We provide the most comprehensive and easy to understand electric fireplace reviews and electric fire place buying guide on the Internet. At CozyByTheFire.com we want you to make an educated buying decision and be thrilled with your purchase and have it perform to exactly meet your specific needs.
What is CozybytheFire.com all about?
We do not just rehash the simple product descriptions of electric fireplaces that are found on manufacturers’ sites and on less thorough electric fireplace review websites. We dig deep, ask and answer probing questions, so that you have all the information you need to make an educated buying decision.
The heavy lifting and the leg work has been done for you. We have discovered the meaning behind all those catch phrases and the techno-babble. We’ve trimmed away the sales puff and fluff. The facts and information you need to know are presented in clear, thoughtful, yet simple and easy to understand language.
We are not invested in any particular brand or style of fireplaces. We are not “pushing” anything or trying to sway you. We simply present the information as a service and you make the choice.
Why Consider Buying An Electric Fireplace?
The short answer is for aesthetics, they are beautiful and also they provide supplemental heating. There are many pros and cons to electric fireplace heaters, especially when we make a comparison to wood burning and gas fireplaces.
Who doesn’t enjoy that cozy comfortable feeling of sitting around a warm and romantic fireplace? There is a soothing hypnotic quality to the gently rolling flames and glowing embers that provide warmth. calm and peace. What a lovely way to zone out.
Now, the wonderful benefits of enjoying a fireplace are available to almost everyone. Electric fireplaces have eliminated the prohibitive cost, tiresome maintenance and ecological unfriendliness of traditional fires.
If you are seriously considering buying a wall mounted electric fireplace, a freestanding electric fireplace or fireplace insert, we want to be of service to you. That is our mission. We have ferreted out all that difficult to find, need to know information that can prevent you from making a purchase that won’t meet your needs. We want to guide you to make a purchase that will provide lots of satisfaction for years to come.
Electric fireplaces can provide a fashion forward focal point to any room at an extremely economical cost. The design possibilities are limitless. Modern electric fireplaces have become integrated into bookshelves and media centers as well as the traditional mantels. They can readily be installed almost anywhere, apartments, condos even recreational vehicles. If you move frequently simply take your fireplace with you. No one need be excluded from being cozy by the fire.
Generally, all electric fireplaces have two main components: the heater box which provides the warmth and the flame effects which are most usually projected on a screen. They typically plug into a standard 120 volt wall outlet, do not require special venting or chimney flues and are extremely energy-efficient. Easy to set up, easy to operate – almost all have remote controls.
How To Navigate Our Site:
We have given a lot of thought in making our site as easy to navigate as possible. You can quickly find the information you’re looking for according to type of electric fireplace, or the amount of money that is in your budget.
Basically, there are 3 ways to quickly the information that interests you most:
1. The types of electric fireplaces are listed in the top navigation bar. These include:
A. Wall Mount – This category includes wall-mounted electric fireplaces we have reviewed.
B. Inserts – This group includes all types of electric fireplace inserts including electric fireplace logs and log sets.
C. Free Standing – Here you will find free standing fireplaces, electric fireplaces with mantels, electric fireplace TV stands, fireplace entertainment centers, and portable electric fireplaces.
D. Articles – This is a group of articles and supplemental information related to electric fireplace selection and ownership.
2. The navigation bar under the header sorts by cost of the fireplaces – Under $100, $100-$300, Over $300. Click on the links within the reviews to find out today’s exact daily discount price.
The ‘Compare’ button takes you to our comprehensive electric fireplace comparison chart which lists every fireplace we have reviewed, gives you key information at a glance which you can sort according to your preference, and has direct links for more information.
3. You can browse our most recent posts. These are listed in the right sidebar, most recent first.
What Are The Types of Electric Fireplaces?
Freestanding electric fireplaces can be portable electric fireplaces such as the Regal Portable Stove, or they can be electric fireplace mantel assemblies such as the slim electric fireplace, the Crawford. They can also be large pieces of furniture, major focal points such as a TV media Center or room divider bookcase. They come in an enormous range of finishes and colors as well as materials to match any type of room or home décor.
Wall mounted electric fireplaces are divided into two categories. The first and far away most popular are wall hung electric fireplaces. Installation of these fireplaces is very similar to hanging a large mirror or picture. There is a mounting bracket which is attached to the wall and the fireplace is hung on the mounting bracket. One advantage to wall hung fireplaces is that they are portable.
The second type of wall mounted electric fireplace is a flush mount fireplace. A flush mounted electric fireplace is actually recessed into the wall so the flame effects screen is flush to the wall. While these type of fireplaces can definitely make a design statement, they present certain challenges. Installation often needs the expertise of a contractor and can be expensive to install. Since electric fireplaces often function as heaters the heat flow must be directed forward from the fireplace and not be trapped within the wall. The vast majority of wall mount fireplaces cannot be flush or recess mounted.
Are Electric Fireplaces Environmentally Friendly?
One of the primary reasons that electric fireplaces are the fastest-growing segment of the fireplace market is that they are environmentally friendly. They do not produce any toxic fumes or hazardous byproducts.
They do not emit harmful pollutants, consume fossil fuels or wood. The flame effects are generally produced by reflected or refracted light not by combustion of materials. There are no caustic agents wearing away fireplace components. They have no need for ventilation, do not promote mold growth or create moisture. Some of the higher end units actually contain air filters to help clean the air within your home.
Are Electric Fireplaces Child Proof And Pet Friendly?
As noted previously, the fire and flame effects are generated by light and either reflected or projected on a screen. Since they are not real flames, no heat is generated from them. Touching the screen with the flame effects operating is just like touching the screen of your TV set. There is no heat from the flames.
In that regard, they are kid safe and pet friendly. The only area of caution her concern is when the heating element is on. The area around the heat discharge event may become warm but it does not get red-hot. Most electric fireplaces come with thermostat regulation or an automatic shutoff in the event of overheating. Since it is an electric appliance, you should follow standard safety measures for electric appliances.
Will An Electric Fireplace Heat My Entire Home?
The quick answer is no; but they are not designed to be a primary heat source in your home. People who are disappointed in the heating performance of electric fireplaces often have unrealistic expectations about their capability. The standard electric fireplace is designed to heat approximately 400 ft.² which is the size of the average living/dining room combination 20’ x 20’.
Electric fireplace heaters do, however, perform an important function if you are looking to practice zone heating. Zone heating basically means providing supplemental heat to certain areas of your home while keeping your central heating thermostat set lower, thus saving money.
Portable electric fireplaces can actually be moved from room to room. You can provide some extra heat in the living room while you’re watching TV, and pick up and take the heater right with you into the bedroom to keep it toasty warm at night.
Electric fireplaces are best thought of as having the ability to ‘not the chill off’ a larger space or to keep a smaller space such as a bedroom warm and toasty. If you are looking primarily for a heat source a space heater might be a better option. But then again space heaters aren’t fun to look at.
Are Electric Fireplaces Costly To Operate?
The short answer is that if you use your electric fireplace primarily for setting the mood and ambiance of a room with the flame effects, they only cost about $2.00 per month to run. If you are using the heater plus the flame effects the cost can rise to approximately $20 a month. Those figures are based on 3-4 hours use per night.
For many people the ability to keep their central heating thermostat at a lower temperature means they save much more money than the cost of the electric fireplace’s operating cost. Here is an article that details the operating cost of an electric fireplace.
Enjoy Your Browse Through Our Site Cozy by the Fire!
This site came about because the more I researched electric fireplaces for my own consideration, the more questions arose. At heart I am an analyzer and a researcher. I kept digging and digging until I got the answers I needed to make an intelligent decision. You are the beneficiary of the results of all my research.
We hope you enjoy looking through our site. If you have any comments or questions please share on the forms following each post or use the Contact Us page. We welcome input!
