Electric fireplaces are slowly but steadily replacing the classic wood-burning fireplaces. Before you buy an such a fireplace, it is worth to pay a special attention so that you pick the most appropriate option for your apartment. The variety modern designs features decorative elements like stone, wood, plastic, metal, ceramics or marble. When selecting the heating elements, it is necessary to take into account the presence of additional options – light music, aromatherapy, heat sensors, etc, etc.
To begin with – installing a wood-burning fireplace in urban apartments requires a lot of time and cost to obtain all the necessary documents and hire a qualified specialist who can mount the fireplace. There is no doubt that the smell of wood and live flames create a cozy and impressive atmosphere but for safety reasons many people abandon the idea of a classic one and opt for an electric fireplace. The installation process is less complex and there is no need of a hood, ventilation equipment or any other equipment. All you need for the functioning of your fireplace is an electrical outlet and you can enjoy the beautiful flames. Such fireplaces are easy to operate as most models operate in two modes – unheated and heated imitation fire which allows you to enjoy the view of burning flames even in summer time. The low power consumption is another great advantage of the electric design for a fireplace. Other advantages are the long life, rust resistance, lower price, etc, etc
One of the biggest cons of an electric fireplace, if any, is that many people find their appearance artificial. The flames are created by orange and red lights that shine through plastic logs. If you are a fan of authentic fire the appearance of the flames may not meet your aesthetic requirements. You should, of course, expect an increase in your electricity bill, no matter that the consumption is relatively low. Such a fireplace cannot operate without electricity which means that in case of power failure it will stop working.
An electric design for a fireplace can be used to create the illusion of fire with or without heating and some of them have a climate control functions. Also, many models have the option of sound, which is used to create a more complete sense of a real burning fire. The fireplaces are quite safe as there is no fire hazard. You can calmly set it in the center of your home, so you have an opportunity to enjoy the view of the burning flame, listening to the crackle of wood and feel the warmth.
