Although electric fireplaces have many benefits in terms of safety compared to other types of fireplace, there are some elements of an electric fireplace that may not be considered to be completely safe.

• Electric fireplaces are an electrical appliance and therefore carry similar risks as when using other electrical appliances such as space heaters.
• You may have to pay more for your electric fireplace to have an increased number of safety features.
• Blocking the heater inlet or outlet may cause it to overheat.

Electric fireplaces are electrical appliances that require a source of electricity in order to operate.

As with all types of electric appliance there will always be a very small risk that the product may be faulty.

Purchasing a good quality product from a reputable brand can minimize the risks associated with using an electric fireplace.

You may also find that the cheapest of electric fireplaces may not incorporate certain safety measures such as overheat prevention technology and timers. Again, not going with one of the cheaper models of electric fireplace and choosing a well known brand will help to ensure that you’re buying a safe electric fireplace.

Finally, it can be unsafe to block either the flow of air into the heater of an electric fireplace or block the outlet of the heater.

An electric fireplace may overheat and shut off if the flow of air is restricted in or out. It’s therefore important to place any freestanding electric fireplace on a hard surface and away from any objects that could block the heater, such as curtains or long pile carpet.

There’s a warning message on our electric fireplace saying not to block the outlet of the heater.