating system and allow you to reduce the temperature on the main thermostat in the home to conserve more electricity.
Infrared heaters use quartz features to boost the temperature in the house instead of delivering warm hair into the space. This option is ideal for rooms up to 1,000 square feet.
Built-in thermostats also come in most electric fireplaces and offer a high level of accommodation because you can choose how much the unit heats the room. You can adjust the temperature based on how warm you want it, whether it’s the fall or winter season.
A few other factors determine the type of heat that you’ll benefit from when selecting your new fireplace. These features include:
- Climate
- Insulation
- Ceiling Height
- Age of Your Windows
Climate
Think about the climate of where you live when buying a new fireplace. Colder climates like New York can benefit from a fireplace that has an average of 5,200 BTUs to ensure there’s enough heat distributed.
Insulation
Inspect the quality of your insulation, which determines how much heat you need, especially if you consider installing the fireplace in an attic or basement. If your home is older, it likely has insulation that is low-quality or needs to be replaced. It likely has half the recommended R-value. If you own a newer home, you don’t need as many BTUs because fewer drafts are likely to present in each room.
If you don’t have a lot of insulation, the fireplace will work harder than necessary to heat the space. The parts can become strained as the unit attempts to heat the interior setting, which can lead to more repairs.
Ceiling Height
There’s more space to heat if the room in your home has higher ceilings. If you live in an older house or apartment with lower ceilings, the space will heat a lot faster. Opt for convection heating if your space is smaller and your ceilings aren’t more than eight feet high. A fireplace with more watts is needed if your ceilings are higher than eight feet.
If your room is an average of 12 x 12 feet, consider a fireplace with a 1,200 BTU heater, which will offer enough heat. You can also measure the square feet in the room and multiply it by 20 to determine how many BTUs you need in your new fireplace.
Age of Your Windows
The windows in your house are only eight percent of the entire building but can allow a lot of cold air to transfer into the setting. Some homes can suffer from an average of 25 percent of heat loss if the windows aren’t high-quality or drafts are present.
The age of your windows is one of the main factors that allow you to determine their quality. Old windows typically only have one pane of glass with thinner materials on the flame. If your windows were installed in the last few years, they likely have two pieces of glass and a barrier of air that prevents heat or cold air from transferring into the home. If your home has newer windows, you can look for a fireplace with fewer BTUs.
The age of your house and the quality of the materials installed are also a factor to consider when determining if there’s a lot of heat loss.
Different Fireplace Options to Consider
There is a wide range of fireplace styles to consider as consumers now have more options than in the past. Electric fireplaces have evolved and changed, providing customers with a variety of features. This makes them more versatile for different types of settings.
Freestanding electric fireplaces are considered to be the top choice because they look similar to a real wood fireplace and often include a surround and fireplace mantel. The crown molding and solid pillars create a beautiful look that contributes to the interior design of the room. This makes it a focal point and centerpiece in the space and allows it to pair well with other types of home decor on display.
Those who want something slim and lightweight can opt for an electric fireplace insert, which is portable but can also be hard-wired into the wall. You can place it into a cavity in the wall and choose where to install it while working with a home builder or architect. It will sit flush in the wall without taking up any floor space and can even boost your home’s value.
Inserts can even be installed in TV stands or consoles to have a multi-purpose piece of furniture. You can enjoy the dancing flames in the firebox while enjoying a movie or TV show. It allows you to have more space without as many furniture pieces present.
You can choose between many styles of TV consoles that come with holographic fireplace inserts to purchase an item that blends in with the surrounding environment. They often have mid-century modern, classic, or farmhouse styles. Many of the consoles even feature adjustable shelves and cabinets.
If you’re looking for something more compact similar to wood stoves, electric fireplace stoves are more energy-efficient and have a slim profile. You can use it in a living room or kitchen, depending on your needs. It can add a vintage and antique style to the space.
When shopping for a freestanding fireplace, consider the type of technology in use. The different technology in the industry includes:
- Holographic technology
- LED lights
- Water or mist
Holographic Technology
MagikFlame is the only brand in the industry to use holographic technology, which was invented by the company’s founder, Howard Birnbaum. His experience working in the film industry creating f/x effects gave him the knowledge and skill to invent the technology to create the look of a real flame over the faux log set.
The technology creates the look of 30 flames with the use of a screen to play footage of a real fire, which is more graphic and stunning than other technologies in the industry. This creates an eye-catching effect that is similar to the look of a real wood-burning fire.
LED Lights
It’s easy to find many fireplaces that use LED lights to create the look of 3D flames. The screens display a roaring fire and feature realistic effects. LED bulbs last longer than halogen light bulbs and are more energy-efficient. Halogen bulbs last two years, and LED bulbs can last up to 11 years.
Water or Mist
Water or mist is another type of technology used in an electric fireplace, which looks like flames when it’s tinted an orange color shade. You have to refill the water reservoir for the continuous flame effect.
Gel Fuel
Fireplaces that use gel fuel are also used to make the flames look real and don’t emit any smoke. The cans of fuel each burn for a few hours at a time and don’t generate any pollution, making them more eco-friendly than a gas fireplace. The cozy ambiance of the glow of the fireplace adds extra illumination to the room. You’ll need to continue buying gel, and there is less heat generated with only two to three kilowatts. This type of option works better as a decor feature than to use for staying warm in cold climates like New York.
Why More People are Choosing Electric Fireplaces?
After doing research, many people select electric fireplaces because of the high level of convenience and accommodation they offer. You can enjoy more benefits compared to a gas fireplace insert or a wood-burning fireplace.
You can use this type of fireplace in a variety of ways. You can have the freedom to shut off the heating element and only use the flame effects, allowing you to use it in the warmer seasons. You can also use the heating element while shutting off the flame effects to heat the living space. You can use it more frequently throughout the year rather than if you were to purchase a gas fireplace with gas logs, which doesn’t allow you to shut off the heat.
The flame effects can be beautiful to display when you’re hosting a party on a warm day or to create a romantic mood in the living room.
The energy efficiency of electric fireplaces is one of their main selling points to ensure you can save more money when heating your home. You won’t notice much of a change in your energy bill, making it easy to keep it running throughout the day. The lack of smoke emitted with the vent-free design prevents any pollution from being released into the air outside. You also don’t need any natural gas or propane, making it a green option for those who want to reduce their carbon footprint.
You also don’t need to use any wood logs from chopping down trees to have a fuel source for the fire. There’s also no need to spend money on buying wood logs or store them in a spot in the yard.
Many people who rent their homes have to go without a fireplace if one isn’t already built into the house. The plug-in design of electric fireplaces makes them easy to install without adding venting or gas lines. The slim profile also makes them fit better in smaller homes compared to traditional fireplaces. You can place them in small living rooms, bedrooms, or entryways without blocking high areas of traffic. They won’t protrude too much out of the wall or block walkways.
The cozy ambiance created by the glow of electric fireplaces in the bedrooms is why consumers continue to purchase them over the years. They can make a house feel like a home to ensure you have a hideaway where you can relax and recharge. You can change the mood of the room the moment you turn the flame effects.
You can also save money on other costs compared to a traditional fireplace. You don’t need to invest in a fireplace screen or fireplace tools. You also don’t need any tools for sweeping the ashes out of the ember bed and fireplace and can avoid messes. There are no embers that will fly out of the fireplace, which makes it safer to use.
This type of electric fireplace also means you don’t need to follow local restrictions in the area with how often you burn wood. You can use the feature as often as you prefer without the risk of getting fined by the city.
The fireplace’s easy operation also offers more convenience to ensure it’s easy and seamless to use each day. You can control the fireplace with a remote control or touchscreen panel to adjust the brightness settings of the thermostat. The control panel on the unit is also easy to use and doesn’t feature too many buttons or controls. Some brands like MagikFlame even come with an app to download on your phone.
They’re also easy to assemble with a screwdriver and don’t require any glue or advanced tools to put them together. You don’t need to hire a professional to secure the parts and can assemble everything yourself, even if you don’t have experience constructing furniture or items.
Electric fireplaces are available in a variety of styles and designs to accommodate different types of consumers. Knowing what questions to ask and the top brands available will make it easier to narrow down your selection when looking for websites that sell the top fireplaces for sale.
