Electric Fires

Electric Fires

An electric fire is a heater with a flame effect, and most people shopping for one want both halves of that. The heat comes from a conventional element rated between 1.8kW and 2kW, enough for an average living room, and it is usually switchable so you can run the flame effect on its own through milder months and use it purely as a focal point. Format is the real decision. An inset or insert fire is built into an existing fireplace opening or a stud wall and sits flush, so it suits a room that already has a chimney breast, and a 16 inch insert is the common size for a standard opening. A freestanding stove is a self contained cast style body that stands on the hearth or against any flat wall with no building work at all, which makes it the practical choice for a room with no fireplace and for rented homes. Flame technology varies in how convincing it looks: Optiflame and LED log effect systems light a fuel bed from beneath to imitate burning logs, and the better ones let you adjust brightness independently of the heat. Remote control is worth having on anything you will sit across the room from, since it covers flame, heat setting and timer without getting up. Check the opening dimensions before buying an inset model, and allow the clearances stated in the instructions for a freestanding stove.

Dimplex leads the range with the Tango 2kW Optiflame electric stove with remote control, alongside the Club and Dakota Optiflame fires and the EWT Elbe 2kW stove. Warmlite covers the inset end with the Whitby 2kW electric fire in chrome with remote control, plus 1800W and 2kW log effect stoves, and Heat Design supplies a 16 inch 1.9kW electric insert fire in black. For heaters without a flame effect see Portable Heaters, for low wattage panel heating see Eco Heaters, and for the full category see Heating.