How to choose an electric fireplace

Electric fireplace in the interior

Problems lie both in strict fire safety standards and in limited room dimensions. The safety standards stipulate the strictest prohibition on the placement of structures with open fire in a number of structures and premises. In addition to this, the construction of a wood-fired fireplace presupposes the obligatory construction of a chimney, which, in turn, is not realistic to construct in an apartment of a residential multi-storey building.

In cases where the desire to acquire a fireplace is primarily due to a variety of decor, and not heating the room, you can use a fireplace powered by the mains and equipped with the effect of a living flame. Fireplaces of this kind fit perfectly into almost any kind of interior.

The main advantage of this kind of product is guaranteed complete safety. Installation of electric fireplaces is possible both in apartment buildings and in small private houses. When deciding to buy such a fireplace, you should not worry about possible unpleasant incidents with both your family members and nearby residents.

An electric fireplace will not only warm you on a cool evening, but will also help you calm down, because its fire visually differs in no way from what occurs during wood burning

Such a decor item will surely become a highlight of the house and will attract interest and attention.

Many pessimists are of the opinion that such analogs cannot become a full replacement for a real wood-burning fireplace. But, if you look at the product from the other side, it becomes clear that the use of an electric fireplace is more affordable and safe, and also does not require the construction of a chimney, does not lead to smoke in the room in which it is located, does not require the arrangement of a place for storing firewood and the worries associated with them purchase.

Beautiful interiors with fireplaces:

Features and Benefits

Despite the obvious differences between electric fireplaces and stoves with a chimney, they have a huge number of advantages, thanks to which their popularity is growing every day.

Modern models have increased safety and in case of an emergency, they turn off automatically. Full compliance with fire safety requirements ensures peace of mind at home and outside. In addition, electrical units are environmentally friendly and do not emit toxic fumes that are harmful to the health of the body. And due to the lack of real fuel, the emission of carbon monoxide is also excluded.

Unlike their gas counterparts, these devices do not need water vapor, and the absence of emitted smoke does not require the removal and installation of a chimney. The presence of a thermostat provides an optimal temperature regime, and it will be possible to adjust the level of supplied heat manually. If an electric fireplace with the effect of a living flame is found in a small room, it can act as the main source of heat, but if it is located in a spacious room, then it can play the role of an additional heater.

These fireplaces are very easy to maintain, which will delight most housewives. To keep it clean, neither cleaning the spool is required, nor any other actions carried out with their gas counterparts or furnaces with a firebox. It is enough to wipe it from dust with a damp cloth. To visually support the fire, you should only replace burned out lamps from time to time.

An electric fireplace with a live flame effect will bring coziness and originality to any room, however, in addition to a large number of advantages, such a unit also has several disadvantages.For example, to change lamps, you will have to purchase only elements for this model, which may be missing or overpriced. Another significant disadvantage of such a device is the increased consumption of electricity, which will entail high electricity bills.

Types of devices

According to the way in which electric fireplaces are mounted, several types of devices are divided.

  • Fireplaces with built-in hearths. These are the simplest and cheapest options. Their ability to generate heat is usually quite low. In terms of the quality of the illusion of a burning flame, they also do not stand out. Perhaps, two positive aspects can be identified in their application: mobility and low cost. Such fireplaces can be easily carried and installed anywhere in the room. However, at present they have already ceased to enjoy universal recognition.
  • Devices using removable fireplace inserts. This is the most popular type, which is also called portal. A portal as a framing gives realism to the fireplace. It requires a well thought out installation location. A special cassette is used as a hearth, which is inserted into the portal.
  • Autonomous fireboxes. These are versatile fireplaces that can be used directly or inserted into the niche of a real, non-functional fireplace to simulate it.

Ready-made fireplace system in the interior of the room

World renowned manufacturers

Choosing a brand

An electric fireplace is not unusual today. Nowadays, buyers and manufacturers have appreciated their main advantages: mobility, autonomy, safety and versatility. In this regard, a wide network of manufacturers has been created. A wide variety of electric foci has led to confusion among buyers and different attitudes towards global manufacturers.

Modern research in the field of the quality of heating equipment has made it possible to create a rating of manufacturers:

  • Glen Dimplex Group. The Irish company has held the first position in the production of the highest quality electric fireplaces for 20 years in a row. Its products are distinguished by their high cost, wide variety of design solutions and excellent performance;

    Glen Dimplex Group Electric Fireplace Portal

  • Twin-Star International. The American company regularly shines on the world market and is set as an example to other companies. She has received numerous awards for “Best Electric Fireplaces”. The company's business card is functional and stylish fireplaces;

    Electric fireplace from Twin-Star International

  • BFM Europe is an English company with a ten-year history. In its ten years, the company has never been the object of criticism from buyers. She confidently continues to hold the first positions in her region in the production of modern heating equipment for hearths. The most popular series of fireplaces is produced under the Celsea brand. The Celsea brand features a very realistic imitation of wood burning on a fireplace screen. A no less recognizable brand is the Pureflamé series of fireplaces;
  • Paite Electric Appliance is a Chinese company that has earned a worldwide reputation with the highly successful Panoramic series. The company ranks first in China in terms of sales of advanced heating equipment and is tied for 4th place with BFM Europe in the world;

    Electric fireplace in a wooden portal from Paite Electric Appliance

  • Real Flame is the oldest American electric fireplace company. Built-in, wall-mounted and tabletop electric fireplaces are produced under its logos. In addition, Real Flame specializes in the production of multimedia portals and accessories for modern equipment.

    Real Flame produces modern models of semi-antique electric fireplaces

  • Electrolux - a Swiss company closes the rating of the world's most popular manufacturers of electric fireplaces. Despite its relatively young age (the company is only 5 years old), its hearths are highly respected by Swedes and Europeans. The company is confidently climbing the ranking ladder to the first place from year to year. Experts predict that it will come out on top in 3-4 years.

    Electric fireplaces Electrolux, Aircomfort are safe, easy to use

World-renowned manufacturers are actively using the capabilities of modern technologies for the most accurate imitation of wood burning on the screen of an electric fireplace. Quality fireplaces are equipped with LED lighting for ash, coals or logs. Some models are equipped with additional lighting elements to achieve even more realistic display of the flames.

The listed companies produce several model lines of fireplaces that differ in universal sizes and a different set of technical characteristics. For example, the American company Real Flame recently released a series of inexpensive electric stoves Tokio 33. The model in question has excellent performance and relatively low cost. Various modifications of this stove cost in the range of 40-60 thousand rubles.

Technical aspects

When choosing electric fireplaces for a city apartment, you need to pay attention not only to design, but also to other key aspects. The larger it is, the warmer it will be in the room in which the fireplace is installed.

The larger it is, the warmer it will be in the room in which the fireplace is installed.

Fire decoration

  • Imitation of smoldering. The cheapest, simplest and most unassuming design, which is just a backlit drawing. The fire turns out to be unnatural.
  • Imitation with fabric. A slightly more expensive way - strips of fabric stretched inside, flutter under the air jets driven by the fan. Bottom illuminated by a light bulb. This design looks a little better than smoldering, but not much.
  • Simulation using a monitor. Already a more perfect design - such a fireplace, in fact, is a very simple TV, which shows an exceptionally beautiful imitation of fire.
  • Imitation with mirrors. Artificial wood, around mirrors and reflectors. Such a design shows flicker well and can even be deceiving at first glance.
  • Steam simulation. A built-in electric fireplace with a smoke effect is much more effective than the others. In it, a special device generates cold steam, which is illuminated by a lamp. The image is very natural - such electric fireplaces with the effect of a living flame are expensive, but also beautiful.

Additional functions

An electric fireplace with a humidifier makes the air less dry, which compares favorably with all other devices that greatly dry the atmosphere. Electric fireplaces with sound simulate the crackling of wood, which adds comfort.

You need to choose in aggregate, it is important in the end:

  • Color - black electric fireplace or white electric fireplaces suit different styles and fit into different interiors.
  • Size - a large electric fireplace in the living room interior will be appropriate, but not suitable for a small room.
  • Location - Built-in fireplaces are good in separate rooms as well as a wall-mounted electric fireplace should be in place.

Proportionality, neatness and balance - and a living room with an electric fireplace will look just magical.

How an electric fireplace is installed

Installing a separate fireplace will be practically problem-free. Installation of wall fireplaces is different. Here, the main thing is to correctly calculate the weight of the suspended structure. For a product with a decent weight, you will have to make at least four fastening points.

In general, wall-mounted fireplaces stand out with several undeniable advantages. The main one is that their installation can be done in a room with any shape and size. The appearance of a fireplace of this kind will add special comfort to the interior of the room.It will successfully fit into the interior of both a hall and a bedroom or an office designed for business meetings and work.

We look at the video about installing a fireplace:

How to choose the right 3D electric fireplace

Companies launching electric fireplaces with 3d flame effect on the market delight consumers with more and more new models. How to choose the most favorable option? This is not difficult to do. You just need to correctly select the parameters of the product and determine for yourself a list of necessary functions.

In order not to be disappointed in your purchase, you need to understand that electric fireplaces with a flame effect are a combination of two systems:

  • actual heating of the room;
  • imitation of a real fire flame.

There are models commercially available that can combine these two functions or use them separately. The latter are much more convenient, because they allow you to enable only the function that is needed at the moment.

When choosing a 3d electric fireplace, you should pay attention to the following factors:

Dimensions and dimensions

They need to be selected depending on how exactly the device will be placed. Rocks should not cover half of a wall or room. Otherwise, you will very soon get tired of stumbling through it.

Registration

There are many options and designs. Before going to the store, you must at least have a rough idea of ​​how exactly your hearth should look like.

Appliance power

It is selected depending on the area of ​​the room and the functional purpose of the device. If an electric fireplace becomes the only source of heat, its power should be sufficient for full heating. In the case when the pseudo-focus will have only a decorative purpose, you can stop at a device of minimum power. It will not bring much heat, and it will save electricity significantly.

Functional content

Modern models of electric fireplaces are equipped with a steam generation system, have a soundtrack in the form of crackling firewood and rustling ash. In them, you can manually or automatically set the temperature indicators and the brightness of the lighting. Such models are much more expensive than traditional ones. So it's worth initially deciding if you need it.

Price

Prices for 3d electric fireplaces are very diverse. In some models, it is possible to first purchase a basic package, and later purchase a variety of additions in the form of sound or visual accompaniment.

Since an electric fireplace with the effect of a live flame is not an essential item, it is not worth saving on its purchase. Otherwise, you risk spending money and not getting the expected pleasure.

Inexpensive models most often have only a basic set of functions, and, as a rule, consume more electricity than their “fancy” counterparts. The audiovisual image created by devices in the "above average" price category is much brighter and more realistic. So if you have already decided to pamper yourself with such an acquisition, you will have to fork out.

The device and principle of operation of electric fireplaces

Electric fireplace

Despite the wide variety of electric fireplaces, they practically do not differ in the type of construction. Each electric fireplace consists of a portal and a hearth. A hearth is a place to simulate combustion in a heating system. A portal is a fireplace framing that serves as a decorative function in the fireplace. As for heating, the process of heat release takes place in a firebox or cassette. Depending on the model of the device, the heating mechanism has a rigid connection to the portal or a removable structure.

The hearth for an electric fireplace also belongs to decorative elements. The device itself is put into operation using Tenov (tubular electric heaters).Electric heating elements today are found in several variations, it can be:

  • Fully sealed quartz tubular spiral;
  • Biospiral;
  • Nichrome spiral.

The efficiency of the heating equipment is increased by a reflector located at the back of the mechanism. This mechanism plays an important role in space heating - it prevents heat loss by reflecting heat energy back into the heated space. To speed up the heating of the room, a special fan is used to increase the convection.

Electric fireplace hearth scheme

An electric hearth is considered a universal device, since the heating power can be regulated in it. Intensity control keeps the room temperature at the desired level regardless of weather conditions. Temperature control is carried out by turning on the heaters one by one (the fireplace consists of several heating sections).

It is worth noting expensive models that have gone far ahead in the issue of regulating the temperature regime in the room - the engineers "taught" such fireplaces to independently maintain the temperature and humidity in the room at a certain level.

Interesting: Laying fireplace stoves

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