Why Switch to an Electric Fireplace? See Them Lit
Switching to an electric fireplace makes sense when you want the look of a fire with the simplest possible installation. There is no gas line, no vent and no chimney: most units plug into an ordinary outlet, and they are the least expensive kind of fireplace to buy and install. What you give up is serious heat. An electric fireplace warms one room the way a space heater does, not the whole floor. Here is what that means in practice, and why the best way to decide is to see them lit in our Downers Grove showroom.
What an electric fireplace can and cannot do
It can give you a convincing flame. The current LED flame effects are far better than the ones from a few years ago, with layered flames, a glowing ember bed and adjustable color and speed. A few models use a fine water mist lit from below, and the flicker is remarkably close to real fire.
It can warm a room. On a standard 120 V outlet an electric fireplace is limited to about 1,500 W, which is roughly 5,000 BTU an hour. That takes the chill off a bedroom, a den or a home office. It will not carry an open-plan main floor through January, and it will not run when the power is out.
It can run the flame with the heat off. Nearly every model does, so you can have the look on a mild May evening without warming the room. Gas and wood cannot separate the two.
Why people switch
Almost no upkeep
No ash, no soot, no chimney to sweep, no gas connections to check. Dust the glass and the vents now and then, and that is the maintenance. If the heater or the fan fails after years of use, it can usually be replaced without replacing the whole unit.
Nothing burns in the room
There is no combustion, so there is no smoke, no fumes and no carbon monoxide to think about. The glass on most units stays cool enough to touch, and the warm air comes from a small heater outlet at the top or the bottom of the frame. Nearly every unit has an overheat cut-out that shuts the heater off if it gets too hot, and most have a timer and a thermostat.
The simplest installation there is
A wall-mount or a plug-in insert hangs on the wall or drops into place and plugs in. A recessed unit needs a framed opening and a little drywall work. A large built-in or a hard-wired linear unit may need its own circuit, which is a short job for an electrician. There is no vent to route and no wall opened up for a gas line. Gas costs more to install than electric, and a new masonry fireplace more still; electric is the low end by a wide margin.
It goes where the others cannot
A condo where the flue cannot be altered. A bedroom on the second floor. A finished basement with no way to vent. A wall of built-in shelves with a spot left for a fire. A rented townhome where you cannot cut into the wall. If there is an outlet, an electric fireplace can go there, and a wall-mount comes with you when you move.
Which type suits your room
| Type | Where it goes | Installation | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall-mount | Hangs on the wall like a television | Two brackets and an outlet | Bedrooms, offices, renters |
| Recessed linear | Set flush into the wall, often under a television | A framed opening; larger sizes may need a dedicated circuit | Living rooms, feature walls |
| Built-in firebox | Framed into a wall, a mantel or cabinetry | Carpentry around it, then plug in or hard-wire | A traditional look without gas |
| Insert | Inside an existing masonry fireplace | Slides in and plugs in; the damper is closed | An unused or unsound wood fireplace |
| Freestanding stove | On the floor, on its own | Plug in | Sunrooms, cottages, small rooms |
| Mantel package | A complete surround with the firebox in it | Set against the wall and plug in | A room with no fireplace at all |
What it costs to run, in words
The flame effect on its own uses about as much power as a couple of light bulbs, so leaving it on for the look costs very little. The heater is another matter: at full output it draws the same 1,500 W as any large space heater, so it tracks your electricity rate. In this part of Illinois, natural gas has long been the cheaper way to make a given amount of heat, which is why a gas fireplace usually costs less to run for real warmth and an electric one costs less to buy. If you mostly want the look, with heat now and then, electric is the sensible choice. If you want to heat a big room every evening, read our guide to gas versus electric fireplaces before you decide.
How to choose one
- Measure the wall or the opening: width, height and depth. Linear units come in set lengths, and the right length for a wall is usually longer than people expect.
- Decide whether heat matters. If it does, look at where the heater blows and whether a thermostat is built in.
- Look at the flame in person. Photographs flatter every flame effect; the differences show up when you stand in front of them.
- Check the outlet. A dedicated circuit is worth having for a large built-in, so the heater does not trip a breaker it shares with other things.
- Think about the television. Many people mount one above a recessed linear unit; on most models the heat comes out the front or the bottom, away from the wall above, but the clearance in the manual still applies.
See them lit in the showroom
This is the one kind of fireplace you can judge fully before you buy. The electric fireplaces on our showroom floor are lit, so you can compare flame effects side by side, switch the heat on and off, try the remotes, and see how a wall-mount looks next to a recessed linear unit. Bring a photo of the wall and its measurements, and we will tell you which sizes fit and which we would choose. Our electric fireplace page has more on what we carry for homes in Downers Grove and the western suburbs, and the showroom is open seven days.
Common questions
Do electric fireplaces give off real heat?
Yes, but modest heat. On a standard outlet the heater is limited to about 1,500 W, roughly 5,000 BTU an hour, which warms one room. A gas fireplace at 20,000 to 40,000 BTU is doing a different job.
Do I need an electrician?
Usually not. Wall-mounts, inserts, stoves and mantel packages plug into a standard outlet. A large recessed or built-in unit may need a dedicated circuit, and hard-wired units always do. We tell you which at the visit, before anything is ordered.
Can I put an electric insert into my old wood fireplace?
Yes. An electric insert slides into the masonry opening and plugs in, with no liner and no gas line. Close the damper first, so warm room air stops going up the chimney. It is the answer when the chimney is unsound or gas cannot be run to the room.
How long does an electric fireplace last?
Most run ten to twenty years. The LED flame usually outlives the heater and the fan, and those parts can be replaced on their own.
Is it safe to leave an electric fireplace on?
Treat the heater like any space heater: keep fabric and furniture clear of the outlet and do not run it on an extension cord. The flame on its own can stay on all evening. Nearly every unit has an overheat cut-out and a timer, and the glass stays cool on most models.
Can I mount a television above one?
Usually, yes. Most recessed linear units are designed for it, with the heat blowing forward or down rather than up the wall. Check the clearance in the manual for the model you choose, and we will confirm it for your wall.
Talk it through in the showroom
A Fireplace Store and More is at 1202-B 75th Street in Downers Grove, open seven days. Bring a photo of the wall or the opening, or just the question. We size it, quote it in writing and install it with our own team. Book a showroom or in-home visit, ask for a written estimate, or call (630) 241-1919.