First, before I begin this piece of information I want to say that I don’t have a electric fireplace but I do want one and I am very interested in how to maintain one. These tips come from a friend that I know has one and can maintain one. I had to ask him for this information because he is most informative about this kind of thing. These are some tips and things that need to be done to improve and to keep your electric fireplace looking great from the inside out.
Even electric fireplaces require much less in the terms of repair, cleaning and maintenance than other fireplaces, they still need to be look after and cleaned once in a while. A lot of manufactures recommend that a electric fireplace undergo a complete maintenance schedule once a year. The easiest and safest way to do this is to have a professional fitter come and look at the unit. But if you are more of a hands-on type of person than it should be easy to repair and maintain your fireplace yourself if you know what you are doing.
First, before you start to maintain and repair anything make sure that the fire is isolated from it’s electrical supply. You don’t want any accidents while cleaning the fireplace. Once it’s safe and cool to work with give the firebox a good clean with a damp cloth, a small brush(one that has a small paintbrush head) and a vacuum that has an elongated nozzle attachment.
Next, clean the glass on the front of the fireplace. Never use glass cleaner. It contains flammable contents and chemicals. Instead use mild soap and a lot of hot water. Never use a SOS or Brillo pad. These things can scourer and scratch the glass. That is the last thing that you want is to have your fireplace glass scratched. Polish it up lightly by buffing it with a nice soft cloth.
If you need to replace light bulbs do that also. To find out if they need replacing, turn on the unit on to full power before you begin the maintenance. If one side of the ember bed or the flame displayed is brighter than the other then it needs to be replaced. In most electric fireplaces, it takes a 40 watt light bulb. You can purchase them at any hardware store. If you don’t know which one to get you can always take the dead bulb that you got from your unit. As the candelabra bulb normally use a bayonet socket, replacing them is a matter of unscrewing them and then replacing them.
Lastly, clean the fan. Make sure that it is free from dust and lint. Check the fan to make sure that it spins freely. Remember if you suspect a problem with the fan you need to consult a professional before attempting any maintenance or replacement.
When it comes to the advantages of having a electric fireplace there are plenty. The largest of these is the time needed to get the unit working. With traditional wood fireplace, it takes up to 45 minutes to get the fire to alight and this does not count the time it takes to get the wood. With an electric fireplace all it takes is for you to turn it in and voila. Electric fireplaces are very easy to install, with some models capable of being fitted in a hour.
Most come with easy to understand and easy to follow installation kits, that can be fitted without major modifications to the home. They don’t take up as make space as traditional fireplaces and they don’t have a high risk of damage to property or people. And finally there’s the cost of the electric fireplace. Buying wood or gas can be ridiculously expensive as especially if you can’t gather wood yourself. Electric fires, because they can draw power from the grid, are much cheaper to buy and run.
