Many people today consider electric fireplaces as one of the best heating systems. We can enjoy all the features of a traditional wood fireplace such as glowing flames, crackling wood sounds, warmth of fire, etc., using electric fireplaces. In fact, these fireplaces avoid frequent maintenance hassles like cleaning the ashes, supplying the wood, etc. Electric fireplaces are user friendly, plug-and-play appliances just like our TVs and stereos.

Though purchasing an electric fireplace is easy, finding a right product needs some effort. Here are few tips which could help you make a better choice.

Why choose electric fireplaces

Today’s electric fireplaces are technology driven and are designed to offer greater levels of comfort and convenience to the users. Besides providing sufficient warmth and comfort, they add beauty to the interiors, by blending well with the existing modern and stylish furnishings. They offer significant benefits when compared to the conventional models – they are easy to handle, portable, mobile, offer flexibility to control heat, economical to run, possess no fire hazards, and above all, they are environmental friendly.

Main factors to consider while purchasing

Planning how, what and where to buy an electric fireplace helps you to narrow your search and makes your shopping easy. Consider the following:

Know your budget

It is always better to decide how much you want to spend on fireplace. The price of electric fireplaces varies from less than $300 dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on the design, heating capacity and other specifications. However, be a little flexible and when expecting a long lasting appliance, better not to compromise on the quality of the product.

Location of installation and size

This is an important aspect to consider before shopping, as it helps you choose the right product. Electric fireplaces are versatile when it comes to location, and their only requirement for installation is electricity. So, make sure that you choose a place with sufficient power sockets which support the device.

Secondly, check for the dimensions of the room. They will help you in choosing a fireplace with sufficient heat output. Also, measure how much free size is available to install the device. This prevents you from ordering a fireplace that is neither too small nor too big. If you mention your room specifications to the retailer, he will advise you the correct fireplace that matches your needs.

Types of electrical fireplaces

• Based on the technology

Electric fireplaces work on two different techniques - convection and infrared radiation.

In convection process, the fireplace draws cold air from your room into the steel tubes, where the air is heated and then is blown out to warm up the surroundings. Whereas, electric fireplaces with infrared technology, emit infrared radiation just like the sun. The radiation from these fireplaces directly strikes the objects in the space and gets converted into heat. This way the humidity and the oxygen levels in the air are left unaffected using infrared fireplaces.

Infrared electric fireplaces are quite popular than the convectional models, since they are more effective and energy efficient.

• Based on design

Electric fireplaces are available in two different models based on design. One is the free standing style and the other is the wall mounting style.

In free standing, the fireplaces are surrounded by the mantel made of different materials like wood, stone, brick and so on; designed to match various interiors. Few models do have some storage areas which can hold TVs, DVD players and other devices. Depending on the available space you can choose this model for improved interiors.

Wall mounting fireplaces are hanging units that can be installed on a dry wall just like our flat screen TVs. These models are well suited for apartments and modern and stylish interiors. The main advantage with these models is, they don’t need space like free standing style. So, in case you lack space in your home, you can go for this model.

Features and specifications

High quality electric fireplaces often come with a variety of features which include superior flame, log and ember technology, remote controls, wall thermostats, overheat protection, adjustable flame action, glass doors which are cool to touch, etc. Compare the features among different brands and choose the one which offers the best of all.

Make your investment worthy by spending a couple of hours to choose the right product. One thing you need to remember is that a reputed dealer will always provide reliable products.