How To Install an Electric Fire

If you have a fireplace in your home that you do not want to hassle with adding the wood and sending off fumes, or you have no area in your home for a fireplace, then an electric fireplace is probably the best option for you.  Electric fireplaces are commonly found in apartments, office buildings, or other areas where there is a limited amount of space or it is not possible to install a gas or solid fuel fire.  While these fireplaces do not give off the same amount of heat as real fireplaces, the overall look is still the same.  There is no burning of wood and the flames are simulated to make it look real.   
The actual purchase and installation process of electric fireplaces will probably amaze you.  It can all be completed in as little as one day.  While this might sound unbelievable, it is very possible and almost anyone can install an electric fireplace.  You do not need to hire a handyman or a specialist, and you can do it with the help of a partner, a screw driver and a few other small tools.  This is a breeze compared to other fireplaces, such as gas fires or wood burning fireplaces. 

Your first step is the purchase of the electric fireplace.  You will need to browse and decide which look and style of fireplace it is that you are looking for.  It is best if you search the Internet first, so that you can see how it will look in your home.  Visualizing it in your home is often hard to do when you are in the store.  Keep in mind that an electric fireplace is best in a small room and it will not efficiently heat an entire house or even a large room.  They will consume a large amount of power, but if you turn off the central heating in that room, then it will keep the area nice and warm.   

Your main choices are based on the style, but you should keep your eye out for energy efficient models.  Some companies offer electric fireplaces that have a thermostat installed in the heater.  This allows you to set the thermostat at your desired temperature, and then when that temperature is reached, it will automatically shut off.  This will prevent the fireplace from running all day or when you are not home.   
After you have purchased a fireplace, you need to decide the location that is closest to a power outlet.  The electric fireplaces work with a standard 13 amp plug, and it is essential that you have this so that you can plug it in.  You can also use an extension cord, but this is not recommended as the safest way.  This might mean that you have to change your original location that you had in mind in order to plug it in to the power source.  If your location does not have a plug, then it is possible to have one installed in that particular location.  However, it will cost you money to have an electrician move a plug socket.  

We recommend that you place the electric fireplace in an area where the plug and the cord will be mostly hidden.  This will allow your fireplace to look the most real, nobody wants to see an unsightly white or black flex hanging from their fireplace.  Many models come with a large enough mantel that will surround the fireplace and this might be your only option as far as hiding the cord.   

After selecting the appropriate location, your next step is to determine how the unit hangs from the wall.  Many use screws or hooks, and the installation manual should tell you everything that you need to know.  Some units are completely freestanding so you will not even need a tool in order to install the unit.  Once you have the unit attached to the wall, the only installation left is plugging it in.