Leafer Electric Fireplace

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There are a host of images that come to mind when you think of fireplaces: warm cozy evenings cuddling in front of it, roasting chestnuts, and white Christmases.

Fireplaces are filled with both physical and emotional warmth. The presence of a fireplace can actually seal the deal when people are considering purchasing your home.

There are great options available for those who currently own a home without a wood burning fireplace. It could cost over $6000 to complete the necessary renovations to add a chimney and wood burning fireplace to your home. For many that is just way beyond their budget. There are also ways that those with a wood fireplace can still receive all the warmth without the hassles that are associated with them.

Install a Gas Fireplace
With just the touch of a button you can have a clean burning fireplace. You get the same look of flickering flames as you would with a wood fireplace without all the hassle of carrying wood in and stoking the fire all night. Gas fireplaces also eliminate many of the other problems with wood burning fireplaces, such as smoke damage and chimney soot. Using a gas fireplace also eliminates the problem of indoor furniture damage caused by the particulates in smoke from wood burning fireplaces.

Install an Electric Fireplace
These are a great option for those without a current fireplace. There is no venting or masonry work required for an electric fireplace. Electric fireplaces come with a heating unit and electric fan to provide warmth and logs that glow surrounded by flickering flames to add the ambience of a fireplace. The heating unit can usually be turned off if you want the ambience without the additional heat. These units are very affordable for most homeowners.

Your electric fireplace is like another piece of indoor furniture, and it can come with you when you move to a new home. They will actually help protect the rest of your furniture as they do not emit smoke or dust. You can even use electric fireplaces in small areas such as an apartment.

You have many choices available when the time comes to purchase an electric fireplace. Those with an existing fireplace can purchase an insert that fits right in. Other models are freestanding and look like wood stoves. There are also three sided corner units available. Most electric fireplaces can be purchased for under $1000 and would be the prefect addition to any home.

Electric fireplaces are also a great idea in this age of rising fuel oil costs. The additional benefits of electric fireplaces are that they add charm and ambience as well as warmth to your home.

Purchasing an electric fireplace instead of a wood burning fireplace is one more smart way to protect the health of your family.

Your family would love the addition of an electric fireplace. They are great because they not only save you money on your heating costs, but they protect your family’s health as well. The quality of the air we breath is so important, but so often neglected. The quality of the air inside your home can be much improved with the use of an electric fireplace as opposed to a wood burning fireplace.

Studies have repeatedly shown that people are more impacted by indoor air pollution than they are by outdoor air pollution. Electric fireplaces are the perfect choice for those who want to make improvements to their indoor air quality.

Regular wood burning fireplaces require special ventilation to make them work in a healthy fashion. Today’s homes have been built so tightly the byproducts of burning wood can not escape. These elements stay in your home and can really impact your health. Electric fireplaces do not emit any pollutants and so do not create any of these problems. This winter you may see a general improvement in your overall health if you use an electric fireplace.

Take the time to look at electric fireplaces if you are considering either replacing an old fireplace or inserting a new one. Purchasing an electric fireplace instead of a wood burning fireplace is one more smart way to protect the health of your family.


The real beauty of a free standing electric stove is that is looks just like the real thing and that it also works to provide heat to the space that it is in.

The only stove that is really free standing is electric. Both wood and gas burning stove can not be said to be really free standing, as they need to be able to vent the smoke and gases they create. Since free standing electric stoves only produce light and heat, they have no need to be tied down to a chimney or vent.

The best part of a free standing electric stove is that it can be placed anywhere you can find a standard 120 volt outlet. Imagine being able to pick up your stovepipe stove and instantly put it anywhere you want in your home. Of course it would never work, which is why it has stayed in its same location since it was installed. But a free standing electric stove can be unplugged and moved to any room that needs heat, your den, bedroom, or even your basement. With a good extension cord, you could even place in on your patio for a great effect at a party.

Think about how much you enjoyed the freedom when you first switched to your cordless phone, the same will be true when you upgrade to a free standing electric fireplace. You also get the added benefits of adjustable heat and flame height, giving you just the look and feel you desire.

The real beauty of a free standing electric stove is that is looks just like the real thing. It has realistic looking logs and embers, and flames created through the use of light. You no longer have to worry about chopping or hauling logs, sweeping ashes, or choking on smoke. You get the look of real fire, without any of the hassles.

When it comes to fireplaces, however, fake is so much better than the original.

Many people don’t like the sound of a fake fireplace. Most of the time when things are fake they are so much less appealing than the original. We live in a world where we are surrounded by fake things, a fact that is compounded by television and movie industries. Most of what we see is fake. Why would we want to perpetuate this ourselves by using a fake fireplace?

When it comes to fireplaces, however, fake is so much better than the original. With electric fireplaces you do not have any of the costs, dangers, or maintenance that is associated with a real fireplace. With a fake fireplace there is no smoke to vent and no sparks or other fire hazards. There is just clean, easy, adjustable heat whenever you want it.

Electric fireplaces are a vast improvement over traditional wood burning fireplaces. You have all the benefits, with none of the problems. You can say that it is not fake, it is improved. Once you see all the benefits of using a “fake” fireplace there is no way that you will choose to stay in the past.

With an electric fireplace you get all of the heat, beauty, and ambiance that you would from a traditional wood burning fireplace. The only difference is you don’t get any of the drawbacks, such as stacking wood, cleaning your fireplace and chimney, venting problems, or smoke. They are easy adjustable, a claim that has never been true for wood burning fireplaces. They are also more efficient, as you do not loose any heat through the chimney.


A really efficient fireplace will keep the heat inside your home by gently radiating it into the room where it is installed.

Much of the heat from traditional wood burning fireplaces escapes right through the chimney. Gas fireplaces are not much better, with 40 or 50 percent of their energy escaping. You heating dollars are literally going up in smoke, right with most of the heat you create through the use of traditional fireplaces.

A really efficient fireplace will keep the heat inside your home by gently radiating it into the room where it is installed. With wood burning fireplaces, much of the heat escapes with the smoke that needs to be vented. Electric fireplaces turn all their energy into heat which is then radiated into the room. They are truly the most efficient fireplaces.

Fireplaces were one of the first human inventions. Early cave dwellers invented fire in their quest to stay warm, but they had little success with controlling the flames or temperature. They were never able to figure out how to made minor adjustments in heat, or to get the fire to last all night long. Today’s technology makes both of these things possible.

Electric fireplaces not only look like real fire, but they emit a great deal of warmth in the process. All you do is plug them into the wall. Electric fireplaces also eliminate the fire risks associated with traditional wood burning fireplaces, as well as the potential danger to kids and pets. Some electric fireplaces even come with remote controls so that you can make adjustment from the comfort of your cozy couch.


With several options available to you in fireplace styles it is smart for you to do your homework on what each type will bring cost and maintenance wise.

Wood Burning Fireplaces – Installation Costs
The high cost of labor as well as bricks or stone will really make installing a masonry fireplace one of your most expensive options. Installation is simpler and faster if you choose a manufactured unit. Make sure you have a certified professional install your fireplace. A professional will obtain all the necessary permits and ensure that your new fireplace is in compliance with local building codes.

Operating Costs
You will need to take certain steps to ensure the efficiency of your wood burning fireplace. You can get a significant amount of heat from two new technologically advanced wood burning fireplaces, the Clean Burning and EPA-certified fireplaces. These fireplaces are great for areas where frequent power outages occur in the winter as you can still heat your home without any additional power source.

Care and Maintenance
You should monitor your flue regularly and use only harder, seasoned woods to avoid creosote building up in your chimney. Your fireplace should be cleaned and inspected annually by a certified chimney sweep.

Ashes will need to be removed from the fireplace after each use. Additionally you will want to remove any smoke stains that appear on the exterior face of your fireplace in response to drafting problems.

Natural & Propane Gas Fireplaces – Installation Costs
Depending on the units type, style, and manufacturer these models can cost anywhere from $600 to $2000 dollars. Delivery and installation will require additional fees.

You can install a natural or propane gas fireplace anywhere in your home where there is access to gas. You want to use the most qualified professional available for your installation. The only professionals trained and qualified to run gas lines are licensed plumbers and HVAC technicians. You can install these units in the middle of a room or along any exterior wall. There is very little required clearance between the unit and combustible material, thanks to zero clearance construction.

Operating Costs
Gas fireplaces will usually cost less to operate than wood burning fireplaces. Many factors go into determining your actual cost of operation, including your local cost of gas, your homes construction, the size of the room where the fireplace is located, and the climate of your area.

Natural gas contains 1000 BTUs per cubic foot while liquid propane contains 2,500 BTUs per cubic foot.

Care and Maintenance
There is little maintenance that is required with these clean burning fireplaces. You should have your unit inspected annually by a certified inspector. You will also want to clean the glass doors with a cleaner specifically designed for gas burning fireplaces. An annual inspection by a certified chimney sweep is also recommended.

Electric Fireplaces – Installation Costs
The installation of these units is as simple as plugging it in, so there are no real installation costs unless an outlet needs to be added where you would like to place your fireplace. There are great for any home, especially small spaces like an apartment or office.

Operating Costs
These are determined by your local electric supplier. Approximately 1400 watts will be used by most units.

Care and Maintenance
You can use these units year round without any maintenance costs. The heating element can be turned off for those who want the ambience without the heat.