Is an electric fireplace a space heater? 

An electric fireplace works the same way as a space heater since they both use electricity to generate heat. In addition, most space heaters and electric fireplaces use fan-forced heaters with heating elements to provide heat. While other models use infrared heating technology to supply heat to the room. 

Does this mean you can use an electric fireplace as a space heater? Is an electric fireplace a space heater? 

Let’s start from there! 

Is an electric fireplace a space heater?

Despite sharing similar components and working like a conventional space heater, an electric fireplace is NOT a space heater. Instead, an electric fireplace is an element for your home decor that provides the illusion of warmth, without actually heating the room. Although some electric fireplaces produce a substantial amount of heat than others they’re still not as powerful as other space heating appliances like boilers and furnaces. For that, you can only use electric fireplaces as a supplemental heat source, but not as a main heat source.

Moving on, electric fireplaces are available in a wide range of styles to match your home’s decor. In addition, some models come as freestanding units that sit on the floor and imitate real flames using LED lights. 

To sum up, even though electric fireplaces look like actual fires, they shouldn’t be treated as space heaters as they’ll only warm up the immediate area around them, instead of heating the entire room. However, they’re for increasing the room temperature and enhancing the room’s style and comfort. 

Electric Fireplaces Vs Space Heaters; Major differences 

As mentioned earlier, space heaters and electric fireplaces are similar in several ways. After all, they both use electricity to produce heat, without the need for a real fire. Nonetheless, despite these similarities, these units are very different. 

Some notable differences between electric fireplaces and space heaters are; 

• Safety

In general, electric fireplaces are equipped with many safety features that are not available in space heaters. For example, many electric fireplace models have childproofing technology that prevents kids and pets from getting too close to the heating element or flame when the device is in use. In addition, the glass front of most wall-mounted electric fireplaces remains cool to the touch, making them safe for pets and kids. On top of that, most units have sensors that automatically shut off the fireplace if it overheats due to a blocked air intake vent. 

However, this doesn’t mean that electric fireplaces are 100% risk-free. For instance, the heating vents on the front or sides of some models can still get hot. 

Space heaters

On the other hand, space heaters may result in burns & injuries, particularly for pets and kids as they can trip over the power cord or bump into the appliance. Moreover, space heaters overheat easily over time, which can spark an accidental fire if there is anything flammable close to the device. More notably, space heaters have a higher risk of fire hazards than electric fireplaces. In fact, according to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency), heating equipment is the 2nd leading cause of home fires and fire deaths. Heating equipment includes wood stoves, central heating, and portable & fixed space heaters. Of these, portable space heaters (electric and propane) cause 8% of the fires, while fixed space heaters (freestanding and wall-mounted propane space heaters) cause 17% of the fires. 

On the bright side, modern space heaters have safety features like cool-to-the-touch housing and an anti-tip emergency shut-off function. But even with these advanced features, electric fireplaces are safer than space heaters. After all, electric fireplaces are less likely to spark house fires like conventional space heaters since their flames are fake. 

• Aesthetics 

Electric fireplaces are easy to match with any living space, thanks to their architectural and stylish design. To be precise, these units imitate traditional wood-burning fireplaces, and even come with realistic logs and flames. As a result, electric fireplaces are way more aesthetically appealing than space heaters as far as design is concerned. 

In addition, electric fireplaces are available in different sizes, colors, designs, and shapes. This makes it easy to create a fashion-forward focal point with ambiance and coziness in your living space. More importantly, electric fireplaces are usually fixed in place, except for portable freestanding electric fireplace stoves. 

Similar to electric fireplaces, space heaters are also available in different shapes and sizes, including portable units that are easy to move around the house and wall units. However, most space heaters have a simple design and are not as aesthetically pleasing as electric fireplaces. 

• Installation 

Electric fireplaces add an attractive visual enhancement to any living space without the cost or environmental concerns associated with chimneys and real flame. Plus, they do not produce smoke, particulates, and other harmful emissions like carbon monoxide. And although they don’t look as impressive as their wood-burning and masonry counterparts, they’re compact and extremely stylish. 

Best of all, these units are very versatile as they can be installed almost anywhere. For instance, you can build them directly into a wall surround, hang them on a wall or even insert them into an existing fireplace. Either way, this makes them a perfect option for those who want to install a fireplace in their home without installing one permanently. 

In addition, electric fireplaces have a relatively simple setup process. Most models plug into a standard outlet, which can be done in minutes since no rewiring is needed. On top of that, they require minimal upkeep, which usually involves occasional dusting to prevent dirt buildup. 

Similarly, most space heaters require minimal installation as most units simply plug into a regular outlet. However, you should be very cautious when using these units in your home as they are one of the primary causes of home fires. 

• Heating power 

Most homeowners choose electric fireplaces for the room atmosphere they create rather than their heat output. In most cases, electric fireplaces have a maximum wattage of 1500W and can either be hard-wired to a dedicated breaker or plugged into a 120V outlet. In addition, most units require about 11A to operate the heater and usually have 2 heat settings (750W & 1500W). The wattage determines how much electricity your electric fireplace uses during operation and is often listed on the product’s manual/ label. 

In comparison, the wattage of space heaters varies significantly from 800 to 3000W, with larger units using more power than smaller units. Surprisingly, most electric space heaters plug into a 120v outlet and use a maximum of 1500W, just like electric fireplaces. However, space heaters that are larger than 1500W will need a 240V circuit. All in all, space heaters generate heat more quickly and effectively than electric fireplaces. 

Conclusion 

Although space heaters and electric fireplaces work in similar ways, their practicality and functionality are very different. Plus, they’re used for different purposes around the house. For instance, electric fireplaces are mainly used to imitate the look and feel of traditional wood-burning fireplaces. On the other hand, space heaters are mainly used to add supplemental heating to the space.