Traditional Fireplace vs. Electric

A traditional fireplace has a commanding presence. It calls to mind the days gone by and is perfect for setting the mood in a room. Nothing beats a crackling fire on a cold winter’s day. But having a fireplace isn’t all fun and toasted marshmallows. There is actually a lot of work and expense involved in fireplace upkeep.

A fireplace doesn’t just magically work on its own. It must be attached to a chimney to carry the smoke out of the house. And anywhere there is smoke or fire, there is going to be some damage. Chimneys and fireplaces must be cleaned regularly and this is not an easy or cheap task.

The main reason many people turn to electric fireplaces is to avoid this problem altogether. Electric fireplaces don’t have chimney flue liners that need to be cleaned and in fact, they don’t need a chimney at all so it’s a perfect choice for a home that was built without one. It’s a great way to add some heat and character to a room without undergoing a major renovation.

But what about the calming effect of watching flames dance in the fireplace? Electric fireplace logs can actually provide that for you. Modern logs are so good at imitating real ones that it can be difficult to tell them apart. Electric logs can give off a soft glow, flames, or even dancing flames. There are so many choices. You can also find logs that make crackling sounds if you want to get the full effect of a real fire.

Another benefit of electric fireplaces is less risk of danger. Let’s face it, a fireplace can be a real safety headache, especially if you are inexperienced. There must be optimal ventilation to avoid gases entering your home and carbon monoxide poisoning. You have to worry about stray sparks igniting something in your home. You need tools to move the logs around and keep the fire going. An electric fireplace does not emit any fumes and has a simple on and off operation. This makes it much more convenient for a lot of homeowners. There is also no need to buy wooden logs and find a place to keep all of them.

If you already have an existing fireplace and chimney in good condition and you know how to use and take care of it, there is probably no need to switch. However, if you are building a new house you might want to consider using one of these to cut down construction costs a bit and avoid the recurring cost of maintenance. If you are thinking of adding a fireplace onto an existing house, an electric one is a much cheaper and easier option because you don’t have to alter the structure of the house. You can get much of the same appeal as a traditional fireplace using a modern electrical one.