Everybody loves the warmth and ambience of a fireplace. Nothing says romance like a fireplace. It's also great for family time after dinner. But, to tell the truth, fireplaces are also a big hassle and can be quite dirty. More and more, people are choosing to put electric fireplace inserts into their existing wood burning fireplace.
An electric fireplace insert can transform the enjoyment of having a fire going in the fireplace from a once in a while chore to an any evening occurrence. The insert is designed to be placed within existing wood fireplace. It gives you the ambience and warmth of a fire at the touch of a button. Touch the button one more time when you're done to turn it off. No more cleaning up afterwards, waiting until the last embers go out before you can leave it unattended and go to bed. No more worrying about cleaning the flue or proper ventilation. And if there comes an occasion when you prefer a real fire, just remove the insert, and go for it.
There are several different types of electric fireplace inserts. There is the electric log insert, which replaces existing wood logs in your fireplace. This is what you'd use when you're tired of all the hassles and cleanup that comes with burning logs in your fireplace every time you want to enjoy it. This will give you the look and feel of real logs burning and a real fireplace. Or at least, it'll be close to that. The flames won't look exactly like a real fire that you get from burning wood. This option leaves you with easy access to creating a wood burning fire if you so choose.
Plug-in electric fireplaces inserts will fit within an existing fireplace mantle. These are sometimes called a fireplace box because they come within a structure that is in fact a box. Typically, you just take them out of the box and plug them in. There's no masonry or electrical work needed. Just plug and play. These are easy to take with you when you move.
There is also an entire category of built in electric fireplace inserts. As the name implies, these are built into the wall, but because they don't require a vent, they can be put anywhere in your home, on an inside or outside wall or even a corner.
Some of the best models include the Dimplex electric fireplace insert, Duraflame electric fireplace insert, Classic flame electric fireplace insert, Charmglow electric fireplace insert and these typically get the highest electric fireplace insert reviews.
They are relatively easy and inexpensive to install. They work with just a normal household power supply. Although some models do need to be wired, many offer a plug in option. Most units offer a feature that separates the heat from the electric flame, so that you can enjoy the fireplace 365 days a year, with no concern about the heat being generated. They can also be used to heat almost any room. Turning off the heating element will also reduce your electric bill considerably.
Both the plug in and the built in models offer light bulbs with refractors or an LED to simulate the "dancing" effect of real flames