An electric fireplace is far safer than a wood fire: no sparks, no smoke, no gas. But the heater inside is a 1,500 W space heater, and space heaters cause house fires when they are used wrong.
Plug it straight into the wall
No extension cords and no power strips. A 1,500 W heater draws about 12.5 A for hours on end, which overheats thin cords and cheap strips.
Look for UL, ETL or CSA
These three labs test heaters against the same US safety standard. Each listing means the model passed. If a listing names none of them, ask the seller before you buy.
Overheat cut-off and tip-over switch
An overheat cut-off switches the heater off when it gets too hot inside, for example when a blanket covers the vent. Freestanding stoves and portable units should also have a tip-over switch.
Keep the front clear
Most manuals ask for about 3 ft of open space in front of the heater vent. No curtains, sofas or toys in that zone.
Kids and pets
The glass on most electric fireplaces stays cool to warm, but the heater vent gets hot. A model with a child lock on the controls helps with small children.
Wall mounting
Use the bracket from the box and screw it into studs. A 50 in unit can weigh 45 lb or more.
