How Do Electric Fireplaces Work

It is wintertime and you are sitting in your home wondering what can be done to warm your living space up even better than your furnace. Then it dawns on you that you can purchase an electric fireplace. This is an easy install and quick fix to your heating needs. They also are safer than purchasing a space heater. How do electric fireplaces work? They suck in cool air and heat the air with heating element coils. Then a fan system pushes out the hot air.

Let’s take a look at the advantages and basics involving an electric fireplace.

A decorative electric fireplace is easy to install and safer to use.
Decorative electric fireplace

Advantages Of An Electric Fireplace

There are a few advantages to an electric fireplace as opposed to a wood-burning one. Let’s take a look at those advantages.

Easy Installation

Simply put, you need an electrical outlet that is 120 volts for a standard unit and 240 volts for a larger unit.

Safer to Use

Electric fireplaces give off no gasses, fumes such as carbon monoxide, or other cancer-causing agents. Better choice than a traditional wood fireplace and gas fireplaces.

No Mess

There is no burning wood to clean up or soot to remove from the chimney. Also, there are no real flames and the ones created are for aesthetics. Instead of lighting a log or sparking a fire, you simply turn on the switch to the fireplace as if you were turning on a light or fan in your home.

Cost Effective

There is no product to purchase such as wood or gas. Your electric bill will not go up that much as the national average cost of running an electric fireplace is 8 to 9 cents per hour. You are likely to spend between $50 to $100 per year.

How Electric Fireplaces Work

An electric fireplace utilizes a fan and heating coil system. Cold air is drawn into the electric unit and then heated by a heating coil. Once the air is heated by the heating element to the settings selected by the homeowner, the heated air is then dispersed by a fan system. This keeps costs down and is relatively cheap to power. From an aesthetics perspective, you can change the flame to make it a realistic flame or something smaller.

An electric fireplace works with remote
Electric fireplace with remote

How Much Do They Cost

Believe it or not, the cost of an electric fireplace is rather in-expensive. Smaller units will cost you about $200 and can heat your small living space. Larger units can run you about $700 and these will heat an area of 400 square feet or greater. This is much cheaper than having a fireplace or woodstove installed at a range of $850 to $3,500 per unit.

Other Recommended Maintenance

While you are on the kick of a fireplace, it is a good time to also check into your other heating sources. Maintaining the furnace and gas appliances can only keep you warm and cozy in the cooler months. If the furnace stops working, it could be the circuit breaker, thermostat, filter, or pilot light to name a few. Call a professional to assist you in maintaining the furnace and your other gas appliances.

Adding an electric fireplace could be an option for you to add aesthetics to your living space. Some people buy electric fireplaces even when they have an actual built-in fireplace. Getting your fireplace checked is necessary maintenance. Make sure to read up on the necessary fireplace and chimney maintenance.

Lastly, you will want to check your fresh air intake vents. Making sure these are cleaned and free from blockage is necessary maintenance. Hire a professional to inspect your HVAC unit and fresh air intake vents.

Decorative electric fireplace in a home.
Decorative electric fireplace

When Do I Call A Professional

Call on a professional when you have purchased an electric fireplace and are unsure how to install it. A professional contractor will know the best location to place the electric fireplace and how to mount it on your wall. They also know where to plug in the fireplace. Hopefully, you won’t need to have an extra outlet installed. That will require you to hire a local electrical contractor and can increase your expenses.

Conclusion

Installing an electric fireplace can be a simple project. Most units are readily built with an outlet plug to keep things simple. Before upgrading your living space, you should call for a home inspection to make sure that an electric fireplace is a good investment for your home. Getting the home inspection saves you time and money as you invest in home upgrades. Give Home Inspection Geeks a call. Home Inspection Geeks can take a look at your heating needs when we come out for a home inspection in the Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties, IL.

What is a Fireplace Lintel

Fireplaces are a luxury to have in the home. Many people don’t see it that way but if your home has one and there is a cold night, you are a lucky one. It is relaxing as you listen to the crackling and pop from the fireplace producing heat for the home. Does your fireplace have an arch or lintel bar on the front of the fireplace? This bar is a fireplace lintel. What is a fireplace lintel? It is a beam that protects the structure of the fireplace and also keeps the chimney from coming down. Some people don’t think it is important but it is!

Let’s take a look at why the fireplace lintel is important, what they are made of, the jobs of a fireplace lintel, what happens when it is removed, adding or replacing a lintel and other maintenance.

Why the Fireplace Lintel is Important

As mentioned above, the fireplace lintel is not there just for show, but it provides support for the weight of the chimney and also protects the other parts from the high temperatures of the fire. Sometimes it is closer to the back of the firebox and near the part of the chimney that many call the “throat.” It is about 4 inches into the side of the wall and is often made of brick or stone and extends into the walls.

What a Fireplace Lintel is Made Of

Old homes usually have a wooden lintel while new homes use a variety of materials such as stone, brick, steel, or concrete.  Sometimes timber is used but not as much as it is a combustible material.

Steel– made for large openings and heavy loads. It is made with rolled steel joists embedded in concrete and is long lasting.

Concrete– this material is fire resistant and can handle any weight. It is usually 8cm in width and just like steel, is a long lasting material.

Brick– this is used when the opening is less than 1m and the load of bricks is light.  It is 10 -20 cm in depth.

Stone– these are about 10cm per meter of width and very heavy. They are vulnerable to cracks because of the way the structure vibrates with this material.

A Fireplace Lintel Has Many Jobs

The fireplace is held together by mortar and joints and just like with many things, they deteriorate over time. If there is no lintel, the front of the chimney can crash into the firebox or fireplace opening, causing a mess and big expense.

The lintel is also necessary because when it is time to have a chimney cleaning, powerful tools are used to clean it. These tools can rattle the chimney and without support, it can fall.

Lastly, due to the high temperatures that come from the fire, the lintel will protect the chimney masonry from deterioration. The lintel reduces heat exposure, extends the chimney’s life, and decreases the risks of cracks and other heat damage.

What Happens When the Fireplace Lintel is Removed

Sometimes a designer, a DIY homeowner, or other person will remove the lintel to make the fireplace look taller. When in actuality, they are making it less structurally sound. Also removing it causes the smoke to go into the home instead of up and out of the chimney.

Adding or Replacing a Fireplace Lintel

  1. Adding a lintel should be done by a professional as it can be difficult to install them for someone not trained.

2. Make sure that the bearing on each side is enough to hold the weight so that it doesn’t collapse.

3. Height of the lintel should be enough to support the hearth thickness .

If you have a lintel and it is too high, one can be installed underneath that is the right size.

Other Maintenance In and Around the Fireplace

An estimated 25,000 fires start each year because of the chimney so it is important to maintain.

Chimney maintenance – should be done in the summer and involves looking to see if there are cracks in the seals, build-up of soot, or dead animals or nests. A certified inspector should do this from the Chimney Institute of America.

Roof– checking the roof is a good idea as well in the summer. You will be looking for any missing shingles, drip flashing, and that the eaves are attached, and the gutters are clean. The last thing you want is a backup of water in the home.

Water can also come through the outside walls so taking a look around the outside of the home for negative grading and water intrusion is a good idea.

When to Contact a Professional

If you are remodeling your fireplace, check with a chimney inspector who is certified with the National Fireplace Instititute.  He or she can look at the plans and make sure they will be up to code.

Conclusion

Many people don’t realize that the lintel is an important part of the chimney and fireplace. It is holding up the structure and also directing the smoke in the right direction. Not sure if yours is working correctly or if you have one? We can take a look at the lintel and chimney during our home inspections in Chicago, Illinois. Think you might need one of our services? Comment below.