When you decide to add an electric fireplace to your home, you have several options to choose from. Electric fireplaces come in a wide range of styles. There are traditional wood surrounds with mantels or vintage looking metal stoves. There are even wall mounted versions of electric fireplaces. You will have no trouble finding the right electric fireplace to fit your decorative needs.

Most large home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowes offer a few electric fireplaces. But to be sure to find just the right electric fireplace for your needs, check online to find a reputable electric fireplace dealer.

Regardless of the method you use to shop for your electric fireplace, there are a few things you should consider before finalizing the purchase.

Location: Where do you want to place your fireplace? Is there anything that would hinder its placement there? Is it a very large room? Is it away from curtains or any other materials? Although electric fireplaces do not use real flames, the blower motor does blow out warm air, so keeping it clear of curtains and fabrics should be considered.

Style: What type of decor do you have? If the room where you will place the fireplace has a rural or rustic design, then a Victorian Style electric fireplace may look perfect in the room. On the other hand, if the room is classically designed, then an electric fireplace with a traditional mantle would probably look best. There are even Amish Style Fireplaces that have the look of the wonderful wood craftsmanship of those well known carpenters.

Heat Output: The size of the room will also determine what BTU the electric fireplace should include. Most units have an output of about 5000 btu’s, which will heat a room of about 400 square feet. They also come with a thermostat to keep the room at just the right temperature. The last thing you want is to have an electric fireplace in a room and not feel the effect of its heat!

With wood burning fireplaces, you have no control over how much heat is generated. That is another plus for an electric fireplace. With its built in thermostat, you can control the room temperature with complete confidence that it will not be too hot or too cold. The electronically controlled flames give the appearance of a fire whether the heater is producing heat or not. It is the best of both worlds.

Electric fireplaces also make it easy to personalize your room. A regular fireplace is set in place and cannot be moved. An electric fireplace offers the flexibility to rearrange the room, including the fireplace, so you can have a fresh feel to the room whenever you wish.

One last word of caution – before buying your electric fireplace, make sure you have the right amount of electricity available. If you are unsure, contact an electrician. Most electric fireplaces use an ordinary electric outlet to plug into, but it is always better to be safe rather than sorry. In the worst of cases, a new circuit may have to be run to support the electric fireplace, especially if you decide that you want to place it where there is no electric service outlet nearby. Your new electric fireplace should be plugged directly into an outlet, not using any extension cord.

Once you have your new electric fireplace set up and running, you can grab your book and your special someone to enjoy a worry free evening of warmth and coziness.

FOR MORE INFORMATION next page