Electric fires can be a great way to add style and a little bit of extra warmth to your home. They're economical, easy to operate and don't require any special skills to set up or maintain. But before you go out and buy the first one you like the look of, you should consider your options as there might be more than you think! In this article, we'll cover all you need to know about electric fires including how they work and which are the best types. 

Contents

What is an Electric Fire?
What are the Different Types of Electric Fires to Buy?
What are the Benefits of an Electric Fire?
What are the Disadvantages of Electric Fires? 
How Does an Electric Fire Work?
How Much Does An Electric Fire Cost To Run?
What are the Electrical Requirements for an Electric Fire?
Are Electric Fires a Good Heating Option?

Electric fires are a great alternative to traditional wood burners and gas fires. They don't require maintenance, wood chopping, chimney cleaning or expensive installation. Electric fires are often placed on a wall or inside conventional fireplaces which are no longer in use. They plug into a standard UK 3-pin socket and can all run on a "flame only" setting without the heat.

There are lots of different types of electric fire from inset to hanging wall fires, here you can see the different types of electric fire that are available and see which one suits your needs the most.

The first thing to consider is the size and shape of your room. If you've got a long rectangular space, then a built-in electric fire is perfect for a media wall and could be the way to go. If you have tall ceilings you might want to go for a stove on a log store that provides you with a substantial product with a bit more height, these products are particularly popular in extensions or conservatories. You'll also need to consider what budget you have available to spend on an electric fire or fireplace, it’s certainly worth getting one that's good quality. Finally, take into account the aesthetic you want to achieve, we've listed some of the popular electric fire types which all feature different characteristics.  

• Media Wall Electric Fires - Media Wall electric fires can feature one, two or three-sided glass with varying flame colours and fuel beds. The fires are built into a false chimney and often incorporate a TV, sound bar or shelving.

• Electric Log Burner Stoves - Electric stoves are 100% efficient and provide you with instant heat. These wood burner-style heaters are fantastic to look at and can be used all year round with the flame effect-only setting.

• Electric Fireplaces - Electric fireplace suites create a comforting atmosphere with low or no installation cost. These electric fire suites include both the electric fire and fireplace and are available in various materials.

• Hearth-Mounted Electric Fire - Also known as an inset electric fire, hearth-mounted fires sit in a recess within your fireplace or wall. Many of these electric fires are designed to fit into a standard builder's opening which measures 16" wide by 22” high. Some inset fires can be a touch wider with the largest measuring 22”. 

• Wall-Mounted Electric Fires - Wall-mounted electric fires are hung from a wall and provide a stylish, modern feel which helps to freshen up a living space. These wall-hung electric fires and fireplaces are useful heating options when floor space is limited.

• Electric Fire Baskets - Simply plug in to create the look of an open fire without the need for a chimney or flue. Electric fire baskets produce a realistic flicker or glow effect which can be used independently of the 2kW fan heater. If an electric fire basket is your perfect choice you may wish to consider buying a fireplace chamber to complete the cosy aesthetic.

1. Low Cost - Electric fires can be more affordable than lots of other types of heaters. They offer a flame effect-only setting that is incredibly cheap to run and they look great too! For more information on the cost of running an electric fire visit our dedicated blog here.
2. Easy Installation - Electric fires are super easy to install so you can either take this on yourself or get a builder in if you’re not confident of getting a really neat finish. Electric fires & fireplaces are often ready to go straight out of the box so simply plug them in! 
3. No Mess - Electric fires create the ambience and warmth of a wood fireplace without any of the mess that comes with a traditional log burner. No chopping logs or emptying ash, just press the remote and enjoy. 
4. No Emissions - Electric fireplaces are efficient and don’t create the emissions like a wood burner or gas fire would. This is a huge benefit, especially for people with asthma or other breathing problems who are really conscious about their health. 
5. Efficiency - Electric fireplaces are great sources of supplemental heat. They offer a remarkable  100% efficiency which means all the heat they produce is pushed out into the room. No excess heat is lost through the chimney or flue but you are restricted to 2kW of heat.
6. Placement - Electric fires and stoves can be placed anywhere in almost any room in the home. By only heating a single room in your house an electric fire could help to bring down your heating bill too. Another great benefit of an electric fire is that they are very safe to use around children & pets, they don’t get too hot and there is no open flame.
7. No Maintenance - Your electric fireplace will bring you joy for years with its long-lasting LED lights. Once installed, there is no annual maintenance of the fire or sweeping of your chimney; you might need to dust them every now and then! 

I’m afraid like all heating appliances there are some drawbacks to electric fires, we don’t think they should put you off buying but you should certainly consider them. One of the things that can put people off buying an electric fire is their flame effects; the flicking LED flames don’t look or feel like the real thing however we are seeing some fantastic improvements in the technology.

The fan heaters can produce a small amount of noise which won’t be enough for you to notice if you’re watching the TV but if you’re in a very quiet room, possibly reading a book this could be a little off-putting. Finally, the heat output of an electric fire or fireplace won’t exceed 2kW. Whilst this is perfectly fine for snugs and small living rooms if your electric fire is the sole source of heat it might not be the right choice for large open-plan spaces. If you have central heating then you don’t need to worry, an electric fire is a great and efficient backup heater!

Electric fires work by using a fan heater that distributes hot air outwards into the room. The main difference between electric fireplaces and gas-powered ones is that electric fires don’t need to be vented by means of a flue to the outside like gas models do. This means they can be positioned anywhere in your home.   

Electric fireplaces create flame imitation by projecting LED lights onto a screen in a flame effect pattern. Some models only have one line of LED lights at the bottom while others have 2 or more LED strips for added flame colour options, depth, and realism. Most electric fireplaces have a built-in heater that works independently from the flame so you can turn the heat off and enjoy the effect all year round.

One of the biggest questions when buying an electric fire is how much it will cost to run.  If you’re looking for a more detailed answer we have a dedicated blog that will answer this question in more detail, so click on the following link.

How Much Does An Electric Fire Cost To Run

Electric fires are more efficient than gas fires or wood-burning stoves and when set in the flame effect-only mode they are very cheap to run and on average cost less than £20 per year. There are still lots of other factors that may affect how much you're paying for heating your home with an electric fire. An example is if your living room is large size it may take a while before you start to feel the warmth from the 2kW fan heater, this can mean higher running costs over time. However, if you have a smaller living area, then chances are good that this won't be an issue.  

Electricity is currently more expensive per kW than gas at the moment but with a 100% efficient electric fire, the difference in running costs can come down to how and when you use the appliance.

Most models of electric fireplaces can simply be plugged into a standard household outlet. However, you need to make sure that this outlet is on a dedicated circuit breaker or fuse and never plug your electric fire into an extension cord. 

A dedicated circuit breaker means that this breaker is not shared with any other outlets or lighting fixtures and serves only one outlet. Plugging an electric fireplace into a shared electrical outlet with one circuit breaker or fuse could overload the circuit, trip the circuit breaker and create a safety hazard.

The short answer is yes. They're a great way to heat up your living space without burning fossil fuels or creating harmful emissions. They're also more efficient than many other heating methods, and they don't require much maintenance once installed. Plus, they don't have many downsides like running costs or carbon footprint!

An electric fire can be used in any room, but they're especially helpful when you want to create a focal point for your living space. The best part about them is that they're so simple and easy to install and use! Electric fires come in all different shapes, sizes, and styles. If you're looking for an alternative to gas fires and want something safer or easier to use, then an electric fire or fireplace might be just what you need.