Electric fireplaces are beginning to take the heating industry by storm but many consumers have been left wondering about how these units work and why they are becoming so popular. This list is intended to answer some basic questions about electric fireplaces and how they work so that consumers can make informed decisions about electric heat.

Dimplex Built-In Electric Fireplace

A Dimplex Built-In Electric Fireplace

1. Electric fireplaces do not produce a real flame.

This first fact may seem like an obvious one, but it is often a common source for confusion when people are looking to buy an electric fireplace. Electric fireplaces use fan forced heat to warm your home. Warm air is blown out of the unit into your living space providing the warmth of a fire without the danger of flames.

2. Electric fireplace inserts come in many shapes and sizes.

One of the most confusing aspects of the electric fireplace industry is the many different types of electric fireplace inserts that are available.  The variety of electric fireplace inserts that are offered come in three major categories, built-in units, plug-in units, and log sets. Built-in units are designed to be recessed directly into a wall, while plug-in units are designed to slide into existing mantel cabinetry. Log sets consist of smaller units that are designed to slide directly into an existing fireplace that may have once contained wood or gas logs.

3. Electric fireplaces can cut down on indoor air pollutants.

Did you know that burning wood and gas can lead to the emission of dangerous indoor air pollutants. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency list wood and gas as sources for pollutants such as carbon monoxide. By switching to a zero emission electric fireplace you can cut back on these dangerous pollutants and prevent your family and friends from being exposed.

4. Electric fireplaces are a great source of supplemental heat.

Zone heating is a strategy for heating your home that can save your household hundreds of dollars a year. The principle of zone heating revolves around the concept of lowering your household thermostat to a minimum temperature while you are spending time in an area near a source of supplemental heat, such as an electric fireplace or an infrared heater. This strategy can allow an individual to stay comfortable and warm without having to pay to heat space they are simply not using.

5. Electric fireplaces have come a long way in the last 10 years.

With advances in technology such as Dimplex’s Opti-Myst display, the days of consumer fear when it comes to electric fireplace displays are passing. New technologies are producing realistic 3-D displays that are guaranteed to fool your guest as they toss the occasionally wad of paper into the perceived flames displayed before them.

Opti-Myst Flame

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