Benefits of an electric fireplace

By Paul F.P. Pogue

For homeowners who like the warm and cozy aesthetic of a fireplace but can’t or won’t go to the hassle of installing a chimney for a wood-burning or gas fireplace, an electric fireplace provides a fine alternative.

Electric fireplaces use a variety of optical illusions, including lights and mirrors, to create the visual effect of a flame. Different models create a distinct look depending on what you want, ranging from a model that looks exactly like a traditional fireplace log and flames to sharp-edged, modern designs with a futuristic or contemporary look with rocks or other materials in place of the log.

Electric fireplace inserts are also easy to install. Most of the time, a homeowner can do it themselves — all it requires is a power outlet and someplace to set the fireplace. You’ll be looking at a more complicated job if you want to install on a wall or create a more traditional look, such as with a wood mantel or stone surround.

Electric fireplaces cost anywhere from $200 to a few thousand dollars depending on what you’re looking for. Most models range between $700 and $800. They also have a small but noticeable energy cost. On average, an electric fireplace insert uses $1.84 in electricity every eight hours.

You can mount an electric fireplace in any of the ways traditional wood-burning or gas fireplaces can be installed in a wall, plus they can be wall-mounted or even free-standing in a room as an attractive conversation piece. They also provide much more flexibility.

If you decide you want to move your electric fireplace, it’s easy to haul it to the next room, plug it in and be ready to go.

In many ways, an electric fireplace has more in common with furniture and cabinetry than traditional fireplaces.

An electric fireplace also makes an ideal choice for an apartment or condominium because of its minimal requirements.

Some homeowners prefer to install an electric fireplace TV stand. The compact size and utility of electric fireplaces make them ideal for installing in a cabinet beneath a TV and adding unique flair to a room.

Homeowners can decorate an electric fireplace with the same design ideas as wood-burning or gas models. Popular surround, mantel and hearth options include brick, granite, slate, stone, wood and marble. Furthermore, since electric fireplaces generate so little heat, they don’t require the same safety precautions as wood-burning or gas fireplaces. They don’t need fireplace screens to prevent ashes or stray flames from escaping, nor do you have to install glass fireplace doors to keep everything inside.

You can install a hearth for aesthetic reasons, but it’s not necessary.

An electric fireplace doesn’t require much maintenance or upkeep, especially compared to its wood-burning and gas fireplace cousins. It consumes no fuel, creates no smell or smoke, generates no waste product and requires no chimney or venting system.

Electric fireplaces do present safety concerns, especially contemporary metal designs or if you have children in the house. Ensure sharp edges and corners are protected.

It is said that the Christmas tree originated in Protestant homes in Germany and Livonia (modern Estonia and Latvia) in the 16th century.

There is also the charming legend that the lighted Christmas tree originated when the 16th-century Protestant firebrand Martin Luther was walking home on a cold winter’s night. It is said that he saw the stars sparkling through the branches of the evergreens, and this inspired the wiring of candles onto the boughs of Christmas trees.

Christmas in general and Christmas trees in particular had a slow start in the United States. The Puritans were against the special celebration of Christmas. In fact, it was an offense punishable with jail time if a person celebrated Christmas in any way other than going to church. The first Christmas tree is said to have appeared in North America in 1781 at a party held by Hessian soldiers in Quebec.

Christmas trees did not widely appear in American homes until the 1830s. Images of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert around the Christmas tree at Windsor Castle pushed the custom over the top. But putting a large tree in a private home raised some issues beyond the candles burning the house down.

In the 19th century, finding a support system for holding a Christmas tree upright was a challenge. The first supports