by Ben
|
Last Updated:
Affiliate disclosure: When you buy a product via our links, we sometimes earn a referral fee. Learn more
Electric fireplaces are the perfect solution to heat your home and improve your overall home design.
As they can activate the visual flames without heating the room – the cost of running an electric fireplace depends a lot.
There are a couple of factors that affect the cost, so let’s jump straight into the average electricity costs of this type of fireplace.
Average Electricity Usage
As I said earlier, electric fireplaces can be used for design purposes (only visual flames), so the costs are lower.
When it’s set to only activate the flames without the heat – the costs are from 0.005 up to 2 cents per hour.
Pretty efficient!
Usually, you will use the fireplace to automatically turn on and off from time to time. In that mode, it costs about 9 cents an hour to heat your home.
If you’re living in a cold area, you might even run the heat at top speed. When you’re using it like that, the cost rises up to 20 cents per hour.
The average annual cost of an electric fireplace is between $50-$100 which is almost three times less than a gas fireplace.
You have to understand that in some areas the costs are more expensive because of the climate and utility costs.
Why Do Some Electric Fireplaces Cost More To Operate?
Let me put it like this – it’s all about the power.
The power of an electric fireplace is measured in BTUs, so a fireplace with a higher BTU will most likely cost more to operate.
This isn’t anything new, it’s common sense.
Some electric fireplaces don’t have an option to automatically turn on and off, so they will heat the whole time it is turned on. You can expect higher costs with a fireplace like that.
So, Are Electric Fireplaces Considered Efficient?
Electric fireplaces are very efficient and it shouldn’t cost you more than $100 to maintain them.
Also, you won’t have to deal with cleaning dirt and ash, so it saves you, even more, time and effort.
If you want to learn more about electric fireplaces, you should take a look at our in-depth guide about electric fireplaces.
Recommended Reading
Best Ash Vacuum Cleaners – How To Chose The RIGHT One?
When it comes to cleaning your fireplace or your barbeque grills - ash vacuum cleaners are the best way to go. I recommend these 5 cleaners.
How To Start The Longest Fire In A Fireplace [5 Steps]
Step 1: Prepare the wood. Use an ax to prepare the softwood into long strips perfect for kindling. Ideally, the wood should still be large. You should only use dry wood as it has better burning longevity and it will heat your home better.
8 Best Pellet Stoves & What To Consider Before Buying
I prepared a list of the best 8 pellet stoves on the market that can fit anyone's needs but first, let's talk about 7 things you should consider before making buying.
How To Install Pellet Stove in 7 Steps (The RIGHT Way)
Installation costs are usually more than $2000, so if you’re handy and experienced - you should do it yourself! There are only 7 steps.
6 Best Wood Burning Fireplace Inserts – Full Buying Guide
Before diving deep into some of the best wood burning fireplace inserts, let me tell you why they are totally worth it. Teaser: save 40% on heating costs.
How To Properly Use A Fireplace (Step-By-Step)
There only 6 important steps to follow when using a fireplace. Step 1: Pile up the kindling. Place a pile of kindling into a fireplace, grabbing different sizes including small and large kindling.
