Yes, electric fireplaces do give off heat. Not only do they look stylish, need no fuel (apart from electricity), and are safer than their wood-burning counterparts, but they can also heat a room quite sufficiently.
Electric fireplace’s popularity has surged lately, with consumers becoming more environmentally conscious and in some areas, wood-burning fireplaces are even being made subject to stricter restrictions and regulations.
So let’s take a bit of a deeper dive into how useful and flexible an electric fireplace is when it comes to heating a room.
How Does An Electric Fireplace Produce Heat?
The heat that an electric fireplace gives off has nothing to do with the faux flame in the unit. The heat that an electric fireplace gives off is generated by a separate heating element.
In most models, a fan is used to draw in cool air from the room, which is blown over the heating element – thus heating the air up. The heated air then exits the fireplace from a vent into the room. This process continues until the room is warmed.
The best models (such as Magikflame) of electric fireplaces use an infrared heating element instead, which heats objects in the room instead of just the air.
Because the entire fireplace doesn’t get hot, they are generally safer for pets and small children.
how much heat does an electric fireplace put out
This is one of those questions where “it depends” is the answer.
A typical electric fireplace has a 1500 watt heating element – which sufficiently heats a medium to large-sized room.
They are usually designed as a supplemental heating system and are not meant to heat the whole house. So you will usually be using an electric fireplace in conjunction with a gas furnace, boiler, or another HVAC system.
Can You Use The Flame Effects Without Heat?
Yes, with most modern electric fireplaces you can use the flame effect without having the heat turned on. This allows you to enjoy the ambiance of a fireplace even in warmer weather.
