25 Jan 2022 Safety tips for your electric fireplace [a simple list]

Electric fireplaces are often opted for over a wood burning stove or a gas fire, due to their ease of use and cost effectiveness! If you have an electric fire, you probably know its quirks and how to use it. However, it’s never too late for a refresher lesson on fire safety…

Safety is of the utmost importance when it comes to heating your home. Electric fireplaces are often considered as one of the safest options, as they don’t use combustible fuels or dangerous fumes. This eliminates the risk of a gas leak from your fireplace or the danger of carbon monoxide. However, there are still steps you can take to ensure that your fireplace is being used sensibly. So, we’ve come up with a simple guide complete with must-know electric fireplace safety tips.

Keep other objects away from the fire

Although with an electric fire there are no tangible flames, the fireplace will still omit heat. Due to this, it’s wise for you to keep objects a safe distance away from the fire such as blankets, wooden furniture, and toys. This will eliminate any risk of something flammable catching fire – you only want safe flames in your home!

Avoid touching the fireplace

Again, the flames aren’t real with an electric fireplace. However, heat still comes out of the heating element (vents), meaning that if you touch them, you could sustain minor burns. The safest thing to do is look, but don’t touch. Luckily, the low maintenance nature of an electric fire makes this very easy to achieve!

Don’t leave pets or children unattended

Much like in the instance of a real fire being nearby, it’s a good idea to keep young children and pets away from the electric fireplace. Although the risk of them burning themselves is reduced, take the safety precautions and avoid the minimal risk that’s left by monitoring them when the fire is on.

Don’t leave it on overnight

Electric fires are manufactured so that they are safe, but leaving them unattended would probably impact your peace of mind. Nobody relishes in the panic that comes when we wonder if we left the straighteners plugged in or the oven on – avoid this stress and make sure you turn your fire off if you’re not around.

Keep liquids far from the fireplace

This goes without saying, but all electrical appliances must be kept away from liquid. The mixture of liquid and electricity can be extremely dangerous. This is where the attendance of young children will also need to come into play. Monitoring what is going on around the fire will reduce a number of disasters!

Don’t modify the fireplace

Even if you’re something of an electrical wizard, leave the fire alone! Using the fire as the manufacturer intended it to be used will guarantee that the fire will be in safe operation. It will also fall in line with the manufacturer guarantees, and its safety features won’t be impacted negatively.

Get the fireplace installed by a reputable company

A proper installation will mean that your fire isn’t at risk of any wires coming loose. It’s essential that the installers have a good working knowledge of connecting these fireplaces to your electricity, which is where Fiveways Fires & Stoves comes in!

Here at Fiveways Fires & Stoves, our installers are experienced and knowledgeable about the installation of your electric fireplace. They will also give you safety tips to ensure that you know how to use your fireplace responsibly. If you’d like advice on which electric fireplace will be the best option for your home, call our team on 0208 127 4747 or email . We can’t wait to hear from you!