Find Famous Scenes

Don't get me wrong: I really do enjoy the warmth and comfort of a roaring fire. So I absolutely enjoy a good fireplace, especially if it has an elegant or stylish fireplace mantel surrounding it. And fireplaces have a tendency (with me, anyway) to conjure up happy memories of good times. Still, I think that electric fireplaces are superior for a number of reasons, and will oneday replace traditional fireplaces on account of their practicality and convenience.

I would like to mention now that artificial fireplaces are not to be confused (though they often are) with the notoriously corny video fireplaces of the past. Unlike video fireplaces, these modern appliances actually emit real warmth. An electrically powered fire scene serves as a secondary heater, or even a primary heater in average sized rooms. When it comes down to it, artificial fire scenes are just as capable of proliferating warmth as a real, traditional fire. It may not look absolutely "real" from directly nearby, but from a reasonable distance, say five yards or so, the artificial fire scene looks quite real enough.

Artifical fireplaces, unlike their traditional smoke-spewing counterparts, are quite friendly towards the environment. Because an artificial firebox runs solely on electric power, it releases absolutely no carbon emissions, as opposed to the substantial carbon imprint of real fireplaces. It does not smoke, so you won't have to inhale those burning fumes, and your electric firebox won't release smoke into the atmosphere via a chimney. Artificial fireplaces also help preserve natural resources: because they do not rely on wood or coal as fuel, they do not need to consume resources that could be used to achieve other, more practical ends.

These fireplaces are also significantly more convenient than their traditional wood-burning predecessors. They require a very simple installation, and after that, you have very little to worry about. You don't need to clean it, though of course it is recommended that you wipe the screen for dust every now and then, just as you would clean a television or computer monitor. Additionally, with an electric fire scene, you don't need to worry about the prior preparation a normal fireplace entails. Imagine coming home one evening, sitting down on the couch, perhaps sipping a soothing beverage, and enjoying the warmth and visual stimulation of a roaring fire after a simple flip of the switch. And the best part is, you won't have to concern yourself with cleaning up the debris and ash the morning after!

An electrically powered fireplace is also remarkably convenient for people who live in apartments or homes that don't have chimneys. With this innovation it is possible to enjoy the comfort and visual drama of a good fire, without needing to think about whether your home is properly ventilated, or has a chimney to vent out the smoke and fumes. And these fireplaces save you money in the long run: if you buy an artificial fireplace, you won't ever have to concern yourself with purchasing expensive and fast-burning fuels like firewood and coal. Once your artificial fireplace is properly installed, the only fee you need to worry about is your electric bill. You don't even have to worry about paying for the gas that normal fireplaces require. And once again, because you don't need to clean an electric fire scene, you won't have to fork over the cash to pay for cleaning supplies.

In all likelihood, however, the best and most important feature of artificial fireplaces is their safety value. Because there is no "real" fire, there is no real danger. You won't have to watch your fireplace to ensure the fire doesn't get out of control. You won't even have to worry about furniture, decorations and other items that you wish to place near your artificial fireplace: at worst, anything you decide to put near the fire scene will get especially warm. No fire, no burning, no problem!

In short: simply put, there is a veritable treasure trove of benefits to electric fire scenes that real fireplaces simply do not provide, but an electric fireplace can do everything that a traditional fireplace can do, only better.

About the Author:

Few freelance writers have as much experience in the fireplace mantel industry as Wyatt Frisk, a self-proclaimed expert. He is a freelance writer for PortableFireplace.com, and has written articles for several online companies. For all your electric fireplace questions, just ask Wyatt!