Electric Fireplace vs Central Heating - Cost?

TJ

This winter is a insane- this, we can all agree on. I am fortunate enough to live in Texas, so I can't complain a whole lot when comparing to other states (stay warm out there, everybody!)

That said, I'm wanting to save money on my utility bills, will still keeping warm.

I've been eyeballing some electric fireplaces lately. Since I live in an apartment and don't have a real one, this would seem like an interesting idea.

Now, I do have central A/C and heating. Summer months are a money funnel, but I deal with it and let that sucker run- it gets hot and humid in Texas. I've been reading a lot of reviews and info on how electric fireplaces can cut costs greatly, so I was wondering what the general idea would be on this concept.


Would it be more cost-effective to run an electric fireplace over central heating? I guess in the same respect, a space-heater would do the same in general, but an electric fireplace has more visual appeal IMO.

Answer
If your central heating is resistive heat, then the fireplace is likely to give you nearly the same efficiency. If your central heat is gas or heat-pump, then central heat is going to be many times more efficient.

That being said, if you can turn down your central heat significantly and you use your fireplace to heat a small area, it could potentially save you a little. I can't imagine you would see savings in an apartment unless it is an exceedingly large apartment.

Electric Fireplace?

Andy D

I live in an apartment, with electric baseboard heat. I bought an electric fireplace, with hopes that it would lower my electric bill a little, and look nice at the same time. It doesn't seem to heat very well. Should I return it and get something different? Maybe a space heater with a bit more powerful of a fan? I'm just looking for something to supplement the electric baseboard, because it can be VERY expensive to run.

Thanks!

Answer
Electric fireplaces are basically for looks. And a space heater can be very dangerous if knocked over or can get really hot. If you live in the middle of the apartments... meaning not on a corner unit and not on the top floor I wouldn't worry about heating. You are going to get a lot of heat from the other apartments. I would just buy some extra blankets and get some sweats. When I have lived in apartments and now I live in a town home in the center the heating has never been an issue. I have had to many times have the patio door open to get rid of the excess heat. And I live in Minnesota!

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Electric Fireplace vs Central Heating - Cost?

TJ

This winter is a insane- this, we can all agree on. I am fortunate enough to live in Texas, so I can't complain a whole lot when comparing to other states (stay warm out there, everybody!)

That said, I'm wanting to save money on my utility bills, will still keeping warm.

I've been eyeballing some electric fireplaces lately. Since I live in an apartment and don't have a real one, this would seem like an interesting idea.

Now, I do have central A/C and heating. Summer months are a money funnel, but I deal with it and let that sucker run- it gets hot and humid in Texas. I've been reading a lot of reviews and info on how electric fireplaces can cut costs greatly, so I was wondering what the general idea would be on this concept.


Would it be more cost-effective to run an electric fireplace over central heating? I guess in the same respect, a space-heater would do the same in general, but an electric fireplace has more visual appeal IMO.

Answer
If your central heating is resistive heat, then the fireplace is likely to give you nearly the same efficiency. If your central heat is gas or heat-pump, then central heat is going to be many times more efficient.

That being said, if you can turn down your central heat significantly and you use your fireplace to heat a small area, it could potentially save you a little. I can't imagine you would see savings in an apartment unless it is an exceedingly large apartment.

Electric Fireplace?

Andy D

I live in an apartment, with electric baseboard heat. I bought an electric fireplace, with hopes that it would lower my electric bill a little, and look nice at the same time. It doesn't seem to heat very well. Should I return it and get something different? Maybe a space heater with a bit more powerful of a fan? I'm just looking for something to supplement the electric baseboard, because it can be VERY expensive to run.

Thanks!

Answer
Electric fireplaces are basically for looks. And a space heater can be very dangerous if knocked over or can get really hot. If you live in the middle of the apartments... meaning not on a corner unit and not on the top floor I wouldn't worry about heating. You are going to get a lot of heat from the other apartments. I would just buy some extra blankets and get some sweats. When I have lived in apartments and now I live in a town home in the center the heating has never been an issue. I have had to many times have the patio door open to get rid of the excess heat. And I live in Minnesota!

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how effecient per the price, are electric fireplaces? and how well do they heat?

Randall M

Answer
VERY EFFICIENT AND HEATS GREAT!!!

My friend has one and it looks sooo real! It also heats up her living room in no time.

The flame of an electric fireplace uses slightly under 300 Watts of power. With an average electricity rate, the unit operates for a remarkable 2 cents an hour providing all the warmth, ambiance and romance of a fireplace. When you choose to activate the heat feature, the total cost to operate the flame and heater is approximately 7 cents an hour.

The cost of operating may vary slightly among different models. However, since the operation cost of a gas fireplace runs around 17 cents an hour, an electric fireplace proves to be extremely cost-effective and a great value for your money.

These fireplaces are energy efficient because the heat is not going out the chimney of your home. And they can give you instant heat. Depending on the size of your home you may want to first check out these fireplaces and read how many square feet they will heat in your home. Each home will be different depending on the size of the home and how large of a area you are wanting to heat.

Electric fireplaces are getting to be more and more popular these days. You can put them anywhere in your house and they are very easy to install in your home. Electric Fireplaces are a great way to add a warm feeling to your room. They warm up your room nicely and have the look of a real wood fireplace.

They can be put a in any room of your house because they don't need a chimney for them to work. All you need is a close electrical outlet in the room where you are going to place your fireplace. They are very convenient and can be installed in a matter of minutes. People love these types of fireplaces because there is nothing for them to clean up because there is no wood involved. If you are going to decorate or remodel your home this would be a great touch in any room of your house. They are great looking and serve a good purpose in your home.

A electric fireplace is operated just like a electric heater. Except along with the heat that it can put out it also has a illuminated look to it that can make it look like it has real embers and flames burning just like a wood fireplace would look. And some of these fireplaces come with fan forced heat and a thermostat. They come in different looking cabinets and different colors to choose from. And if you want you can buy a electric fireplace insert to use in the existing fireplace in your home. So you have different options when buying a electric fireplace. Some of these fireplaces will also allow you to just turn the flames on without turning the heat on if you prefer. This is a very nice feature. If you just want to sit back and watch your fireplace without having the heat.

What is an electric fireplace?

aaldridge2

How would you install it and what is needed. Where can i get one? What would also be an option I dont want to have it installed by a professional, but i want to have a form of heat in an existing fireplace that is non-usable.

Answer
An Electric Fireplace is nothing more than an Electric HEATER that looks like a fireplace.I do not recommend it, as it is a waste of money.Just buy an electric heater.9/12

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what is the comparison with an electric fireplace and baseboard heat?

Em

Which one will impact my electric bill more? How safe are they around small children?

Answer
Even if the fire place has a forced air fan it will probably be good for the immediate surrounding area I doubt it will heat the entire house effectively. Base board heat is usually in every room and the heat is more evenly distributed on a real cold day the fire place would be a good supplemental source of heat. As far as being the main source of heat, not a good idea and the total sum of the base board is going to impact the bill more I would use the fireplace as a supplement only. Although both utilize an element to produce heat the element is protected from direct contact the fire place should be screened so children cant acess it,of the two I would say its the most dangerous.

would an electric fireplace be cheaper to run the electric heat?

jason s

i am trying not to have a 200.00 electric bill again during the winter months. thought about investing in a electric fireplace. i live in a 2 bedroom 2 bath 1 story apartment with 2 heating units.i heating unit heats the master bedroom. the other one heats the rest of the apartment.i do not have a themostat. my control settings are normal, cool, and hot. like what you might find in a hotel room. i have done everything i can do to lower my electric bill. my apartment is a electric. so i was thinking about buying the fireplace and put in the master bedroom and not run the heating unit in the master bedroom.will this same me money on my electric bill? my only concern is the fireplace my trip the fusebox all the time.

Answer
Where do you live?

Can you get away with not running the heat for most of the day/night and just adding more blankets & bundling up?

We have just space heaters (don't use the apartment-furnished heating units) for when it gets REALLY chilly...but then again really chilly for us is when it's in the 40's outside! Cold inside is when it's about 60 or so (and that warrants slipper-socks & sweaters).

You will need to make some decisions on how you want to live. You may just need to save money during the summer to compensate the bill during the winter.

Good luck.

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How can I get the flames in my electric fireplace to work again?

best electric fireplace heat image

chrys_foll

My electric fireplace gives off heat, the fan works but the flames won't flicker and move anymore. They just look like they are frozen in time. Any thoughts on how to get them moving?

Answer
It sound like you need to replace the flicker motor that rotates a rod with fingers on it.
As the motor turns that rod it simulates the effect of flames flickering.Thus the term flicker motor.

What kind of heating can I expect from an electric fireplace?

owen h

I was planning on adding another electric heater to my house but the electric fireplace will only be a few hundred more. Some models say they heat 400 sq. feet and it will look great in my bedroom.


Im planning on getting one that I can hold a tv and other media devices too. Anyone with experience with a website or a department store? Thanks.

Answer
an electric fireplace is pretty much equal to a space heater

in both .... area heated and cost of heating

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Is an Electric Fireplace Worth it?

best electric fireplace heat image

kat

Heating in our house is starting to get unaffordable for us. Does anyone have an Electric Fireplace in their Bedroom? Does it keep you warm at night?
Which would you recommend, electric or Fuel?
It says it uses as much Electricity as a Coffee Machine.

Answer
Having an electric fire is your bathroom would be against building regulations as electricity and water don't mix, your best option is an oil filled towel heater. I installed one last winter and left it on all the time as once they are hot they do not use much power and it kept the whole upstairs at a reasonable temperature.
Gas or coal is always cheaper than electric for all other fires, I bought my electric fires from http://www.directfiresonline.co.uk they were really helpful advising me on which ones to buy as they have different power outputs and they also got me my bathroom heater even though they don't stock them!

What should I spend my money on to increase my home value?

MJ

We are looking to refinance our home and know we need to fix some things up but want to know what the best way to go is. We heat our house with a woodstove and have some small electric heaters and an electric fireplace, but no heat pump or furnace. We have a lot of cosmetic work that needs to be done as well. The house was a fixer upper when we bought it and we have done A LOT to it. We currently have the money to put in a heat pump but we're thinking about finishing off the attic, repairing a bad patch in the roof, fencing in the yard, finally putting in all the trim and completing the cosmetic work. After that we would cash out refinance and put in the heat pump. Or we could reverse it and do the heat pump first. Which would increase my home value more, the heat pump or all of the combined cosmetic work?

Answer
The three improvements to an older home that gives the highest return on the cost of investment are:

Modernize the master bathroom

Mordernize the kitchen

Replacing all the windows

Also replacing the old garage door with a new roll up door gives a high return.

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Is an electric fireplace more efficient than a baseboard heater?

best electric fireplace heat image

Saskwatcha

I have a house that is heated by baseboard heaters and I am thinking of getting a electric fireplace for the living room. Both are 2000W. The fireplace will have a fan - which will use more energy, but spread the heat through the room faster. Which one will be more energy efficient?

Answer
accept not other answer other than no. Electric fireplaces are ornamental only

how do electric fireplaces work?

beach answ

would like to put an electric fireplace in my house, but don't know anything about them.

how do they work? does it just plug in? does it give off heat? use wood? expensive to operate? expensive to purchase? easily installed?

Answer
Electric fireplaces are really just decorative. a 110 unit will produce about 4,500 BTU worth of heat, a 220 will produce about 9,500. Not very much either way. They are VERY easily installed, plug it in and you're done, and fairly inexpensive to buy $300-$1500. A lot of the cost depends on the mantel you choose. They basically just use lights and mirrors to give the "flame" effect, but they're pretty cute.

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What kind of heating can I expect from an electric fireplace?

best electric fireplace heat image

owen h

I was planning on adding another electric heater to my house but the electric fireplace will only be a few hundred more. Some models say they heat 400 sq. feet and it will look great in my bedroom.


Im planning on getting one that I can hold a tv and other media devices too. Anyone with experience with a website or a department store? Thanks.

Answer
an electric fireplace is pretty much equal to a space heater

in both .... area heated and cost of heating

Is an electric fireplace more efficient than a baseboard heater?

Saskwatcha

I have a house that is heated by baseboard heaters and I am thinking of getting a electric fireplace for the living room. Both are 2000W. The fireplace will have a fan - which will use more energy, but spread the heat through the room faster. Which one will be more energy efficient?

Answer
accept not other answer other than no. Electric fireplaces are ornamental only

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