Electric Fireplace Heat Ratings.

One thing you'll discover quickly when looking online for an electric fireplace is that there are literally thousands of choices out there for unique electric fireplaces. The amount of choices are truly mind-boggling; with so many fireplace styles, sizes and designs, how can you decide which is best for your home? An electric fireplace is not a terribly complex piece of equipment, but you should know a bit about how they work before you go shopping for one.

Free standing electric fireplaces generate heat with an electric coil heater. A fan forces the air out, warming the room. These fans are typically very quiet, but you should always ask the salesperson about how much sound the fans generate before making a purchase. Don't be afraid to ask for a demonstration - you don't want to end up with an electric fireplace mantle which keeps you up at night! This style of electric fireplace heater does a pretty good job of spreading heat over large areas evenly, but keep in mind that it probably won't be able to heat your entire home all by itself.

In general, a good quality fireplace will generate somewhere around 5000 BTUs in terms of heat. This is enough to make around 400 square feet warm - the size of a large room or a studio apartment. They can be powered by any 120 volt outlet and are often are controlled by a simple on/off switch. Some of the more sophisticated versions have adjustable heat controls, however - this is a good choice, especially for smaller homes. Now as for the illusion of fire in the fireplace, there are a few ways you can go. Some electric fireplaces feature just a static image of flames, while others are much more realistic. An especially popular choice is the 3D holographic image of flames, which looks just as if there was a real fire in your electric fireplace. Some models even let you control the appearance of these virtual flames, which are adjustable to look like a gently glowing embers or a roaring fire.

Before you go shopping for an electric fireplace, look for one with a top quality heat system and ensure that it has a sufficient BTU rating to heat your home. Design is more complex - there are certainly a lot of options, including the false flames. Unlike a real fireplace, an electric fireplace heater won't cause your insurance rates to go up - they are very safe. However, you should make sure that yours comes with a strong warranty. Finding the best electric fireplace for your home is simply a matter of doing research, asking questions and of course staying within the limits of your own personal tastes.">