Further Reading

The days are becoming shorter and the nights are becoming longer. The air becomes chilly and more freezing. These signs are felt even more as the winter months come in. A warmer home suddenly becomes a necessity to help us cope with the cold weather as the winter season knocks on our doors.

Gone were the days of the dominance of wood and gas fireplaces as heaters for our home. In these modern times, we cope to technological advancements in everything that we use including our fireplaces. Recently, new developments in fireplace technology have been unveiled including the use of electric energy as the main source of energy or heat for the fireplace. Electric fireplace along with electric fireplace mantels and stone fireplace surrounds have now become the new trend and provided a better alternative to replace our hassle-laden wood and gas fireplaces.

Fireplaces using wood as its main fuel, although aesthetically speaking, they look good; are considered to be obsolete and come with a lot of hassles. Fireplaces that use wood as its main fuel are considered outdated and poses a lot of problems despite its distinct beauty. Finding enough wood to sustain the production of fire is a major problem among wood fireplace users particularly to those who are tired from work and other daily engagements. The accessibility to firewood also becomes a problem to most of us who do not have access to free wood and cutting and hauling of wood demands a lot of time. Moreover, most of us are so reluctant to buy fuel wood because of financial constraints.

In recent years, gas fireplaces became a popular replacement for wood fireplaces. Gas fireplaces emit cleaner residues, pose lesser problems and is also decorative like the traditional wood fireplace. Although it comes with a number of benefits, the price of gas which usually soars during the winter season, become problematic for some users. Gas fireplaces are mainly fueled by natural gas, one of the more expensive gas products in the market.

Meanwhile, electric fireplaces as well the use of electric fireplace mantels and stone fireplace surrounds are increasing its popularity due to its affordable price, low maintenance nature and it's very easy to install. The price of electric fireplaces has dropped significantly along with other electronic equipment in recent years. Electric fireplaces together with the electric fireplace mantels and stone fireplace surrounds are installed in places where an electric outlet is present and requires less effort. It also poses lesser maintenance problems and eliminates the hassles of finding enough fuel to keep it burning.

Electric fireplaces decorative function is highlighted by the electric fireplace mantels and its stone fireplace surrounds, and they are comparable to that of the gas and wood fireplaces. Electric fireplaces also boast of having a number of stone fireplace surrounds and electric fireplace mantels which would largely depend on the user's preference. In terms of heating capability, electric fireplaces can warm a room of up to 400 square feet. Temperature can also be remotely controlled and be set at a preferred level.

Electricity as the main fuel for a fireplace is among the new and emerging trends among fireplaces. Electric fireplace is easy to install, cheaper and requires lesser maintenance as compared to traditional wood and gas fireplaces. Electric fireplace mantels as well as the stone fireplace surrounds are all designed in variety and can be easily recognized as authentic due to its similar appearance to that of the natural fireplace.