The electric fireplace has enjoyed tremendous growth over the last few years, in part due to its ease of installation, safety and environmental concerns over wood-burning fireplaces. Not requiring any external venting or gas lines, electric fireplaces simply operate by plugging into a standard 120v wall outlet. Many units are relatively light, weighing less the 100lbs. allowing you to move the fireplace from room to room with relative ease.

Perhaps the biggest concern consumers have when looking at electric fireplaces is the look, specifically the fireplace logs and flames do not effectively mimic the look or ambiance of a real wood-burning fireplace. But as the market for the fireplace increases so do the advancements in function, efficiency and appearance. Many manufacturers now include a selection of logs to choose from that are designed with greater attention to detail resulting in a very realistic look. The look and movement of the flame has also improved.

Other consideration to look for in an electric fireplace is the ability to heat a small room or is it purely for decoration. Average cost of operating a unit that does not provide heat is approximately $0.01-$0.02 per hour and $0.07-$0.10 per hour for a unit that has the heating function. If you are considering a unit for heating purposes ensure the fireplace unit comes with an internal fan, this will greatly increase the heating effect by better dispersing the heat throughout the room.