The fireplace has long been a popular design element, and the owners of private houses and apartments are increasingly choosing electric fireplaces - they are safe, easy to install, do not require a chimney and special handling in terms of cleaning and banal firewood. Built-in electric fireplaces are perhaps the most popular, and this is easy to explain. Electric fireplaces can be successfully fitted into any interior, and thanks to a huge selection of models with various functions, you will not only decorate the living room, but also improve the microclimate in the house, create coziness and a great mood.
Wall-mounted electric fireplace
Content
Features of built-in electric fireplaces
How do these heaters differ from analogues? To understand, you need to understand what types of electric fireplaces are, what are their features and functions.
Wall fireplaces
They are an electric hearth, enclosed in a housing, which are built into the wall in any convenient place.Depending on the model, they can be classical or large-format, decorative or combined, combining the function of heating with visualization of the flame.
disadvantage such fireplaces can be called the insufficient depth of the firebox, which does not allow creating the effect of a natural wood-burning hearth.
wall fireplace
Wall and corner built-in fireplaces
This type of fireplace is made in a metal case and is designed to be installed anywhere in the room, depending on the shape. They can also combine a decorative function with a heating one, while the depth of the firebox can be any, and with an increase in price, the realism of the hearth also increases: some models are equipped not only with an imitation of a flame, but also with sound, a smoke generator, decorative logs and coals. The only drawback of this series of models is that the design of the fireplace cannot be changed, adapted to the overall design of the room.
Wall mounted fireplace in cast iron
Built-in fireplaces
Perhaps the most versatile type of electric fireplaces, because it combines all the advantages of the hearths listed above with the ability to install it in any portal, niche, and even build it directly into the wall. At the same time, the realism of the firebox will allow you to forget that in front of you is not a real wood-burning fireplace, but an electrical appliance, for which it is enough to press a button on the remote control.
Built-in fireplace with a wooden portal
How to install such a fireplace?
Having opted for an embedded model, buyers are wondering: how to install and connect it? With the connection, everything is simple: you only need a Euro socket in an accessible place.With the installation, everything is much more diverse, it depends on the model you have chosen.
Built-in electric fireplaces can be completely different in shape:
- open and closed type;
- rectangular;
- classic;
- widescreen;
- with a curved firebox;
- angular.
They are installed in a ready-made or home-made portal made of drywall, wood, polyurethane, natural or artificial stone, or in an equipped niche. Portals for standard models can be purchased together with the electric hearth, their choice is very diverse.
Open hearth for built-in fireplace
Functions of built-in electric fireplaces
Like any other types of electric fireplaces, built-in models consist of a firebox, hearth imitation and protective glass or grate. They are of several types:
- Decorative, the main purpose of such models is imitation of a fireplace insert, without heating;
- Fireplace heaters, they do not have a pronounced decorative effect, but they heat the air in the room in one or more power modes;
- Combined models that perform both functions.
In addition, models can be equipped with additional features: air purification and ionization, sound and light special effects, smoke simulation. The choice of a suitable electric fireplace depends on your needs and financial capabilities, because the price of built-in hearths ranges from several thousand to six figures. How to choose exactly the model that suits you? Let us consider in more detail the functions of built-in electric fireplaces.
How to choose the right shape and size of a built-in fireplace?
The dimensions of the fireplace directly depend on the size of the room where you want to install it.In a small and narrow room, a wide-screen fireplace that occupies the entire wall will look quite aggressive, even despite its complete safety. A corner fireplace will fit well into a small room - it is compact and visually smoothes the corners.
Electric fireplace with open hearth and stone portal
A fireplace with a deep open firebox will look very natural in a portal made of natural or artificial stone, and a closed firebox with darkened convex glass will successfully fill a niche in the wall, give the fireplace volume and expressiveness, and at the same time will not take up extra space.
Fireplace insert with convex glass
If you are planning to do do-it-yourself fireplace portal, measure the place of its installation in advance, so as not to be mistaken with the dimensions of the built-in hearth. When choosing a ready-made portal, it is better to consult with the specialists of the shopping center, which types of portal will look most advantageous with the electric fireplace model you have chosen.
Beauty or warmth?
What do you need a fireplace for? Do you want to heat the room with it, or do you just want to admire the flames? Do you need both of these features?
Electric fireplaces are rarely used as the main source of heating - this is an expensive pleasure. But they are successfully used to raise the temperature in a room by a few degrees or to heat a room in a country house for a short time. To effectively heat a room of 20 square meters, you will need a fireplace with a power of 2 kW. Modern models, as a rule, are equipped with power control, it can be either stepped or smooth. For uniform heat transfer, most hearths are equipped with fans that distribute warm air throughout the room.Heating can be controlled from the panel on the firebox, from the remote control or automatically when temperature sensors are installed.
Built-in corner fireplace with heating
The decorative function of fireplaces can be very different, and the realism of the flame increases along with its price. The simplest models are equipped with warm-colored LED backlighting, it is static and gives a uniform light. Sometimes the backlight is built into false coals or logs, which creates the effect of smoldering firewood. More expensive models imitate fire due to flickering illumination and air-driven "tongues" of flame made of silk or polymer fabric. Modern electric fireplaces with a 3D flame effect are almost indistinguishable from natural fire, but their price is quite high.
Video - 3D flame effect in electric fireplace
Silent fireplace or the effect of burning wood?
When stoking the stove, we enjoy not only the sight of fire, but also the pleasant crackle of firewood. Electric fireplaces are almost silent, but for connoisseurs of natural flame, manufacturers have supplemented a number of models with a USB port where you can connect a USB flash drive with recording the sounds of a burning fireplace or music. If you do not like to sit in absolute silence, this feature will appeal to you.
Can't there be fire without smoke?
The proverb says so, but electric fireplace manufacturers have learned how to make a smokeless flame. At the same time, you can choose a model that simulates safe smoke without soot and soot. Strictly speaking, this is not smoke, but water vapor, but if desired, you can use a flavoring agent that gives the steam a smell of smoke.
Steam generator and air purification unit in an electric fireplace
The electric fireplace does not smoke, but on the contrary, it can purify the air
Embedded models may have a number of additional functions, such as cleaning, humidification and air ionization. Of course, these options increase the cost of the fireplace, so it is worth evaluating their benefits.
The functions and features described above will help you make the right choice from hundreds of offers, because built-in electric fireplaces are quite popular with buyers all over the world, and the companies that produce them are striving to expand the range so that everyone can find a fireplace to their taste and budget.
