The warm glow of a fireplace is the crowning touch of any rustically designed home. If a wood burning or gas log fireplace seems too complicated, you don't have to sacrifice that peaceful fireplace idyll. A gel or electric fireplace can provide a simple, efficient, and realistic alternative for your home or apartment.
Sing The Fire Electric
Chimneysweeps were obsolete the day the electric fireplace was invented. An electric fireplace provides glowing logs, simulated flames, and palpable heat, all without the need of chimneys or ventilation. Just plug your electric fireplace into a wall socket for instant ambience.
Electric fireplaces typically come with multiple settings such as "flame only" or "heat only" or varied combinations of the two. They can be controlled via remote or panels installed on the mantle. And because it's electric, you can choose a freestanding fireplace, or a standard wall insert model.
Let's Gel
Though lesser known than electric fireplaces, gel fireplaces are a cost-efficient alternative for your rustic sitting room. Gel fireplaces are so named for the gelled, all-natural, biodegradable alcohol they use as fuel. This gel comes in cans and provides odorless, smokeless warmth and romantic atmosphere. And because gel fireplaces require neither electricity nor ventilation, they are highly portable and can be set up nearly anywhere in your home, apartment, or office.
Rate My Fire
Choosing an electric fireplace or gel fireplace is primarily an issue of convenience. Both are extremely cost-efficient. An electric fireplace can cost around 10 cents an hour or even less to run, while a gel fireplace will consume fuel at a cost of about 80 cents an hour. But since no ventilation or cleanup is required, either an electric or gel fireplace will give you all the benefits of a home fireplace with none of the work.
