Benefits Of An Electric Fireplace
Is there anything cozier than settling down in front of a fire to enjoy the warmth and ambiance it provides? But, it isn’t without a cost: fires can create some problems along with those benefits. One of the ways to get the best of both worlds is to have an electric fireplace. Here are some of the reasons why:
Ashes, ashes
Burning logs and wood not only create ashes but also causes other problems — for example, stray ashes, bugs in the wood, and pieces of bark on the hearth. There is also having to empty ashes from the grate! Fires are a messy business. Not to mention the smell, which can be pleasant enough until it becomes tiresome. Electric fireplaces have none of those.
Flames
Fire and even a gas fireplace have the dangers inherent of flames. Electric fireplaces don’t have flames, per se, and the heat which is emitted had been compared to warm air coming out of a hairdryer. There is no open flame, no chimney, and no carbon monoxide. The only thing which is too hot to touch is the actual heating element, which means it’s a good idea to use the standard safety precautions one would with any heat-producing device.
Pollutants
Without burning wood, an electric fireplace doesn’t create the particulates which have added to the dirty Phoenix air. Therefore, during ‘no-burn days’ designated by the Maricopa Air Quality Department here in the Valley, the electric fireplace owner can bask in the warmth of his electric fireplace, comforted by the knowledge that he isn’t adding to the pollution problem.
Options
You can choose an electric fireplace with backlighting, side lighting, or even varying colored flame effects. You can also have the flame without the heat, which is handy in summer when you’d like to be mesmerized without breaking into a sweat.
Versatility
Electric fireplaces can be inserts, mantles, or hung on the wall, much like you would a piece of art. There are forced air and infrared forced options. A forced-air model can heat up to 400 square feet(2), and an infrared model will heat close to 1000 feet., for those who have a more significant area to heat.
Because of the number of options an electric fireplace offers, it can be the focal point, such as an entertainment center model, or a more subdued part of a room like a wall unit.
If you opt to purchase a clean, versatile, beautiful electric fireplace, don’t forget the smoke detector, because safety is never an option.
Zimmerman Electric is here to serve your residential and commercial electrical needs throughout the Phoenix Valley metro area. Call us today if you need electrical work performed 602-497-3365.
