There are many Pros and Cons to owning electric fireplaces.  Fortunately, the pros outweigh the cons.  The days of needing a traditional home to enjoy wood burning fireplaces are long gone. Now with the popularity and convenience of electric fireplaces you too can enjoy the comfort of having a beautiful fire place in your apartment, condo, townhome, or villa.Regardless of where you live whether in the fidget north, windy Midwest, or tropical South, electric fireplaces can work for you.  Electric fireplaces are so very well built and closely resemble the traditional wood burning fire places. They also give you the same warm feel, crackling sounds of the burning wood, and the luminance look of flames leaping from the wood ambers.There are many pros to electric fireplaces.the number one pro to electric fireplaces is that they produce zero emissions, so you can put them almost anywhere in your home: bedroom, living room, dining room, and even your bathroom. They are also perfect for heating both large and small areas and takes up very little space.   An electric fireplace may be the most logical option if you live in an apartment or condominium where there is no existing fireplace.  They don’t require chimneys or gas lines.Most electric fireplaces are portable, so they can be moved from room to room or even taken with you when you relocate.  You could even have one in your college dorm room.  These units don’t require any remodeling or big home improvements.  You can just plug them in to “install” them.  Electric fireplaces can be a superior selection for supplementary domestic vapors. They are also such cheaper to install than traditional fireplaces. You can choose to turn off the heat and just have the flames flicker for ambiance (so, they’re appropriate even in warm climates). The ceramic logs that come with electric fireplaces offer a reasonably realistic wood-burning look. You don’t need any venting to the outside.  So, if you want a room heater that can also provide a bit of ambiance (and be better looking than your typical space heater), and electric fireplace is a good buy.On the other hand, there are a few cons.  Fireplaces that are electric are more expensive then electrical heaters.  You probably shouldn’t buy an electric fireplace if you’re looking to save money.   Do not plan on using your electric fireplace as backup heating or lighting during a power outage (something you can do with wood or gas units), because it will not work.  These types of fireplaces have the lowest BTU output in comparison to other options.

Portable Electric Heaters

The first electric fireplaces appeared on the market in the 1950′s. These “units” as they were called did not produce any heat. Were made of cardboard decorated as if brick with a portrait of a decorated mantle. Magically small bulbs like those used on a Christmas tree shines behind red cellophane blown here and there by a small fan and viola at Christmas any one could have a fireplace.

These models are still available. They were first sold at such places as “Green Stamp Stores”. Today they are most often available at discount dollar stores or by catalog order. The evolution of the electric fireplace has come full circle. Today’s models produce image of a flame as well as the cackle and pop of a flame. Most also produce heat and are equipped with thermostats and safety features. Unlike the cardboard facsimiles first sold these modern electric fireplaces are beautifully manufactured of wood, or materials light but resembling brick. Models come with full mantels to hang those Christmas Stockings from or display Gran and Gramps photo for the grandchildren.

A fan can help disperse warm air from the “fire” on a cold winters night. Some models are equipped with a small area to warm your toes or dry your boots. The electric fire place is available on line at Internet sites offering BBQ’s, gas fireplaces, or grills. A buyer can check the Yellow Pages for dealers near them. Some furniture stores offer electric fireplace models. Many mail order catalogs offer electric fire places. Most dealers recommend purchasing your electric fireplace well before the winter season as supplies can be short.

Electric Fireplace