One of the novelties for many home buyers is a fireplace. Thoughts of cold nights lying on blankets in front of the crackling fire make the notion of having a fireplace a very appealing one. It can sometimes even be a major selling point of the house. At the time, the homeowners have every intention of using every night that the temperature outside drops. When Winter does come, however, many homeowners realize all too quickly the effort and labor involved with having a fireplace. This is when the benefits of electric fireplace inserts come into play.
Why Do Fireplaces Lose Their Novelty?
If someone was not raised to be accustomed to splitting logs in the snow, hauling firewood indoors every day, and cleaning a seemingly endless supply of ash and soot from inside the fireplace, as well as the area surrounding it, the novelty of having a fireplace in the home may wear off fairly quickly. Fireplaces are beautiful additions to many homes, as well as a cost effective method of heating. Many people fail to realize that they need to be cleaned on a regular basis, which can be quite a messy task. The tools used for starting and maintaining the fire must also be cleaned regularly. The chimney, or course, is one of the most important components of the fireplace that must be kept clean, typically requiring costly professional services. While the notion of curling up by a warm fire every night may seem appealing, the labor involved tends to deter many people from actually being able to do so.
What Is An Electric Fireplace Insert?
An electric fireplace insert is the ideal way to have all the beauty of a traditional wood burning fireplace with none of the mess or hassle. Electric inserts are designed to be either mounted inside of your current fireplace opening or simply rest inside of it. They plug into a standard wall outlet and work in a manner very similar to a portable room heater. They consist of a heating element, which is used to increase the temperature of the ‘logs’ within the fireplace. The logs are often made of ceramic and are created to mimic the appearance of real firewood. As the logs heat up, they increase the temperature of the air being passed over them by the fireplace’s internal fan. The heated air blows into the room, raising the room’s overall temperature.
Every detail of the electric fireplace insert is designed to give off the appearance of a wood burning fireplace. The ceramic logs are often highly detailed and, from a distance, can easily be mistaken for real wood logs. Most units will incorporate unique lighting techniques that use flickering bulbs to create the look of real flames. Colored elements designed to resemble the look of flames in red, yellow, and orange tones, can also be incorporated into the design. The fireplace’s built in fan creates the movement needed to bring the elements to life.
What Are The Benefits Of An Electric Fireplace Insert?
An electric insert allows homeowners to utilize the existing fireplace structure in a most cost effective and less troublesome manner. Electric inserts are easy to maintain and extremely affordable. They also provide a more effective and consistent heating capacity than a traditional fire would. They eliminate the need to constantly deal with soot and ash removal, as well as the task of either chopping or buying fireplace wood.
During the warmer months, some people still enjoy the look of a glowing fire without necessarily wanting the heat that can be associated with one. Unlike a traditional wood burning fireplace, an electric fireplace insert allows the visual benefits of a fire without the associated heat. Most units have a built in switch that allows the user to shut off the heating element of the unit. It can then be used simply as a visual accessory, with the electric component of the unit providing a glowing effect to the ceramic logs. The fan can be used as well to achieve the full visual fireplace effect, complete with ‘flames’, while also providing an additional source of air circulation within the room. Many people enjoy this feature for social gatherings in their home. The ability to offer the visual appeal of a fireplace without the heat or the mess is definitely one of the main highlights of the year round benefits of an electric fireplace insert.
For people that do prefer both a wood burning fireplace and an electric unit, they can still experience the benefits of both. There are, in fact, a number of consumers who utilize their fireplace for wood burning purposes during the coldest times of the year and then clean the fireplace and insert the electric unit when less effort is desired to maintain the warmth in the room. Since the electric inserts are typically not permanent installations, they can be removed and reinstalled with ease.
Related topics: