An increasingly common substitute for conventional gas or wood-burning fireplaces is electric fireplaces. Before making the move, you should be aware of a few typical issues that might arise with electric fireplaces.
Among the most frequent issues is that there could not be enough heat being produced by the fireplace to adequately warm your space.
When you’re trying to be warm and comfy in the dead of winter, this can be very annoying! The electric fireplace could not appear as authentic as you would want, which is another potential issue.
The flames might not look very realistic or they might flicker strangely.
There is probably a fix for whatever issue you’re having with your electric fireplace. You should be able to restart your electric fireplace and get it running properly quickly with a little troubleshooting.
Here we’ll go through some of the most common problems encountered with electric fireplaces (see also ‘Using An Electric Fireplace Outside‘) and their solutions.
Common Problems With Electric Fireplaces
We have listed some of the most common problems that you may come across with your electric fireplace, and how you can fix them so you can get back to enjoying your beautiful fireplace.
Fireplace Not Blowing Heat
Do you worry that the heat from your electric fire is not blowing? It’s not just you. This issue is common, and many people want to know how to solve it.
There are a number of potential causes for your electric fireplace not to be producing heat. Lack of power to the fireplace could be one of the causes. The fireplace may not be properly ventilated, which is another potential explanation.
The circuit breaker should be checked first if your electric fireplace isn’t receiving adequate power. Reset the circuit breaker if it has tripped, then check to see if the issue is resolved.
It might be necessary to contact an electrician if the issue continues.
It may not be blowing heat because your electric fire is not adequately ventilated. Verify that no obstructions, such as furniture or other objects, are in the way of the vents.
Additionally, make sure your vents are open. If not, try opening them to see if that improves the situation.
It is advised to consult a professional if you are still having issues with an electric fire not blowing heat. They’ll be able to identify the issue and carry out the required fixes.
Beeping
The batteries in the controller might be running low, which could be one of the causes of your electric fireplace beeping. If so, all it would take to silence the beeping would be to change the batteries.
The flame sensor may be dirty, which is another potential cause of a beeping electric fireplace.
The flame sensor controls when the fireplace turns on and off. If the sensor is dirty, the fireplace may operate irregularly, which will result in beeping. The beeping should stop by just using a cotton swab to wipe the flame sensor.
After changing the remote’s batteries and cleaning the flame sensor, if the fireplace is still beeping, there may be a more serious issue. If you can’t figure out why your fireplace is beeping, it’s usually a good idea to get a specialist to check it out.
Fireplace Keeps Shutting Off
There are a few possible causes if an electric fireplace keeps turning off. Here are four possible causes of your electric fireplace’s recurrent shutoffs:
The Electric Fireplace Overheats
To avoid any harm, the electric fireplace will turn off immediately if it starts to overheat. There are a number of troubleshooting checks you can check.
Ventilation: Make sure there is enough ventilation, electric fireplace needs sufficient ventilation to prevent overheating. If the space is cramped, overheating may result.
Overuse: Running the fireplace constantly at a very high setting, may cause it to overheat. This is likely to happen if the fireplace doesn’t generate enough heat for a large room. The temptation will be to run it at maximum that eventually may cause overheating.
Something Broke: This will be harder to check but something might have gone wrong with the heating element, control panel or the fan.
Power Supply Issues: If there are issues with the power supply, it may mean that the fireplace isn’t receiving sufficient power and may result in overheating.
There Is Insufficient Power Going To The Electric Fireplace
The electric fireplace will also turn off if it doesn’t have enough power. To resolve this, confirm that the fireplace is connected to a trustworthy source of power and make sure the cord is in good condition.
The Electric Fireplace’s Grounding Is Inadequate.
Additionally, if the fireplace is improperly grounded, the fireplace may turn off. Make sure the fireplace is correctly grounded to resolve the issue.
There Is A More Serious Issue With The Fireplace
The fireplace itself needs to be fixed or replaced when there is a more serious problem. Contact the manufacturer to determine if the electric fireplace has a problem.
Making Sounds
Electric fireplaces can occasionally generate noise. This may be caused by a variety of elements, such as the kind of fireplace, its age, and the quality of upkeep it has had. Other things that can cause the fireplace to make noise are:
The fan: This is in charge of moving air around inside the fireplace. A rattling sound may be made by a dirty or imbalanced fan. Clean the blades and ensure they are well balanced to remedy this.
The blower: This part is in charge of circulating air through the fire. A humming sound may be made by a defective or unclean blower. Clean your blower and ensure it is completely free of debris to remedy this.
The heating element: This component of the fireplace is in charge of producing heat. The element may make a popping sound if it is filthy or broken. Try replacing the heating element, or clean it if it’s dirty to fix this.
The fire itself: As it burns, the fire might make popping and crackling sounds. This is typical and presents no danger.
The motor: Make sure the motor is properly oiled if there are sounds coming from it. You could use a motor-specific lubricant like WD-40. You might need to contact a professional if you are still unable to resolve the issue.
Fireplace Doesn’t Turn On
Popular home appliances like electric fireplaces can add warmth and a calming visual element to your living space. However, it might be a huge hassle if an electric fireplace won’t start.
The electric fireplace might not be operating for a number of reasons, some of which are simple to resolve.
Your electric fireplace might not be operating as a result of the power cord not being fully plugged in. The fireplace won’t get the energy it needs to work if a cord is not firmly plugged in.
The circuit breaker tripping is another potential cause of your fireplace not working.
If the heating element in your electric fireplace isn’t working, there can be another problem. You might want to hire an expert to come take a look at this because it is not a simple fix.
You might be capable of replacing the heating element yourself, though, if you’re handy with tools.
Final Thoughts
In order to use your electric fireplace again, you should first solve the issue, whatever the cause may be.
You can prevent further damage and quickly get your fireplace up and running by putting in the effort to determine the cause of its malfunction.
Hi, I am Stevie Morris. As a qualified electrician, I have installed countless electric fires and worked on projects with all types of fireplaces, including wood burning, bioethanol, and gas installations.
By working hands-on with different brands, you quickly become an expert on the best fireplaces and those you should avoid.
My family also owns the largest online retailer of fire pits and outdoor fireplaces in the UK. Although not part of the family business, I regularly help when needed.
I hope you can benefit from my experience and impartiality, which I have gained from installing fireplaces and seeing the family's fire pit business grow.
