Fireplaces have been around for a long time. Right from when humans realized that fire can help keep us warm, methods have been developed to have controlled fire to warm us during cold weather.
However, due to technological advancements, fireplaces have come a long way from what they used to be. Check https://www.linkedin.com/to learn about the history of fireplaces. Now, we have several types of fireplaces and each type has its advantages and disadvantages.
One type of fireplace that is getting more popular by the day is the electric fireplace. There are so many reasons why people opt for them instead of other types. One of these reasons is that they are relatively cheaper to buy and install. Using them is easier, they also provide adequate heat and despite not having real flames, their flames are often quite realistic.
However, despite all these great benefits, they also have their downsides. What are these downsides? That is what we’d be looking at in this article. Below, we’d take a closer look at the benefits electric fireplaces offer and also discuss some of the downsides that they have.
Advantages of Electric Fireplaces
Below are some of the many benefits of electric fireplaces:
1. Setting It Up Is Easy
You don’t have to break your back to set up the equipment once you get it. The majority of this kind of fireplace simply needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet and they’d start working immediately.
2. Installation is Cheap and Easy
Some electric fireplaces like a freestanding one will not cost you even a dime to get installed because you can easily do it yourself. Even when installation has to be done (maybeyou need to install it in a pre-existing space or on the wall), you won’t spend a lot of money on the installation.
3. Easy to Use
As we have already said, you don’t have to go through any trouble setting up the equipment other than plugging it into a power outlet. Once this is done, you also don’t have to sweat it whenever you want to use your fireplace. You’d simply need to press some switches for you to spend an evening on the couch soaking up the heat and watching the flames.
4. Cheap to buy
Electric fireplaces are relatively cheaper not just to install but also to purchase. For instance, you can find cheap electric fireplaces online for as low as a hundred dollars, whereas, an average wood stove can go for as much as 1000 dollars.
5. Realistic
The technology behind the flames has greatly improved to the point that several models offer real-looking flames. However, how realistic the flames are is often based on the brand and model.
6. Apartment-friendly
Some apartments don’t have a flue or chimney that you can use to set up a real fire. But electric fireplaces do not need these. This makes them ideal for use in apartments. What’s better, you can even take it whenever you move house. All you have to do is unplug it and remove it from where it was installed or stationed.
Disadvantages of Electric Fireplace
The following are the key disadvantages ofelectric fireplaces:
1. Might Be Noisy
Some electric fireplaces use fan heaters with blowers that are used to propel warm air into your room. Based on the fireplace’s model, these blowers may get quite noisy sometimes.
2. Location is Limited
These fireplaces operate via electricity. Therefore, they have to be kept close to an electrical socket. The sad news is that using extension cables with this type of fireplace isn’t ideal. This means that the location where you can have the equipment is quite limited.
3. Doesn’t Heat the Whole House
Some other types of fireplaces can heat an entire house in some cases, but electric ones can’t. The coverage you get is often based on the model. For instance, if the model uses fan heaters, it should typically cover about 400sqft. But if you buy a model that uses infrared heaters, it should cover about 1000sqft.
4. You Cannot Use Itduring a Blackout
Several things can trigger a blackout, for instance, during a storm. Read this article to find out things that can cause a blackout. Sadly, if the electricity goes out, you cannot use your electric fireplace because it’s powered by electricity. This is a big disadvantage because for most people, having a fire to keep them warm during a blackout also helps to make them feel calm and safe.
5. Not So Durable
When you compare this fireplace to other types, you’d see that they aren’t as durable as the others. This is because they have several moving mechanical and electrical parts. Their durability problem is even more obvious because most of their parts aren’t serviceable or even replaceable.
Conclusion
Just as it is with everything, electric fireplaces have both their benefits and their downsides. At the end of the day, the choice of whether to buy one of them or not is solely yours. However, before you make your decision, ensure you go through all the benefits and drawbacks we have discussed so that you can make an informed decision.
