Last Updated on January 10, 2024 by Kimberly Crawford
Owning a wood-burning or gas-burning fireplace puts you in danger of a fire hazard. Whereas, electric fireplaces are a safer option to heat up your home because, unlike wood-burning or gas-burning fireplaces, they lack a real flame.
But why exactly is this? And what are the dangers of an actual fire anyway? This article explores the way in which electric fireplaces are safer in comparison to traditional fireplaces.
Fire Hazard
A worrying concern for wood-burning fireplace owners is the fire hazard it creates.
According to the Cheshire Fire and Rescue service, there are approximately 7,000 chimney fires a year in England.
Chimney fires are particularly a worry as they are more difficult to detect than a fire that gets out of hand in the actual fireplace. Depending on the chimney type, they burn at temperatures of around 2,000 degrees or higher.
Chimney fire signs may include a hot or overpowering smell, loud crackling or popping noises and low rumbling sounds, so keep on the lookout for any of these if you own an open flame fire.
Why Are Electric Fireplaces Safer?
Electric fireplaces are the modern solution to fireplaces, they don’t run on combustible fuel but purely on electricity instead. They don’t burn harmful gases or smoke, making them significantly safer compared with traditional fireplaces.
But, of course, you already know that bit – and you’ll likely be wondering how else are electric fireplaces safer? Here are just a few examples.
Able to be Turned Off Instantly
With an electric fireplace, the instant you want the fireplace to be switched off all you need to do is turn it off from the power source or unplug it.
This is a great tool in case something goes wrong and you need it to cool down straight away.
No Real Flame
Being powered by electricity, the heat that is produced doesn’t come from an open flame. This prevents any risk of a fire spreading beyond the fireplace due to their fire-free mechanism.
Generating their heat artificially electric fireplaces use an internal heating component. Most models come with a ‘flame only’ setting, still allowing the visuals of the fire flames to be enjoyed
Lack of Harmful Substances
Electric fireplaces don’t produce smoke or harmful gases like carbon monoxide, meaning that you can enjoy your heat without the need of a chimney to safely channel these harmful substances out of the house.
Reduced Risk of Getting Burnt
Traditional fireplaces pose a threat to you as they are extremely hot, and if our pets or children go near them, they could burn themselves.
With electric fireplaces, the risk of getting burnt is greatly reduced. Despite this, you need to be careful with electric fireplaces as they might be hot to the touch around the hot air outlet.
How to start a fireplace without fire.
To start a fireplace without fire, there are several steps that can be taken.
First, make sure the damper is open and the flue is clear of any debris or obstructions. This will help ensure proper ventilation when starting a fire. Next, layer an inch-thick base of tightly packed newspaper logs along the floor of the fireplace.
Then, place several pieces of kindling in a criss-cross pattern on top of the newspaper logs.
Finally, ignite the newspaper logs using a match or lighter. Allow fire to grow until kindling is burning hot and flames are beginning to reach up the chimney.
Add additional fuel such as larger logs when needed to keep the fire burning. Once the fire is established and hot, close the damper to trap heat in the fireplace.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it – all the basics you need to know about getting a fireplace without the dangers associated with an actual fire.
The best way to get yourself a fireplace without the risk of an actual fire is to invest in an electric fireplace because they don’t have an open flame and are entirely run on electricity reducing your risk massively.
