How Much Will an Electric Fireplace Raise My Electric Bill?
Are you asking yourself… “How much will an electric fireplace raise my electric bill”? Well before you go out and purchase an electric fireplace, you may want to know what’s ahead…
When you hear the word fireplace, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it comfort? Warmth? Luxury? Or relaxation?
All of these terms are much related to it. Fireplaces are widely used by individuals and families nowadays. It brings rustic, cozy, and woody ambiance in everyone’s home.
A study shows that the smell of burning wood with the right combination of heat helps people relax, relieve stress, and have serene peace of mind.
With the emergence of modern home designs today, most people opt to purchase electric fireplace heaters rather than the traditional fireplace that requires a chimney, actual wood blocks, and gas.
Not to mention the maintenance you will incur especially on cleaning those chimneys.
Electric fireplaces are cheaper and easier to install. It can even be mounted on walls and acts as decoration in the living room or in any part of your home. Although electric fireplace heaters are amazingly efficient, they also require power and therefore may add up to your utility bills.
But the good news is that electric fireplace heaters and the cost of its operation are cheaper! Even cheaper than the gas fireplace. There may be misconceptions that fireplaces are expensive and luxurious, but actually, they are not.
So here is a guide to know how much it would cost you for having an electric fireplace:
So How Much Does it Cost to Run an Electric Fireplace?
The answer is easy. Of course, it will depend on several things such as 1) utility rates in your area; 2) the type of fireplace you will get; 3) how much power you will want to use.
Electric fireplaces vary in size, designs, and the area it can heat. Most units can heat up to 400 square feet and some higher models can heat up to 1000 square feet.
So if you are in a small apartment or condominium, it is advisable to get an electric fireplace that is suited for the area for have so that you cannot reach to a high electric bill in the future.
If you have a larger space, it is recommended to purchase a bigger model so it can provide heat up to all corners of your home.
Most electric fireplace heaters can operate in two modes: 1) with heat 2) flames only or no-heat. The operational cost will differ on each of these modes.
With a sample average computation, the operational costs of electricity range from 8 to 23 cents per hour when you use an electric heater.
These rates will differ depending on where your location is. If you are okay and contented with the “flames only” fireplace – meaning, no heat is being produced, and the flames are more of decorative thing, then it is a lot cheaper to operate the flames only mode.
No-heat mode fireplace heaters can consume 1 to 3 cents only per hour because it uses LED lights which are efficient and does not take much electricity consumption.
How Much Electricity Does an Electric Fireplace Use?
Here is a sample computation of utility bill when using an electric fireplace:
Hours Per day x Watts x kilowatt (kWH) Rate
Assuming that your electric fireplace can operate 1500 watts and gives 5,112 BTUs. BTUs stands for British Thermal Unit. (This is a standard measurement. Most units use 1500 watts only).
This can heat up your place with an area of 400 square feet. Remember that the higher the BTUs are, the bigger space it can heat, and the costlier it is.
So if the wattage is 1500, sample utility rate is 8 cents per hour (again, this will depend on your area) and you plan to use your electric fireplace for 5 hours every day, then your daily consumption is $6 per day (5 hours x 1500 watts x 0.08 cents).
Are Electric Fireplace Cheaper Than Gas Fireplaces?
The cost of having an electric fireplace and gas fireplace is almost the same. To help you decide, remember this three factors:
- How much is the cost of the fireplace unit or mode?
- What are the features of each unit (pros and cons)
- Do I need a fireplace with heat-mode or no-heat mode?
Most portable fireplace heaters have the same efficiency and use. Whether it is a portable electric fireplace, a wall mounted fireplace or electric fireplace insert, all of these models are significantly inexpensive to operate.
Some Safety Features and Advantages
Since electric fireplaces do not get too hot and do not spark the surrounding, it can be installed safely on drywalls, walls stone or tiles.
This is because there are no actual burns released in an electric fireplace. It is smoke-free, spark-free, and does not need or emit chemicals. Just remember to keep it away from the reach of children or pets.
Another helpful tip on how to save utility cost is to set up a fixed zone heating. With a specific area for heating, you do not have to heat all parts of your house. Instead, it will only heat up a certain area in your home, thus consuming less of power.
Conclusion:
Every type of fireplace has its own unique features. However, if you are the type of person that is concerned with budget and financial wellness, then it is important to consider all the things related to fireplaces before deciding to purchase one.
And one of which is the cost it may incur. You should think of how much it can cost you when you want to have a fireplace. Of course, you wouldn’t want your utility bills getting higher, do you?
Whether it is an electrical or gas fireplace, your preference will always differ from one another.
It may be helpful to read some articles about fireplaces or ask for buyers or consumers that have already bought a product so you can have a testimony or have a product review on a certain model that you think fits you.
And lastly, always remember to think of the long-term results or effects of any investment you will take!
