Did you use an electric fireplace before? Do you have any idea how an electric fireplace works? Surely, you don’t have a vest knowledge of electric fireplaces. That’s why you landed on this page. Don’t worry, you are on right track. After reading this narrative article about the electric fireplace working principle, you will certainly get a piece of good information about the electric fireplace.
Before we start discussing the working mechanism of electric fireplaces, we will give a brief idea about the types of electric fireplaces so that you can understand the topics even better. In the end, we have discussed briefly about all the elements of an electric fireplace and their functionality.
Types of Electric Fireplaces
There are different types of electric fireplaces. However, each type is not famous. So, I discuss four main types of electric fireplaces in the article.
Fireplace TV Stand
The fireplace TV stand always consists of a firebox. The place is where the fire goes. However, you will get some types of mantle in the house of the firebox. These mantles are available in various colors and designs. People called it a freestanding mantle.
Wall Mount Fireplace
It is another version of the TV stand electric fireplace. However, many models can be installed directly in drywall. This wall mount electric fireplace is hanging on a mounted shelf on your wall. So, it is secure on your wall.
In Wall Electric Fireplace
You need professional installation for this electric fireplace. However, you can set this fireplace on your wall or beside the showcase because you have to cut beams and deal with wiring for this fireplace.
Electric Fireplace Insert
Electric fireplace insert stayed on a brick line or steel line. However, these electric fireplaces are made with LED lighting. It also gives the illusion of glowing embers.
How do Electric Fireplace Work
We all like to renovate our homes or apartments to cope with modern society. A house will be incomplete if you have an old and ugly-looking heating system. Electric fireplaces are one of the great inventions of modern technology. It will not only make your life simple and comfortable but only enhance the decoration of your house to another level. It will become the main attraction to your guest. Another huge advantage is you don’t need to cut wood or get in trouble for a fire in the Electric Fireplace. Besides, the installation process is straightforward. Also, it benefits you from low maintenance costs. Therefore, you can save thousands of energy as well as cost-efficiency.
Before installing this in your home, you have to know how exactly to do the work. Although it looks like a traditional wood o gas fireplace, it doesn’t work like that. Its functionality is completely different from traditional fireplaces. An electric fireplace doesn’t require professional installation, you can use it immediately unboxing it from the package. Furthermore, it doesn’t require complex venting systems like traditional fireplaces. Let’s discuss the working mechanism of electric fireplace in a nutshell:
When you plug in the electric fireplace to a nearby power outlet, it will start functionating. If you set the temperature setting manually with the control panel or using the remote control, the will start heating your room within 5-10 minutes depending on the electric fireplace model. So, what happened inside the electric fireplace? How does it generate heat? Well, when you connect it to a power source, the heating elements of an electric fireplace start warming.
Meanwhile, an internal fan inside the electric fireplace starts drawing cool air from the room and eventually pull the air inside the inside heating element of the fireplace. After that, the heating element of the fireplace warms the cool air inside the fireplace. Finally, when the air becomes hot enough, another fan helps the fireplace to force the warm air outside to warm the room through the outlet vent of the electric fireplace, usually located on the top or bottom of the unit. Thus, an electric fireplace heats a room without burning any fuel.
The details working mechanism of the electric fireplace has been discussed below:
How is the Heat Generated?
First of all, you have to know how the heat is generated. There are two different methods of using heat.
- Heating Elements with Fan
Fan heater works through a fan that is passing air with a heating element. Basically, it runs with a heating coil. This heating coil easily converts electric energy from heating energy. Then, the air is pulled out from the coil using a fan. Now, it is prepared to heat your whole room.
- Infrared Heating Technology
Infrared heaters produce heat by converting electricity into radiant heat. Infrared is one of the main parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Scientist has safely implemented infrared heating technology into electric fireplaces, and the efficiency and heat-transferring technology of electric fireplaces have improved tremendously. The infrared heater directly heats the object instead of warming the surrounding air as traditional electric fireplaces do. However, it is a heated object without heating air. Besides, infrared gives you a natural feel of a warm environment like the sun. It is also 100% safe and natural.
How do Electric Fireplaces Generate Flames Like Real Fireplaces?
Electric Fireplace is the best alternative to Wood Burning Stove. But, electric fireplace doesn’t produce heat from real fire; instead, they generate heat by converting electrical energy into heat energy. However, a good quality electric fireplace can give you the visual feeling of a real fire with its built-in artificial flame effects and create an environment like real fireplace. Most of the p[people love this kind of fireplace because there is no risk involved since there is no real fire.
Apart from this, there are many reasons why electric fireplaces are getting popularity among people:
- You don’t need to chop wood and continue to fuel it.
- There is no issue with cleaning it after every use.
- It creates a pleasant atmosphere with fake flame effects.
The flame effects of some electric fireplaces are so much realistic that people become goofy thinking that it is not an illusion, it’s real. Actually, these flames of electric fireplaces are generated with some simple accessories and components located inside the inner parts of the fireplace. Most of the fireplace has a LED light source and rotating mirrors inside. The combination of these two components of an electric fireplace work like magic and create the flickering flame effects to make it even more realistic. Most of the time the lighting source is nothing but a long stripe of small LED lights. Some electric fireplace has long halogen light instead of LED lights. So, when you plug in your electric fireplace to the power supply and turn on the fireplace, automatically the LED light source will start shining. At the same time, mirrors connected to a rod which is further connected to a motor start rotating slowly. These entire processes are synchronized in such a way that the electric fireplace will make a flickering flame effect just behind the fake logs’ plastic scenery. Some electric fireplace models make fake sounds of the crackling wood burning to make it even more realistic.
Besides, the LED light directly reflects on the spinning light reflector. These are made up of three-dimensional patterns. However, that reflection can create the illusion of fire.
Safety Tips to Work with an Electric Fireplace
As I mentioned, working with an electric fireplace is safe. But, even then, you must be cautious. That’s why I will share with you some safety tips for working with an electric fireplace. So, don’t miss checking the information carefully.
- When your machine is on, your heating element is hot. So, please don’t touch it. At the same time, keep your kids away from this heating element. It may be harmful to your children.
- Keep away your fireplace from your furniture.
- Don’t remove your ventilation system. Instead, take fresh air and expel hot air.
- Unplug your fireplace when it is not used.
- Do not plug the fireplace into a malfunctioning outlet.
- Try to use your fireplace indoors. Don’t use an outdoor open window.
- Try not to get wet. If this gets wet, this will damage quickly.
- Before disconnecting your fireplace, make sure that your fire fix is off. After ensuring, then disconnect it.
- Please do not insert any foreign objects in your fireplace because it can create a big fire and damage the unit.
- Try not to modify your fireplace unit. If you do this, then the backfire will create a dangerous situation.
Also Read: Why Does My Electric Fireplace Is Shutting Down Automatically
Final Verdict
I hope you got your answer perfectly. Right? People have an interest in electric fireplaces. But people don’t understand how the fireplace works. In that case, the article on how electric fireplace work helps everyone. Because you will get everything about electric fireplace work in this article.
Moreover, the work of electric fireworks is straightforward. But you have to know the steps about how it works. If you know this properly, then you can easily cope with your electric fireplaces. However, the electric fireplace is an essential thing in everyone’s life. So, set up your electric fireplaces and enjoy yourself.