Welcome to our comprehensive Infrared Electric Fireplace Heater Insert Review | ClassicFlame 33II310GRA 33″.
Spoiler Alert: We really like this decorative infrared fireplace insert for several reasons which will soon be revealed. We love the increased heating capacity over normal electric fireplace heaters and Ohhh…those flames. If you like the fashionable, clean look, this may be the one for you.
NOTE: This is a 33 inch wide insert. This model comes in other widths. If you have arrived on our site and have decided to buy the Classic Flame infrared electric fireplace insert then we recommend clicking through to discover the lowest price and the daily discount. You will get very fast delivery and it’s often free .
This is a review of the ClassicFlame 3311310GRA 33” Infrared Quartz Fireplace Insert, where the features will be examined and the advantages and disadvantages of owning this fireplace insert will be fully covered. The aim of this review is to provide all of the information that you need to make an informed purchase decision.
If you have an existing firebox, then the ClassicFlame 3311310GRA will make a very good addition to it. The interior is of faux brick design against a background of flickering flames. The heat does not need to be switched on for the flames to be working, and it can really soothe your mood the whole year around.
Flame Effects
ClassicFlame is establishing a leadership position in the electric fireplace field. They are known for quality build and great flame effects. This fireplace insert is no exception.
It has five different spectrafire flame effect colors that can be chosen by the user. These are spectrafire, sapphire, amethyst, campfire and midnight fire. There is also an auto cycle feature, which will automatically fade in and fade out a new color flame effect after a period of time. The flames are very realistic looking, and are powered by LED’s which do not require replacement. Buyers love the flame effects
The intensity and the speed of the flames can be controlled by the remote control only. There are 5 levels of intensity, and 5 flame speed levels. The screen at the front of the fireplace insert is tempered glass. There are media painted logs that glow at the bottom of the fireplace.
Heater Functions
Normally we write a disclaimer about electric fireplaces being supplemental heat sources. Most claim to heat 400 square feet and that might be stretching it. The claim for this heater is 1,000 square feet. The limiting factor is the standard household outlet capacity. The only way to get more heat is from infrared fireplaces or to pay to have a separate heavy duty circuit installed. For more infrared heating, see this article. Click Here.
The infrared heater in the fireplace is of the fan forced wire element type, and this is thermostatically controlled. It has a default temperature of 72°F (22°C) and the range of the thermostat is 62°F (17°C) to 82°F (27°C). The highest temperature is considered continuously on. The thermostat is adjustable in 2°F (1°C) increments.
The heater is relatively quiet and the infrared quartz heater will warm a room up to 1,000 square feet. The infrared quartz ensures that a soft, moist, safe heat is deployed and will not reduce the humidity or the oxygen in the room. The heater will not dry out the air in the room as so many other electric heaters do. The maximum output is 5200 BTU’s or 1500 watts.
So how much house will it heat? Well in reality, that depends. If you have a closed room such as a bedroom it will heat it pretty well. If it is mounted in an open concept living room with flow through kitchen or dining room the heat effects will be minimal. You may, however be able to lower your thermostat setting a few degrees which will help on overall heating costs. If you are looking primarily for a heater, you may be better served by an infrared space heater. Of course they will not be as cozy and are no fun to look at and cuddle in front of with that special someone.
Controls
Control of the fireplace is provided by a manual control panel which is situated on the front of the fireplace and by a remote control. There is a digital display below the manual control panel which indicates the chosen options.
There is an on / off switch on both the control panel and the remote to turn on the fireplace. This will not turn on the heater function but the flame effect and burning logs will be illuminated.
There is a heater on / off button which can also be used to increase or decrease the thermostat setting. To change the heat display from Fahrenheit to Celsius (or vice versa) the heater button on the control panel needs to be pressed for 3 seconds.
The fireplace has a timer function which will provide heat for 30 minutes to 9 hours. When the timer button is pressed, it will cycle through the various time settings. There is a downlight on this model, and it can be turned on or off or set into auto mode.
The flames can display five different colors, and these are selected by using the spectrafire color button. There is also an auto cycle function included. The spectrafire intensity button is only on the remote control, and there are 5 intensity levels. The spectrafire speed button is also only on the remote, and there is a choice of 5 speed settings.
The fireplace comes with a 6 feet long power cord, and special 3 prong grounded safety plug. The plug has a thermostat built in, and this will monitor the temperature within the plug and will turn off the heater if this exceeds the threshold.
Safety
This advanced fireplace insert offers ‘Safer Plug’ which continuously monitors the temperature of the plug with its built-in thermometer. Should the plug temperature rise above safe levels, the plug will immediately shut off, preventing overheating and potentially a dangerous fire.
- Do not operate any unit with a damaged cord or plug
- Do not use outdoors.
- The electric heater is not intended for use in bathrooms, laundry areas and similar indoor locations. Never locate heater where it may fall into a bathtub or other water container.
- Do not run the cord under carpeting, furniture, or appliances. Do not cover cord with throw rugs, runners, or the like. Arrange cord away from high traffic areas, where it will not be tripped over.
- Always plug heaters directly into a wall outlet/ receptacle. Never use with an extension cord or re-locatable power tap (outlet/ power strip).
The firebox is UL approved, which means it meets industry standard safety regulations and guidelines. For more information see electric fireplace safety tips.
Cost Of Operation
The cost of operation is very comparable to other fireplaces in the same class. There is a big difference in cost between operating the fireplace with the flame and heat together and just the flame effect alone.
- Flame Effect = Less than 1¢ per hr
- 5200 BTU’s = 18.7¢ per hr
What does that mean? If you use your unit in high heat mode for 2 hours a day for a month it will bump up your electric bill by about $13.80 per month. In flame effect only mode, same conditions your bill would go up by $.60.
For a very detailed look at calculating the cost in your state and for more details on efficiency, Click this link: Electric Fireplace Cost of Operation and Efficiency
Dimensions/Specifications
The fireplace measures 34.1 inches in width, 10.4 inches in depth and 26.1 inches in height. The unit weighs 48 pounds. The unit is supplied with a multi function remote control and has a 12 month warranty.
- Overall Height – Top to Bottom: 26.1 inches
- Overall Width – Side to Side: 34.1 inches
- Overall Depth – Front to Back: 10.4 inches
- Overall Product Weight: 48 lbs
- Shipping Weight: 59 lbs
- Volts: 120
- Watts: 1500
- BTUs: 5200
Critical Info: Please make sure you have your measurements correct – fireplaces inserts come in varying widths. Here are some additional 33 inch wide inserts:
Accessories
There are 3 accessories you may want to consider, the first for added functionality, the second for added aesthetics and pleasure.
1. Consider Electrical Socket Protection. Safer Socket has five tiny thermostats strategically placed inside the unit monitor the temperature of the plug to make sure it is operating at a safe temperature. Should there be a rise in plug temperature which could lead to an electrical fire, Safer Socket will automatically shut off the device. Click on Image below for Safer Socket.
2. Add fire crackle sound. The sound effect of fire crackling is only available on very high end fireplaces, but we have you covered. For about $30 you can add this sound machine, The box is about 2 1/2 ” x 3″ and can attach to the fireplace out of sight. Click on Image below for Fire Crackler Sound System.
3. Wire Covers. Wires and cables dangling from your electric fireplace can really detract from the effect? This Cord Cover Kit makes it a snap to hide wires. It’s very easy to install and can be painted to blend seamlessly into any wall.
TSR-01 Safer Socket Fire Prevention Plug, White
Comfort Smart Fire Crackler Sound SystemWiremold 30-inch Flat Screen TV Cord Cover Kit
Pros and Cons
I believe the pros far outweigh the cons, but here are the high and low notes:
Pros
All of the positive comments here have been taken from real customer reviews:
Quite a few of the customer reviews mentioned that the flames and the burning logs looked really realistic, and that they were very happy with this. They also liked the fact that there were so many different colors and settings for the flames. There were many comments about how the fireplace was easy to install in a short period of time. The instructions provided were clear and easy. A number of customers felt that the fireplace produced a more than adequate supplemental heat source. There were also positive comments about how quickly the heater will heat a room.
There were several positive remarks about the style and the design of the fireplace. A lot of people said that it fitted in perfectly in their homes, and they had received compliments from visitors about the fireplace.The low noise output of the fireplace was remarked upon by several customers. The noise of the heater is minimal, and will not disturb the average person.
Cons
The negative comments here have all been taken from real customer reviews:
Only a small number of customers were unhappy with the heat output of the fireplace, and this was contrary to the majority of customer reviews that praised the heat output of the unit. The 1 hour time needed to heat a room was specifically mentioned in a customer review, but the size of the room that they were trying to heat was not provided. The majority felt that the heater made a room warm quickly, so this is not considered to be a major issue. One customer felt that the tempered glass at the front of the fireplace was too shiny, and that a non-glared look would have been better. None of the other customers were unhappy with this.
Summary
Of the total number of customer reviews placed, 71% gave a 5 out of 5 star rating and 17% gave the fireplace a 4 out of 5 star rating which represents 88% of the total. There were very few negative comments about the fireplace insert, and those that were received were fairly minor issues which had not been experienced by the majority of customers.
The ClassicFlame 3311310GRA is a really attractive fireplace insert that would look good in just about any room. You can even use it in an RV. The flame effects and the burning logs are realistic and provide a pleasant, soothing atmosphere. The heater is good and the infrared quartz feature means that you can have a warm room without the air being dried out.
A first class fireplace insert that is highly recommended.
We hope you enjoyed our Infrared Electric Fireplace Heater Insert Review | ClassicFlame 33II310GRA 33″.
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