Do electric fireplaces need to be hard-wired?
However, some electric fireplaces need to be direct-wired but can be bought with an optional adapter to use in a regular outlet. Some ‘built-in’ electric fireplaces that are designed for in-wall installations or catered towards bespoke installations, for example entertainment centers, typically come ready to be hard-wired into your home electrics.
What is an electric fireplace?
Electric fireplaces are a very flexible form of fireplace, allowing you to place them in many locations around your home because they don’t need any form of chimney or vent. Electric fireplaces need a source of electricity in order to work and many types of electric fireplace come with a standard plug.
Can you plug an electric fireplace into a regular outlet?
If the specification for the electric fireplace states that it’s plug-in then it will be able to plug into your standard home electrical outlet. However, some electric fireplaces need to be direct-wired but can be bought with an optional adapter to use in a regular outlet.
Can you plug an electric fireplace into a power strip?
The heater in an electric fireplace can work much like a conventional home space heater where a large amount of power is drawn in order to generate the heat. It’s therefore not recommended to plug your electric fireplace into any form of power strip, extension cable or surge protector.
Can a TV and electric fireplace be plugged into the same outlet?
A TV can be placed above an electric fireplace on the same wall as long as the TV doesn't block the outlet to the heater on the electric fireplace, or be in the way of the heat.
Do you need a special outlet for an electric fireplace?
All electric fireplace inserts plug into standard household power outlets. If you want to keep the area around your fireplace free of hanging cords, you will need to install an outlet inside of your existing fireplace.
How many amps does an electric fireplace take?
Electric fireplaces use approximately the same amount of electricity as the average space heater. Since most fireplaces operate on a standard household outlet, they use 120 volts to power the internal heater and draw about 1,500 watts at 12.5 amps.
Can an electric fireplace be hardwired?
Most built-in electric fireplaces have a cord that you can plug into a standard electrical outlet that you can install inside the opening (if allowed by your local code). Another option is to remove the cord and hardwire the fireplace as most units are hardwire ready.
What kind of outlet do I need for an electric fireplace?
120-volt plugsMost electric fireplaces have 120-volt plugs that are grounded for protection. So they only need a 120-volt outlet to operate. But this outlet must be on a dedicated circuit breaker or fuse. These power requirements match the power outlets of most homes.
What size breaker do I need for an electric fireplace?
With a 1,500 watt heater, most electric fireplaces have 13 amps and can be plugged into a standard 120-volt outlet, also known as a 15-amp circuit, without needing a dedicated circuit, according to findanyanswer.com.
Can you use an extension cord with an electric fireplace?
From time to time, we are asked if an extension cord can be used with electric fireplaces. We don't recommend it because the extension cord can overheat and cause risk of fire. However, if you have to use an extension cord, the cord must be Number 14 AWG minimum size and rated no less than 1875 Watts.
How many amps does a 5000 BTU electric fireplace use?
How Many Amps an Electrical Fireplace Use? In terms of power usage, the average electric fireplace produces around 5000 BTUs, which is sufficient to heat almost 400 square feet of space. That is equivalent to almost 12-15 amps to get a typical electric fireplace.
Do electric fireplaces raise your electric bill?
On average, electric fireplaces will raise your monthly electricity bill by $32.50. This represents a 28.3% increase for the average US household. Again, this assumes $0.15 per kWh and 5 hours of use per day, over 30 days, on max power.
How do you wire an electric fireplace?
1:163:15How to Install an Electric Fireplace - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTo secure the new wall in place attach blocks between the studs. And flush with the back of the wallMoreTo secure the new wall in place attach blocks between the studs. And flush with the back of the wall locate the studs in the existing wall and drive screws through the blocks into the studs.
Are electric fireplaces 120 or 240?
120 voltsAll electric fireplaces operate on 120 volts, and some will also operate on 240 volts. On 120 volts, an electric fireplace will heat up to 400 square feet.
What do I need to know about buying an electric fireplace?
So, typically when shopping for an electric fireplace, you'll want to look for lower wattage and a higher BTU rating. Because of their relatively low wattage, most electric fireplaces can run off of a standard 120 volt plug (about 1500 watts), making electric fireplaces much more efficient than wood burning fireplaces.
How do you know if you need additional circuits for your electric fireplace?
A regular household circuit has 120V of power. If you have multiple outlets on the same circuit, each outlet does not have access to the whole 120V of power but should be split between the number of outlets on that circuit.
How to calculate amperage for electric fireplaces
Knowing the amount of amperage that your electric fireplace will pull is necessary to determine whether you will need to get a separate circuit for it.
Decide Which Electric Fireplace You Should Buy
The Dimplex Opti-Myst is renowned for its realistic flames. While the image doesn’t do it justice, it is one of, if not the most, realistic electric fireplace on the market.
How many volts does an electric fireplace use?
The current that runs throughout our homes in North America is 120 volts. When you plug something into a regular electrical socket in your home, you are connecting to 120 volts. All of our electric fireplaces will operate on 120 volts. A single 120 volt circuit will support a power draw of up to 1500 watts. When you purchase a blow dryer or space heater, you may notice the maximum wattage listed on the package; this tells you how powerful the heat output will be. So, a 1500 watt dryer will be more powerful than a 1000 watt dryer, etc. For an electric fireplace, 1500 watts translates to about 5000 BTUs of heat (British Thermal Units are a way of measuring the amount of heat being produced). This is enough heat to warm up an area of about 400-500 square feet.
What volts do you need for an electric fireplace?
So, the bottom line is that if you need more heat, or you are heating up a larger space, you need an electric fireplace that can connect to 240 volts instead of 120 volts. The Dimplex Revillusion series of electric fireplace inserts is dual-voltage and can connect to both 120 and 240 volts.
What is the difference between 120 and 240 volts?
As you would imagine, 240 volts offers more power, and can produce more heat, than a regular 120 volt connection . This means that your oven has more heat than a blow dryer to cook that turkey! Some electric fireplaces may also connect to 240 volts, by a direct-wire connection. This allows the fireplace to produce more heat, ...
What is a dedicated line?
A dedicated line is an electrical line that connects directly to a circuit breaker (or fuse in an older home) on your electrical panel and has only one receptacle, or direct-wire connection. If you flip the circuit breaker off, only this one line would be affected. A single outlet is not necessarily a dedicated line.
Can you plug an electric fireplace into a receptacle?
Those electric fireplaces which may not be removed from the wall after construction, may not be plugged into a receptacle behind the wall, because that receptacle would not be accessible once the fireplace wall is completed. Most of these units will come with a power cord for testing and demonstration purposes.
Do you need a cord to plug in an electric fireplace?
Almost all of our electric fireplaces may be hard-wired. However, most do come with cords to allow the convenience of plugging into a regular household 120 volt receptacle. If a fireplace is designed to be connected to 240 volts, it must be hard-wired; if it comes with a cord, the cord must be removed when connecting to 240 volts. Some electric fireplaces that are dual-voltage, i.e. they may connect to either 120 volts or 240 volts, do not come with a cord, and are hard-wire-ready by default. However, an optional plug kit is usually available should you wish to plug-in to a regular 120 volt receptacle. Just remember to order this kit if you need it.
Is a fireplace an electric fireplace?
Stylish Fireplaces knows that adding a fireplace to your home can be challenging. With an electric fireplace and their NFI Certified Hearth Design Specialists, it’s easy to create a space you’ll love to share with family and friends. Check out all the options and connect with their experts for help to find the perfect electric fireplace for you. You’ll live stylishly ever after.
