5 Best Low Watt Electric Fireplaces
AT A GLANCE
No matter what your needs and preferences, whether you require an integrated or portable heater, there’s an electric fireplace that’s just right for you.
Electric fireplaces are a great choice because they’re efficient, can be cost-effective, and provide you with the warmth and look of a real fire without the hassle, upkeep and danger.
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a fireplace, or any type of heater, for that matter, is how much it will cost to run, i.e. how much electricity it will use.
Electric fireplace wattage: How much electricity does an electric fireplace use?
The average electric fireplace will use around 1500W – most regular models use this and above. This puts them in line with most regular fan heaters (only, fireplaces are much nicer to look at).
As this number represents consumption per hour, you’d need to multiply it by how many hours you intend to run your device.
During winter months, it’s not out of the ordinary to run a heater for several hours a day.
Are electric fireplaces expensive to run? How much will one raise my electric bill?
Electric fireplaces can be expensive to run if you choose models that are high wattage.
A standard 1500-watt electric fireplace used for 3 hours a day, will cost you around $0.50 – $0.90 per day; that’s an extra $15 – $27 per month on your electric bill.
On the other hand, a low wattage model (1400W and below) could potentially be much cheaper to run.
That’s why it would be prudent of you to choose an energy-efficient electric fireplace, or at the very least one that lets you drop down to a lower temperature/wattage at will.
We’ve selected 5 fireplaces that meet these requirements. It should be noted that while the wattage on these units may seem high, they all come with adjustable thermostats, meaning you can simply reduce the temperature to a lower wattage. This way, you can get as low as 700W in some cases.
The Top 5 Energy-efficient Electric Fireplaces
Touchstone 80028 Sideline Electric Fireplace
WATTAGE: 1100W
BTU: 3,750
HEATING AREA: 300 sq ft
SIZE: 28 inches
This contemporary electric fireplace will be the perfect addition to your living room, bedroom or other indoor space!
The Touchstone 80028 Sideline Electric Fireplace offers realistic flames complete with 5 flame brightness levels and 3 flame colors. You can even control it from across the room with its remote!
With this fireplace, not only are you getting a way to increase the warmth of any environment, but also dual mode features that allow you to use just the flame effects without fire for ambient lighting of a room.
It has 2 heat settings (high and low) that are thermostatically controlled, plus 2 options for changing the burning effects – log or crystal effects.
The Touchstone 80028 also comes with a built-in timer mode, so you can program it to turn off on its own!
What's more, the heater vents are front-facing, for added convenience.
Pro: Sturdily built and and easy-to-use controls.
Con: It's noisy.
WATTAGE: 780W
BTU: 2,661
HEATING AREA: 400 sq ft
SIZE: 33 inches
Enjoy the warmth without the sting with this amazing fire place. The Dimplex DF3033ST Electric Fireplace is the perfect solution for heating your home.
Along with its customizable flame effect and sleep timer, it provides unmatched realism by giving off real burning embers to create a truly authentic experience.
This fan-forced heater also includes features such as a temperature cut-off switch for added safety, and you can use it with or without heat for maximum versatility.
What's more, the DF3033ST comes with a digital remote control that lets you control all of the fireplace functions from across your room – no more getting up every time you want to change the temperature!
Pro: Quick installation, and looks realistic.
Con: The dimensions aren't accurate, so it might come in smaller than the sizing suggests.
TURBRO Suburbs TS17 Compact Electric Fireplace
$74.99
WATTAGE: 1400W
BTU: 4,777
HEATING AREA: 400 sq ft
SIZE: 18 inches
The TURBRO Suburbs TS17 Compact Electric Fireplace is a great addition to any room, thanks to its stylish, modern design.
The free-standing nature, combined with its side convection heater, make it easy for users to move it around the house when needed.
The realistic flame and firewood effect make this unit seem like an expensive alternative to a genuine wood fireplace.
This fireplace includes safety features such as overheat protection, and is cool to the touch, even with the heater on.
Don't want the heater on but just want the flame effects? Simply turn off the heater and use this awesome fireplace to bring ambiance to your room.
The control panel for easy to use, and the unit operates quietly, meaning your sleep won't be disturbed.
Pro: Lightweight and portable – the only fireplace on our list that is.
Con: Can be hot to the touch, and won't be very effective in larger rooms.
WATTAGE: 1400W
BTU: 4760
HEATING AREA: 400 sq ft
SIZE: 23 inches
The Della 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace provides a comfortable heat to any room in your home. The product is designed with an elegant, contemporary display that includes realistic flames effect, and a touch screen control panel.
This unit has three preset temperature settings that can be changed with the push of a button, while the heating timer lets you set a time between 1-8 hours.
This fireplace by Della also has a wireless remote control that allows you to easily turn it on or off, adjust the flame color and brightness, or change the heat settings from anywhere in the room, meaning you get to sit back and relax in comfort.
When you don't want the heating on, you can use the fireplace as a traditional display to create a nice mood and enhance your room's décor.
In terms of safety, the unit has an overheating protection sensor which automatically switches off the heater before it gets too hot.
Pro: Easy to install and quiet.
Con: Flames aren't as realistic-looking as those on other models, and takes a while for the heat to really get going.
Ameriwood Home Chicago Electric Fireplace TV Console
$309.99
WATTAGE: 1400W
BTU: 4600
HEATING AREA: 400 sq ft
SIZE: 50 inches
The Ameriwood Electric Fireplace TV Console is the perfect way to really bring warmth and entertainment into your living space.
No matter what kind of winter weather you’ve encountered, this electric fireplace will make it feel like springtime again while also providing an ample amount of storage for games consoles, DVDs or even books.
The TV unit is composed of laminated particleboard and MDF materials, making this unit sturdy, whilst giving off an elegant, traditional look and feel.
Built with patented AltraFlame technology, the 18” fireplace features built-in reflectors that create realistic flame effects to mimic a real fire.
The LED lights can last up to 50,000 hours (which is the rough equivalent of 5.7 years)!
This fireplace can be used with or without the heating function, allowing you to make use of the flame effects in any season or temperature.
The two glass doors on the TV stand not only look elegant but also give you quick access to all your media. It can support flat screen TVs up to 50” and 70lbs.
Pro: Sturdy, well-built, looks expensive. Powerful heat output.
Con: Flat-pack stand that will require 2-person assembly. Also, no remote.
Electric fireplaces vs central heating – which is more cost-effective?
Although central heating is more efficient for heating the whole house, there will be times when you simply want to heat the room you’re in, nothing else. For that reason, an electric fireplace would make more sense.
That’s also why electric fireplaces are more cost effective and energy-saving. You’ll be able to heat just one room at a time, and won’t waste money heating empty rooms.
