When you think of a fireplace the first thing that probably comes to mind in a crackling wood burner or a gas fireplace. Today however, you have another option that is taking the design world by storm. Electric fireplaces are everywhere, show homes, commercial installations and maybe even your own home. These are not the Electric fireplaces of the past. With countless design features and options you can literally change the look and feel of any room in minutes.
Convenient
An electric fireplace is easier to operate than a gas fireplace. Cleaner to operate than a Wood Fireplace and best of all they require absolutely no maintenance. True, the do not put out the amount of heat that a traditional fireplace does but they do take the chill off of most rooms.
Ease of operation aside. Electric fireplaces have one major advantage. No gas lines, no chimney, no holes through the side of your house. Just pick the spot you want the fireplace, plug it in and turn it on. When it comes time to move your home, just unplug the Electric Fireplace and take it with you. Or, leave it as an additional selling feature and reason for a buyer to pick your home over another.
Aesthetics
Contrary to what you may think. Fireplaces aren’t just used for heat. In fact many gas fireplace manufacturers invest a great deal in R & D trying to figure out a way to give a dramatic flame without radiating excess heat into the room. Fireplaces are purchased for aesthetics and aesthetics is where electric fireplaces shine. They feature multi-colour flames, Crystals, Logs and even in the case of one manufacturer use steam to generate an amazingly realistic 3 dimensional flame presentation.
Best of all, with the huge variety of electric fireplaces comes an equally vast selection of trim kits and mantels. From stainless steel to re purposed barn wood and everything in between, you are guaranteed to find a fireplace and trim combo to improve the feel of any room.
Where to Shop
Almost every store you walk into these days has an electric fireplace of some type for sale. Large drug stores, big box stores and even furniture stores. So how do you know where to find the best fireplace at the best price ?. So as not to flood a market, manufactures split their lines. For instance, many place their utilitarian fireplaces that are usually purchased based on the picture on the front of the box in drug store chains. Fireplaces that have a few more features and rely on being displayed are often placed in box stores. The units that are feature laden, that are unique and that are designed to compliment a everything from a small apartment to a multi-million dollar home are sold be hearth retailers like Fireplaces by Weiss-Johnson.
Electric fireplaces rarely break down but it does happen and depending on how the unit is installed in your home this can be problematic. A free standing unit can be disassembled and sent to the manufacturer. An unit that has been installed in a permanent mantel or flush in your wall presents different challenges. If you are planning on doing a permanent of semi-permanent installation you should consider purchasing from an outlet that has a call out service department that handles warranty repairs.
Regardless of where you choose to purchase your electric fireplace. The most important thing is to find one that you love, that will fit the style of your home and that you will be able to enjoy daily. Fireplaces by Weiss-Johnson have several units on display including some of the most unique models you will ever find. Drop by our showroom and see what the buzz over electric fireplaces is all about.
