Photo: Mathew Foster / Flickr

Some people swear by electric fires, while others insist that the authentic fire that a proper fireplace creates cannot be replaced, no matter how good the simulated flames. We say each to their own, and that non-gas fires are fantastic if you take them for what they are. Say goodbye to a sooty you after cleaning up a wood-fired fireplace because with an electric fireplace there is no cleaning up.

How they work

An electric fire essentially operates much like an electric heater. The only thing that’s different is, in addition to the heating, an electric fireplace simulates the look of real flames and ember burning, as one would see in a traditional wood fireplace.

The benefits

The benefits of an electric fireplace are multiple. The first benefit is the ease of use. Flick a dial, and there, you have a fire. No more fiddling with wood, and matches or lighters, and so on.

Secondly, the fact that there are no matches, wood, and so on, means that there is no cleanup after use, which is absolutely awesome! On top of that, they’re non-gas fires, which is important for health reasons.

The final big deal advantage of electric fireplaces is their aesthetic appearance. They look the business and can be placed in any room in the home to work as a heater.

The minuses

For traditionalists, an electric fireplace can never replace a traditional fireplace. Furthermore, their attractive aesthetic finish also makes electric fires look inauthentic, since real fires have that very homely, worn-down look after usage.

Since they’re reliant on electricity, these non gas fires are rather pricey to maintain, too, if you factor in energy costs. Remember, however, traditional fireplaces require wood to burn – which is neither free, nor easy to come by if you choose to make your own, so that balances out those costs.

So is it for you?

Ultimately it boils down to your tastes and preferences. Electric fireplaces do the job of a regular heater, and if heat is all you want, then this is no doubt overkill. However, these electric fires do replicate the timeless look of the fireplace, so if you’ve ever wanted to have a fireplace, you can simulate it with an electric replacement.

Tags: fireplace