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Builders are including fireplaces in homes less and less. In 2018, only 44% of homes that were built contained a fireplace.
However, many homeowners still find them appealing and have electrical fireplaces on their wishlist when house hunting. If you’re building a custom home or if you’re remodeling your current house, you probably have some questions about how to choose the best electric fireplace.
Well, you’ve come to the right place. Our guide has six tips that will help you choose a fireplace and tell you the benefits. Read on so you have all the information you need when you’re making decisions about your dream home.
1. Placement Is Key
One of the first things you need to consider when you’re choosing an electric fireplace is where you’re going to put it in your home. The good news is that you don’t need to have a vent for your electric fireplace like you would if you have a gas or log one. You have a lot more options when it comes to place.
Are you installing a fireplace purely for your enjoyment? You might want to have it in the owner’s bedroom.
If you want more people to see it and then another room may be a better option. Think about where it’s going to get the most use.
Once you’ve decided what room you’re going to put it in, you’ll need to pick where in the room you want it placed. If you’re short on space, a wall mounted is a great choice. If already have a wood or gas fireplace, there are electrical ones that can be inserted into the existing space.
The most important thing to remember is to leave space around the electric fireplace. You don’t want any objects, such as decor or furniture, to block the heater.
2. Your Electrical Setup
When you’re choosing the best electric fireplace for your home, you’ll need to look at how your electrical is set up. You may need to consult with an electrical depending on where the outlets are located in the room. You may have a room in your home that isn’t a viable option based on the existing electrical wiring.
Typically, an electrical fireplace only needs an outlet with a dedicated circuit breaker. It’s not recommended that you use an extension cord to reach the outlet, so keep that in mind when you’re choosing where to put the fireplace.
3. Consider Cleaning and Maintenance
One of the benefits of electric fireplaces is there isn’t any maintenance or cleaning required. Gas and log fireplaces are messy and require a lot of cleaning to keep them nice.
You won’t have to deal with cleaning up ash or scheduling maintenance visits. Convenience is what larger appeals to homeowners.
4. Pricing
When you’re remodeling your home and having a fireplace installed, you must consider the price. The good news is the cost can range from $600 to $10,000. If you have a smaller budget, then you can still invest in a great fireplace.
It’s crucial that you create a budget and stick with it. If you go over or spend more than you have, you’ll end up being stressed and you won’t be able to enjoy your new home feature. What style fireplace you want contributes heavily to the price as well as the electric fireplace installation.
If you plan on knocking down a wall or having one installed, you can expect the price to be much higher. Another factor that will increase the cost is if your wiring needs to be readjusted. Inserts will be slightly more affordable than wall mounted, so keep that in mind.
5. Design
The aspect that is the most exciting is choosing the design that you like. Are you looking for sleek and modern or do you want something more industrial?
There are so many options to choose from, you’ll be able to find the one to match your style. Once you’ve decided on the fireplace, you’ll need to consider the flame effect. There are many customization options.
Some come with one or two flame settings, while others have multiple colors and different flames. The majority of fireplaces use LED lights and mirrors to create the flame effect. The mirrors allow for different options when it comes to flame movement.
6. Heat Output
One of the downsides of electrical fireplaces is if your power goes out, so will your heat source. Unlike gas or log fireplaces that can continue after the power has been cut. However, if your home doesn’t have power outages frequently, then you don’t have much to worry about.
The size of the room will determine how much heat output is needed. It’s standard for an electric fireplace to be able to heat a 400-square-foot room.
7. Look for a Warranty
Purchasing an electrical fireplace is a big investment and you want to make sure it’s protected. The best electric fireplace is going to have a warranty.
The manufacturers will typically cover the first one or two years. Since electric fireplaces don’t have any maintenance, you shouldn’t have any issues, but it’s nice to have a warranty in place just in case.
Best Electric Fireplace
There are so many options to choose from it can make the decision process overwhelming at times. However, you can’t go wrong with an electric fireplace.
When you’re making the final decision about which is the best electric fireplace for your home, reference this post on how to choose an electric fireplace. The above tips will help you through the decision-making process.
Don’t wait any longer to get started, contact us here. We will give you a free quote and answer any questions you may have.
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