Installing a flush mount electric fireplace involves a lot of work. For a handy DIY person, it can be a pretty simple job to take on but very challenging to a first-time Do-It-Yourself installer. Consider hiring a licensed technician to install the fireplace for you if not sure of how to go about it.
Flush Mount Electric Fireplace Installation Guide
Make sure to follow the guides for installation given in the manual that came with your flush electric fireplace. While the flush mount electric fireplace installation guides vary based on model and manufacturer, following the below simple and general steps and choosing tips will help you to successfully install your flush mount electric fireplace as well as be able to choose the best.
5 Steps on How to Install a Flush Mount Electric Fireplace
Step 1: Designate the Right Location
Move a stud finder across the sheetrock to locate studs. The tool has a little magnet, so when it senses a nail, you have situated a stud. The next stud should be about 16 inches to the right or left. If the studs are spaced such that they don’t match the mounting brackets of your wall fireplace, use an anchor bolt to secure the mismatched end of the bracket. Never mount your wall fireplace to drywall.
Check to ensure that your electric outlet is located near and below the unit. With the power outlet located below the fireplace, it will not be blown by the rising warm air. You also want to cover close outlets with coverings that are non-flammable.
Step 2: Install Hardwire and Plugin Units
Choose between a hardwired and plugin unit. Then, install the selected one. Connect the hardwired unit directly into the electric wiring of your home. Hardwired units are hidden in the sheetrock, and due to the way they are installed, it’s hard to find loose connections. Only a licensed electrician can install these units for you.
You can fix the plugin units yourself. Plug the units straight into the wall outlets. Try and hide the wall outlets that look unsightly. Caution: Never connect your flush mount electric fireplace using extension cords.
Step 3: Open the Wall and Build a Frame
Cut open the sheetrock using a saw. Once you have cut open your wall, measure the dimensions of your fireplace using a tape. Then, build a frame in the opened-up wall based on the size of your frame that you measured.
Fit the fireplace unit inside the wall. After that, level the unit using shims. Using a leveler will help see that the frame unit is leveled. Once you do this, it’s time to mount the fireplace to the frame using brackets and screws. You want your house to look even more cosmetic with the fireplace mounted, and making sure that the frame unit sits straight is one of the most important steps in the entire process of installing your flush mount electric fireplace.
Step 4: Wiring
Using a wire stripper or a skinning knife, strip your wires about half an inch starting from the end. Fasten the electrical connections using twist-on wire connectors. Doing this will ensure your safety and good connections. Test your electrical connections before finishing everything up. Your flush mount electric fireplace is connected to the power. Turn it on and check all programs, and see whether or not they are functioning properly.
Step 5: Add the Finishing Touches
Once you finish working on the entire internal installation, it’s time to patch up the wall. With the trim piece of the unit, you can cover the empty area where the sheetrock and the fireplace meet. Make it your own. For a clean finish, make your wall come as close to the fireplace as possible.
Cover your flush mount electric fireplace with painters tape and plastic to protect it from getting the pain. Add some textures and paint the wall. Once the paint is dried, attach the trim pieces to cover the area where the fireplace and wall meet. You can now enjoy your fireplace.
Now that you know how to install your flush mount electric fireplace, it’s time to look at the best rated electric fireplaces to be able to choose the best.
Choose a Recessed Wall Flush Mount Electric Fireplace
1. Sydney Pebble Recessed 50-Inch Electric Fireplace
This fireplace can be used as mount wall or flush mount electric fireplace. It’s beautiful from edge to edge. It’s fan forced, meaning the heated air is pushed out and away from the wall heating your room perfectly. The fireplace is smokeless and has a timer to allow you to set time when the equipment will automatically shut off in case you forget to turn it off yourself.
2. Black Touchstone Sideline Recessed Electric Fireplace with Heat
The fireplace offers a great combination of aesthetic and operational features. Its flame is produced by LED lighting; thus, it doesn’t produce smoke. This wall-mount fireplace comes with a remote, allowing the user to operate it anywhere within range. It’s perfect for heating large spaces, warming up to 400 square foot. This flush mount electric fireplace doesn’t require a lot of maintenance, only a simple cleaning occasionally. The LED can last for quite a long time.
3. Moda Flame Black Cynergy Pebbles Recessed Wall Mount Electric Fireplace
This fireplace can blend seamlessly with any décor. It’s fumeless and smokeless. So, you don’t need any vent, but the indoor air is still so safe to breathe. This flush mount electric fireplace is simple to upkeep; you only need to do some dusting. It comes with three settings that allow you to control the flame using a remote. This means that you can use it even during the warmer months. It has a timer and produces fan-forced heat.
Benefits of Owning Electric Fireplaces
1. Electric Fireplaces Are Safe
The most significant issues people have with owning fireplaces involve safety. This is totally understandable when you look at the facts. Fireplaces an incredibly hot, and this makes them dangerous for children. Another barrier is that they give off toxic fumes to those who breathe in the fire.
If you are to switch over to electrically powered ones, you will no longer have to worry about children burning themselves on an open flame, or about your family being exposed to smoke. Electric fireplaces are created with programmed shut-off modes, so you don’t have to fear your house burning down because you left the fire on when you leave your home. Now electric fireplaces are no powerless forces, they do heat up an entire space. But the benefit of it is that they will remain cool enough to touch, which means you won’t have to think about the potential of your kids and pets getting hurt if they get too close. The fear of having an open hazard is gone, but you still have the luxury of a fireplace.
2. No Smoke Involved
Wood burning fireplaces let out cancer-causing fumes that are extremely dangerous into the air in your home. These fumes include carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. As you know, breathing in these fumes can be hazardous to everyone involved. Thankfully, electric fireplaces give off no fumes and do absolutely no harm to your family and pets.
Another aspect is catering to people who have allergies and breathing issues like asthma. Owning electric fireplaces means these people can be comfortable while also enjoying the warmth and beauty of a fireplace.
You need to remember as you weigh your options that even switching to other types of wood that are said to be better for your lungs and the atmosphere still add to deforestation and emit harmful smoke fumes. With electric fireplaces, the days of having your entire house filled with smoke fumes is a reality far far away. This new and innovative way of having a fireplace takes the opportunity for the smoke to fill the crevices of your home with a stench away altogether.
3. Good for the Earth
Compared to the life-sucking energy it takes to participate in wood burning in a traditional fireplace, an electric fireplace demands less energy to generate heat. It is very simple, really. With no wood, no gas, nothing to clean. This way of enjoying a fireplace is done with pure electricity.
4. The Options Are Endless
Electric fireplaces have a ton of varying styles that will satisfy even the pickiest buyer. They can be purchased in traditional, contemporary, and modern styles to match modern looks and architectural styles. These gems are so much more versatile than you can imagine. They are built to perform as decorative mantels and entertainment counsels, providing your family with extra storage in a stylish way.
If you need more reasons to love the many things that can be done, electric fireplace inserts can be placed in existing fireplaces. Wall mounted units, corner units, and compact units allow electric fireplaces to work in any space and any décor and can be moved around from room to room whenever you desire.
Electric fireplaces are also versatile in the sense that they can be put in locations that you would never think to put a fireplace traditionally, like a basement or garage. Electric fireplaces give the user to be complete control over the flame. Things like how brought the fire is, the speed of the flame, the darkness or lightness of the color, and many other aspects can be shifted depending on how many modes the electric fireplace you purchase has.
Putting It All Together
How much you’re going to enjoy your fireplace will be determined by the flush mount electric fireplace that you choose to purchase. A good choice and proper installation will go a long way to ensuring that your house is heated up and has a professional look. A professional can help you choose the best fireplace that suits your heating needs.