Electric fireplace - installing it correctly

The fireplace is, of course, the heart of any room. Most often, when we imagine a fireplace, our imagination pictures us of a huge hearth with brightly blazing firewood, the whole family has gathered around, and the fireplace, of course, is in the house. However, today it is possible to install a fireplace not only in a private house or cottage, but also in a standard apartment. To do this, you can choose an electric fireplace, which is in no way inferior to a natural wood fireplace. The most important thing is to choose the exact size so that the fireplace itself looks organic in a room of any size - from the smallest room in a city apartment to a spacious dining room in a country house. Pictured: electric fireplaces

Dimensions of fireplaces

Electric fireplaces can have different overall dimensions - from a small stove to a wide hearth, which can be of absolutely any length.
In the photo: fireplaces of various sizes

Let's look at what the fireplace itself consists of. If we are talking about an electric fireplace, then it does not have a chimney; there is simply no need for it, since the fireplace runs on electricity and does not use any fuel. The fireplace group itself consists of a hearth, where there is a dummy of coals, firewood or crystals (depending on the fireplace model) and a portal, which can be made of various materials - wood, plastic, stone. You can purchase a ready-made fireplace set or a separate hearth and a separate portal; you can also purchase one fireplace and make the frame yourself or to order. Depending on the design of the room and personal preferences, you can choose small free-standing fireplaces that do not require a portal; they are absolutely self-sufficient and look great without a frame.

In the photo: fireplace kits and a built-in hearth without a portal

What dimensions of the fireplace should you pay attention to:

• height;
• width;
• depth;
• corner if it is a corner model.

The smallest installations

The dimensions of an electric fireplace can be very small. Such installations are characterized by the following features:

Interesting to know: electric fireplaces whose dimensions are sufficiently mobile can have both the simplest and quite innovative, full functionality. The most popular and expensive models are equipped with sound, light and visual effects, and may also have a built-in humidifier. In general, the price of electric fireplaces varies from 6,000 to 250,000 rubles.

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Types of electric fireplaces

Fireplaces can be divided into several types depending on the type of installation:

• wall-mounted – classic fireplaces installed against the wall;
• corner;
• wall;
• free-standing;
• built-in;
• multimedia fireplaces.

In the photo: corner, free-standing, wall-mounted, built-in, multimedia, wall-mounted fireplaces

The most common are wall-mounted fireplaces; they come in different sizes, so parameters such as depth, width and height can vary greatly. Corner fireplaces usually have greater depth, but due to the possibility of placement in the corner of the room they can significantly save space. Wall-mounted models are mounted on the wall and also save space. Freestanding models do not require framing and are most often compact. Built-in fireplaces can be installed in any niche or suitable surface, they do not take up much space and are the most favorite models among interior designers. Multimedia fireplaces are quite massive due to the shelves that can be used to place multimedia systems on them. Shelves are built into the sides of the fireplace.

Dimensions of electric fireplaces: standards and unique options

A fireplace is traditionally associated with large spaces and smoldering logs, but modern technology allows people to choose electric options from a wider range of sizes, from the smallest to the largest.

No one can be indifferent to a fireplace; it always attracts the eye in the room in which it is located, so its choice should be made in such a way that the design does not “burden down” the room and does not remain awkward and invisible. However, the main task of a fireplace is heating and creating a cozy atmosphere.

The smallest electric fireplaces are the size of an eighth of a square meter, they can be portable, and most often they are only of an applied nature. The products are very convenient in everyday life for heating purposes.

The design of electric fireplaces has its own standards, namely, the standard design consists of two main parts:

• The portal is the outer part or frame; it can have an interesting design and decoration.
• The hearth is the firebox of an electric fireplace, the functional part.

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An electric fireplace is much safer than a classic fireplace, it dries out the air in the room less and is easier to operate and clean.

By size, electric fireplaces are divided into:

• microfireplaces that have dimensions of 35cm*50cm*20cm;
• small fireplaces, the dimensions of which fluctuate around 60cm*65cm*32cm;
• large models in which any parameter exceeds 1 meter.

Depending on the placement, there are several types of structures:

• floor;
• built into the wall (the so-called “hearth in the wall”);
• attached.

Their price can range from 10 thousand to 250 thousand rubles due to additional effects, such as flame visualization and humidification functions.

An electric fireplace is considered large if it measures more than 50 cm in height and 70 cm in width. Most often they are installed on the floor in large niches.

The decoration of the fireplace can be completely different, especially if you have a large financial reserve. You can make a fireplace with carvings, special masonry, stylized in the spirit of the Renaissance, or cover the protective grille with precious metal.

There is a simple step-by-step instruction on how to choose the right electric fireplace:

• It must be selected in accordance with the size of the room in which it will be located. A large fireplace in a small room will attract too much attention and produce a lot of heat that is not really needed there. Conversely, a small fireplace in a large room will look inappropriate and ineffective, like a small boiler in a spacious living room.

• You should calculate the energy consumption and choose the appropriate option. A fireplace consumes a fairly large amount of electricity, so it is better to install it as an addition to the interior than to expect it to always work.

• It is important to consult with a designer about the exterior decoration of the fireplace. The fireplace is too important a part of the interior not to plan its harmony with the surrounding environment.
• The size of the portal should not block the hearth, since the hearth should be brighter and more prominent.

• An electric fireplace will look better if there is a tabletop in front of it at a short distance, echoing the design of the portal.
• It is best to first select a portal and then match the hearth to it.

The false fireplace can be with a replaceable or built-in hearth. A replacement hearth, unlike a built-in one, will need to be purchased separately. Typically, each model has two modes - decorative mode and heating mode.

You can make an original false fireplace using an unusual embodiment of your own design. The most common, until recently, was a model with a portal made of stones in a country style. A hanging fireplace will save you space and make cleaning easier; it is placed in a niche or on a shelf attached to the ceiling.

The most common representatives of the high-tech style are stoves with LED backlighting. It is recommended to be especially careful when choosing a heating stove if there are small children in the family.

The small maintenance that an electric fireplace requires is replacing the light bulb. Most often, the manufacturer of the fireplace also produces light bulbs for it.

Of course, these fireplaces also have breakdowns, but fixing them will require much less hassle than fixing a wood-burning or gas fireplace.

See the following video about the advantages of electric fireplaces.

Choosing a fireplace

If the size of a fireplace in a private house can be absolutely any, then for small apartments it is better to pay attention to more compact models. These can be miniature forged stoves, stylized as natural wood-burning English stoves. Wall-mounted fireplaces are also suitable for apartments. They are quite compact and look very stylish in rooms made in modern design.

In the photo: built-in wall-mounted electric fireplaces

The main thing when choosing a fireplace is that it looks organic in the room. It is best to leave free space in front of the fireplace so that the flame can be viewed from anywhere in the room. It is advisable that the fireplace does not occupy a large percentage of the room's area, otherwise its installation may lead to the room becoming uncomfortable.

In the photo: small fireplaces in small rooms

If we talk about the typical sizes of a fireplace, then all models higher than 70-80 cm and wider than 50 cm are considered large. Therefore, when choosing, you should focus on the parameters of the room and the portal, if we are talking about a fireplace with a frame.

In the photo: electric fireplaces with portals

It is always worth keeping in mind that if you purchase a separate portal and a separate fireplace, then you need to know in advance the dimensions of the fireplace and the dimensions under the fireplace in the selected portal. The sizes of the hearths also vary, so you need to know the depth, height and width of not only the portal, but also the hearth itself.

In the photo: fireplaces with portals

The smallest fireplace is the fireplace stove. Such models are perfect for the kitchen, small room or will fit organically into the hallway.

In the photo: fireplaces-stoves

The longest fireplace is linear; its length can be any. The size of such a fireplace depends on how many hearths are laid out in a single line of fire. This size is not limited.

Slogger SL 480

at prices starting from RUB 2,850.

Slogger SL 480 is one of the simplest and most popular models of electric fireplaces, the dimensions of which are barely larger than those of conventional fan heaters.
Supplied as a free-standing fireplace built into a portal in white or black. The main advantages include reliability, durability and comparatively low cost. The power of the device is enough to heat a room of 10-15 m² in the off-season or as an additional heating equipment in winter. Imitation of combustion is carried out using the projection of flames onto the back wall of a fireplace covered with glass. Decorative fuel is made in the form of burnt logs. Operating modes are controlled by buttons on the device body. You can set the heating power to 0.6 or 1.2 kW, and also turn on the backlight separately, without heating. The model is simple, so there is no backlight adjustment. Main technical characteristics of Slogger SL 480

Watch video review of Slogger SL 480:

Interior solutions

Interior solutions for rooms where an electric fireplace is installed can be completely different.
Depending on the style of the room, a portal or a ready-made fireplace set is selected. In the photo: fireplace kits and false fireplace

For some, the optimal solution is to purchase only a portal without a fireplace. This is called a false fireplace. The height of such a fireplace, such as its depth and height, can also vary depending on the area of ​​the room. Such a portal can be purchased in a store or made independently from drywall or any other available materials.

Exploitation

The electric fireplace is very easy to use. To install it, you need to find a suitable place and provide free access to the power supply. If the electric fireplace operates on water, then you need to periodically remove limescale from the water tank with a special brush, and also wipe the fireplace itself with a damp cloth. An electric fireplace is safe, does not require the installation of a chimney or ventilation, and its flame cannot be distinguished from a real fire; its only difference is that the flame in an electric fireplace does not burn.