How does an electric fireplace work? 

Electric fireplaces are increasingly becoming a popular way to heat family rooms, living rooms, and master bedrooms. Thanks to their ability to deliver the gentle warmth & comfort of a traditional fireplace, while providing an elegant look to the room. Plus, they’re more eco-friendly than traditional fireplaces as they don’t produce any soot or fumes. This makes them a great option for condos, apartments, and other spaces where wood fires are not allowed. 

But, have you ever wondered how an electric fireplace work? Specifically, how do electric fireplaces heat up a room? And how do their flames work and look real? 

Well, continue reading this article to find out! 

How does an electric fireplace work?

An electric fireplace keeps things simple and doesn’t emit smoke and gas byproducts as it doesn’t produce real fire. Besides, you only need to plug the unit into a wall outlet and press the power button to turn it on, just like you would with any other electrical device.  

When it comes to how an electric fireplace works, each model operates slightly differently. This is because different manufacturers put a little twist on special features as well as the internal layout of their units. Nonetheless, most electric fireplace models generally work on the same set of principles. 

Specifically, electric fireplaces operate under 2 distinct principles; convection and infrared/ radiant heating. Convection is the most common approach as it functions like a normal wood stove, only that it uses electricity. 

• Convection Heating

With convection heating, electric fireplaces take/ draw in cool air through a side-mounted or rear port. An internal electric element quickly heats the cool air, while an inbuilt fan system pushes the hot air back out into the room through the top vents on either side of the unit. Thus heating up the surrounding items or people in its range. 

When you turn on an electric fireplace that works by this mechanism, electric current (about 10A in 1500W) starts to run in the heating coils. These coils are usually made of nichrome wires. As the name suggests, the heating coils then heat up, warming up the air around them. The fan system then pushes the hot air out of the unit into the room. 

• Infrared technology

On the other hand, electric fireplaces that use infrared technology directly heat objects within a room. To be precise, they use electromagnetic waves that go directly into every object they come into contact with instead of warming them by blowing hot air over them. As a result, this allows you to feel comfortable at a lower temperature, making infrared technology a great alternative for those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on home heating.  

Either way, electric fireplaces are a great way to add supplemental heating to the desired room without the mess, dangerous gas, or fumes. Plus, electric fireplaces can generate enough heat to warm a space of up to 400 sq ft or larger, depending on the model you choose. Better yet, they’re much more energy efficient than traditional gas or wood-burning fireplaces since none of this heat is lost through a chimney. Different size electric fireplaces  heat various room sizes, but most units can heat about 400 – 600 sq ft. This makes electric fireplaces a great way to add supplemental heating for rooms that are about 400 sq ft in size, depending on their BTU output. However, some larger models such as mantel electric fireplaces are ideal for heating larger rooms compared to free-standing units.  

Overall, electric fireplaces help to keep costs down as they’re relatively cheap to run. To learn more, check out this article to determine how much electricity electric fireplaces use. In terms of aesthetics, an electric fireplace allows you to change the size of the flame and even make it more realistic. 

How does an Electric fireplace work to generate flames? 

Although the flame mechanism in an electric fireplace seems a little complex, it’s extremely easy to create. Here’s the basic principle most electric fireplaces use to create realistic flames;

First of all, the flames produced by electric fireplaces can be enjoyed with or without heat, although some are more realistic than others. Whichever the case, LED is the most common  technology for creating the flame effect in these devices. The light from the LED then bounces off a 3D refractor (rotisserie-style silver refractor) to create dynamic 3D patterns that resemble a realistic flame. 

Interestingly, you can control the flame functionality of the electric fireplace including the flame effects and color with an app or remote control. However, some models provide more flame effects and color options than others, which is an important factor to consider when buying the best electric fireplace for your home. 

Do electric fireplaces really heat a room? 

Some homeowners are skeptical if electric fireplaces generate enough heat in the room simply because the unit doesn’t get hot to the touch. However, the only reason these heating devices don’t get hot to the touch is that they have heat-resistant glass to prevent users from being burned when they touch them. 

The truth of the matter though is that electric fireplaces produce enough heat to warm an average room. Thanks to the 1500 W heating elements on most of these devices, allowing them to generate up to 5100 BTUs of heat. However, you can only use these units to provide supplemental heat to a room. In comparison, a gas fireplace can produce about 20,000 – 40,000 BTUs, while wood stoves and fireplaces can generate 15000 to 60,000 BTUs per hour. On the other hand, a forced air heating system in an 1800 – 2000 sq ft home can produce around 80,000 – 100, 000 BTUs per hour. 

In short, while an electric fireplace will generate enough heat to warm your living room or bedroom, don’t expect too much from it in terms of heating the entire house. 

Can you convert an electric fireplace into gas? 

No! It’s impossible to convert your electric fireplace into a gas-powered unit because of safety concerns. Plus, a gas fireplace requires a vent that travels through the roof or an exterior wall, yet emission-free electric fireplaces don’t have it. In addition, the construction of electric fireplaces isn’t designed to use open gas flames.

Interestingly, it’s possible to convert an existing wood-burning or gas fireplace to an electric unit by using an electric fireplace insert. However, this may require professional consultation to make necessary modifications to the existing chimney/ vents and fireplace to ensure safe and proper installation. 

Conclusion 

An electric fireplace is an excellent alternative to conventional gas or wood-burning fireplaces, especially if you’ve got kids or pets. More importantly, they provide enough heat to adequately warm various spaces, depending on the type and manufacturer of the unit. In most cases, homeowners use mantel electric fireplaces for larger rooms, while limiting free-standing units to small spaces. Either way, both models are a great way to provide supplemental heating to various spaces in your home, while enhancing the aesthetic of the room.