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| Are Electric Fireplaces Safe? |
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An electric fireplace is not only a clean and energy-efficient source of warmth for your home, but it is also one of the safest heating alternatives available. An electric fireplace has clear safety advantages over a gas or conventional wood burning fire. Because an electric fireplace has no open flames, your home is safe from flying sparks that could ignite flammable materials nearby. You will have no need to worry about a child or a rambunctious pet accidentally falling into the fire and being burned, and even the glass of the fireplace unit is cool to the touch, reducing the risk of accidents. Furthermore, because you are not actually burning anything, you eliminate the dangers of inhaling toxins with the smoke, not to mention the mess of cleaning up the ashes.
A serious health risk that is associated with gas fireplaces is carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless gas that is known as “the invisible killer” for its quiet but deadly effect on humans. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is completely eliminated with electric fireplaces, giving them a clear advantage over gas units when it comes to safety. Furthermore, unlike a gas fireplace, electric fireplaces do not require you to store combustible fuel in your home.
A third advantage that electrical fireplaces have over wood burning and gas units is that electrical fireboxes require no ductwork, vents, or flues to operate. Ductwork can be a breeding ground for toxic mold, which can put the health and safety of you and your loved ones at risk. The ductwork used for wood burning or gas fireplaces is especially prone to mold growth, because the generated heat causes moisture to condense in the vents, providing the perfect warm, moist environment for mold. An electric fireplace eliminates the cost and hassle of cleaning your fireplace ductwork, and reduces the risk of toxic mold in your home.
As you can see, electric fireplaces have clear safety advantages over gas or wood burning stoves because of the lack of open flames, combustible fuel, carbon monoxide, and ductwork. These safety advances make electric fireplaces a perfect addition for any home, but especially one with pets or young children.
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