Are you thinking about an electric fireplace? Good idea! They’re versatile, affordable, and easy to install. They offer homeowners and renters many advantages when you’re looking to add extra warmth and coziness to a room. 

In this article, we’ll go over the pros and cons of electric fireplaces. The table below provides a quick overview of electric fireplace pros and cons. After that, we’ll provide more details and help you avoid common mistakes with tips from our NFI certified Master Hearth Professionals. 

• Pros and Cons: Quick View 
• Pros and Cons: Additional Details 
• Common Mistakes to Avoid

Pros and Cons: Quick View

Here’s a quick big-picture look at the pros and cons of electric fireplaces. Skip down for additional details.

Pros and Cons: Additional Details

Let’s dig into the pros and cons listed above. We’ve grouped them together to make it easier to focus on what you care about most. 

Pros: Easy to Install, Use, and Maintain  

Electric fireplaces let you skip all the hassle of a fireplace installation.

They’re easy to install and won’t require expensive or time-consuming home renovations. Basically, they just need to be plugged in to a standard electrical outlet or hardwired to your electrical system.  

Electric fireplaces don’t create harmful emissions or smoke. Unlike traditional wood burning fireplaces you won’t have to hire a professional for installation or chimney maintenance. And, unlike gas fireplaces you won’t have to hire a professional to install a gas line or venting. You also won’t have to worry about keeping a supply of firewood on hand or expensive gas bills.  

You can install electric fireplaces in any room, including bedrooms, bathrooms, or offices. Most units won’t need any kind of maintenance, other than the occasional dusting, and can be controlled remotely or with your mobile device.  

Many electric fireplaces are very thin. They have a small ‘footprint’. This means they can be installed into just about any room or wall. 

Even better, they are low maintenance. Aside from basic cleaning, they don’t require any work or tools to take care of.

Pros: Wide Variety of Styles and Colorful Flames 

There are nearly endless electric fireplace styles. Some mimic traditional fireplaces right down to the burning logs, while others are ultra-modern in appearance. You can easily find a look and feel that matches any room or house style. 

With many electric fireplaces, you can even change the flame color and pattern with the click of a remote or tap of a mobile app. Hosting a party for the big game? Set the flames to your team’s color!

Pros: Temperature Control and Remote Operation 

Electric fireplaces give off heat just like a space heater. You can control the amount of heat, turning it down or off completely, just as you would a thermostat. That means, you can just enjoy the ambiance from the flames, without the extra warmth. This gives electric units energy efficiency that other types of fireplaces don’t offer.

Many models include a wireless remote control for turning the fire off and on, or even controlling the flame effect/color and adjusting heat output. Other models have mobile apps or can integrate with your smart home system. How cool would it be to turn your fireplace on and off with voice commands?  

Also, if you didn’t know, wood fireplaces may pull heat away from most typical homes. With an electric fireplace, all the heat produced is pushed directly out into your space. 

Pros: Clean-Burning and Safe  

Since wood fires and create smoke and embers, they need a working chimney to vent properly. If your chimney / flue isn’t routinely cleaned by a professional you might experience carbon monoxide gas buildup.

Even with most of the smoke going out your chimney, wood burning fireplaces can decrease the air quality of your home, sometimes causing problems for those with asthma or other breathing conditions. 

Chimneys require a lot of care and maintenance. They should be visually inspected every few months and professionally serviced each year to keep your home free from dangerous fire hazards. 

Pros: Low Operating Costs

With other fire feature options you need natural gas, propane, or wood to fuel your fire. The prices for these resources vary year to year. They’re also extra costs.

If you’re reading this article, your home probably already has electricity, so you don’t have to pay for another energy source. It makes your power bill more cost-effective. And for some renters, electricity is included with the rent!

Cons: Lack of Real Fire Smell 

Electric fireplaces won’t emit that nostalgic, smokey campfire smell like a classic wood burning fire. You may consider this a good thing considering this pleasant smell can also decrease your air quality.

Cons: Lack of Real Fire Look  

Perhaps the biggest con against electric fireplaces is that they lack real flames. Wood and gas fireplaces create authentic fires, while electric units use LED lighting to simulate a fire. Some would argue that nothing beats the timeless visual appeal of real flames. 

The good news is that electric fireplaces get better every year. Many of today’s fireplace models have head-spinning realistic flame simulations. Since many electric models allow you to change the flame size, style, and color, most people won’t notice or miss the difference. 

Cons: Requires Electricity (Not An Emergency Heat Source)  

Obviously, electric fireplaces require electricity. This is important to note because many people enjoy having gas or wood stoves or gas or wood fireplaces because they provide supplemental heating if the power goes out. If you live in an area that often has a power outage you should keep that in mind.

If you live in an area where wood or gas is a cheaper energy source than electricity, an electric fireplace won't be the best fit for your home or lifestyle.  

Cons: Potential Shorter Lifespan and Moving Parts  

Wood fireplaces have no moving or mechanical parts. Gas fireplaces have pipes, ignitors, and flame controllers, but they tend to have a long lifespan. 

Electric fireplaces, on the other hand, have many moving parts. They have heating coils, a blower or fan, and other dynamic components to create the fire simulation. These parts can break. 

With cheap or non-reputable brands, it’s hard to track down the manufacturer for replacement parts. That won’t happen if you purchase from us. We have the best fireplace models and live phone support before and after your purchase.

Sometimes, it can be more expensive to repair a unit than to replace it. You can minimize this risk by choosing a reputable brand that provides a warranty.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As we discussed above, there are many advantages to electric fireplaces. However, their ease of use can lead to some problems for homeowners. Here are the mistakes to avoid.   

Mistake: Wrong Electrical Setup 

Electric fireplaces come with a standard electrical plug or bare wires that need to be connected to electrical system. Be sure to select a DIY plug-in model if you want the safest and easiest option. 

For hardwired models it’s important to hire a licensed electrician for installation. You need to make sure your electric fireplace is wired to a circuit with enough wattage. They can make sure you get the most energy efficiency possible.

Mistake: Buying Cheap Fireplace Units  

Buying the least expensive design works better for iPhone cases than it does for fireplaces. Avoid cheaply made models from brands with little, no, or bad reputations. Cheap models often have inferior parts that break down and little or no warranty to protect your investment.  

We stock the top reputable North American electric fireplace brands, including Amantii, Dimplex, Empire, FireCraft, Fire Sense, Modern Flames, Napoleon, Real Flame, Simplifire, Superior Products, and The Outdoor GreatRoom.

Mistake: Not Buying from The Experts   

It’s best to purchase fireplaces of any kind from fire experts. At Woodland Direct, we have more certified fire safety experts on staff than anyone else in the industry. They’re available Monday through Saturday to help you make the best buying decisions, so you can confidently move forward with your fire projects. 

When you don’t buy from the experts, you might experience: 

• Slow shipping – We stock many of the most popular brands in our warehouse and offer 2-day quick shipping 
• Complicated shipping – Many large fireplace items have to be shipped freight. Freight is slower, and often you’re provided with an 8-hour window for delivery, instead of ground shipping (via FedEx or UPS) with a tracking code. We’re obsessed with finding new ways to ship items via ground shipping. Especially with our FlameCraft product lines.
• Poor Packaging – We're always looking for ways to make sure your product arrives in mint condition. Sometimes we make improvements to the packaging set up to ensure safer delivery. 
• Lack of trim options – Many websites can’t handle the plethora of options a fireplace unit offers, so they won't display all the possible options for trim, style, or even safety. We understand these products better than anyone and customize our online shopping experience to give you the most options. 
• Missing accessories – Some online sellers use get-you-in-the-door pricing for their products and skip the mandatory accessories to make the price appear cheaper. You end up with a unit that doesn’t work until you purchase the remote, heat controller, or other mandatory accessories. We recommend you read product descriptions carefully and compare prices. 

Mistake: Incorrect Placement (Not Observing Clearances)  

Since electric fireplaces are easy to install, you’re more likely to install it incorrectly. Each fireplace unit has clearance guidelines that specify how far away from walls, appliances, or electronics you need to place your fireplace. Be sure to read the manual or talk to our experts for help.

We're Here to Help

Have more questions about electric fireplaces? Call our team of NFI certified experts today at 800.919.1904.

More Resources

Check out our top five electric fireplace designs to gain some inspiration for your space.

Determine if adding a fireplace can increase the value of your home.

See why electric fireplaces by Dimplex have set a new standard for the industry.