Do Electric Fireplace Inserts Give Off Heat?

On this page (9 sections)

1. How does an electric fireplace insert make heat?
2. How much space does an electric insert actually warm?
3. Is an electric fireplace insert a main heat source?
4. How warm does the room feel, and how fast?
5. Does an electric insert run up the electric bill?
6. What should you check before buying an insert for heat?
7. Can you get the flame without the heat?
8. How do you get the most heat from an electric insert?
9. Which insert should you pick for real warmth?

Yes, electric fireplace inserts give off heat. Most units use a 750W or 1500W heater and warm up to about 400 sq ft, so the short answer to "do electric fireplace inserts give off heat" is a clear yes, with one caveat: they're built for supplemental warmth, not whole-home heating.

The flame is a light effect, but the heater is real. An internal fan or quartz element pushes warm air into the room while the logs glow.

Below is how that works, what a room actually feels, and how to keep the cost in check.

How does an electric fireplace insert make heat?

A fan or quartz element heats the air, and a blower pushes it into the room. The flame you see is an LED effect and doesn't produce heat on its own.

Most inserts offer two power settings. The low setting is 750W and the high is 1500W, which is about 4600 BTUs in units like the PuraFlame Western Insert.

A quartz heater like the duraflame log set uses the same idea with a different element.

The heater and the flame run on separate controls on many models. That means you can keep the glow on a summer evening with no warmth at all.

It also means the heat only comes on when you ask for it.

Because there's no combustion, no vent and no chimney flue are needed. The unit simply plugs into a 120V outlet.

A blocked chimney is fine, and often better, since no warm room air escapes up it.

How much space does an electric insert actually warm?

Expect a single room of about 400 sq ft on the high setting. That's a living room, den or bedroom, not an open-plan floor.

Both the PuraFlame Western Insert and the duraflame log set carry a 400 sq ft rating. The number assumes average insulation and a closed space.

A drafty room or a wide opening to the rest of the house will pull the warm air away.

The heater works best when it's the main warmth in one contained area. Close interior doors and keep exterior doors and windows shut.

You'll notice the difference within a few minutes of switching on.

For larger spaces, an insert won't carry the load alone. Think of it as a way to warm the room you actually sit in, while the central system handles the rest of the house at a lower setting.

Is an electric fireplace insert a main heat source?

No. It's supplemental heat, and the makers say so.

PuraFlame describes its insert as a supplemental heater for up to 400 sq ft and explicitly says it's not a main heat source.

The duraflame log set takes the same role.

That's not a flaw. A 1500W heater plugged into a standard wall outlet can only deliver so much, and a whole house needs far more.

What the insert does well is take the chill off a room fast and keep it comfortable without firing up the furnace for the whole house.

The practical use is zone heating. Lower the central thermostat a few degrees and warm only the room you're in.

That's how supplemental heating earns its keep on the bill. Our guide to electric fireplace insert vs gas insert covers how the two compare on heat and installation.

How warm does the room feel, and how fast?

Warm air starts moving within minutes, and the room feels noticeably warmer in about 15 to 30 minutes. The exact pace depends on room size, ceiling height and insulation.

The heat comes out of the top or front grille and spreads through the room. A fan setting pushes it farther.

On the low 750W setting the warmth is gentle; the high setting is what reaches the full 400 sq ft rating.

The glass stays cool to the touch on models like the PuraFlame insert, which matters in a room with kids or pets. An overheat cutoff switches the heater off if it gets too hot.

That's a safety feature, not a sign the unit is failing.

Don't expect the roaring radiant blast of a wood fire. The feel is closer to a space heater with a fireplace view.

For a cozy room on a cold evening, that's usually enough.

Does an electric insert run up the electric bill?

It uses electricity, so it does add cost, but the amount depends on how long you run it and at what setting. A 1500W heater draws about as much as a typical portable space heater.

The flame-only mode uses very little, since the light is LED. The heater is the part that draws power.

Running it on high for hours every day will show up on the bill; using it to warm one room while the furnace rests usually won't.

The P3 Kill A Watt Power Monitor plugs in between the outlet and the fireplace cord and counts kilowatt-hours. It shows consumption by day, week, month or year and estimates the cost.

Read it for a week on your normal schedule. That gives you a real number for your household instead of a guess.

Then decide whether the low or high setting fits your evenings.

What should you check before buying an insert for heat?

Check the opening size, the outlet location and the heater rating. Heat only matters if the unit fits and the power reaches it.

Measure the firebox width, height and depth before ordering. Our electric fireplace insert size guide walks through the measurements.

An insert that's too wide won't slide in, and one that's too small leaves a visible gap.

The PuraFlame Western Insert needs a firebox opening of about 32 1/8 in wide by 25 9/16 in high by 7 51/64 in deep. It has a flat bottom, so it can sit directly on the floor of the opening.

The power cord comes out the right side and runs about 6 ft.

If your opening is smaller, a compact option like a 23 inch electric fireplace insert fits cabinets and tighter fireboxes. Check the outlet too; an insert can't be hard wired and needs a standard 120V plug nearby.

Can you get the flame without the heat?

Yes. On most inserts the flame and heat controls are separate.

You can enjoy the fire effect all year with the heater off.

The PuraFlame insert has three flame intensity levels that work with or without heat. The duraflame log set also has independent flame and heat controls, so the glow stays on while the warmth stays off.

That's handy in summer when you want the look without adding heat to an air-conditioned room.

This is where an electric insert beats gas and wood on flexibility. There's no fire to tend, no ashes to clean, and no vent to open.

You switch it on like a lamp.

The flame-only mode draws very little power. If cost is your concern, running the insert as decor is cheap.

The heater is the part worth watching on the meter.

Which log set suits a smaller opening?

The duraflame log set fits an existing fireplace with less fuss. It's 20.5 in wide, 12 in high and 8.66 in deep, so it slips into many standard hearths without construction.

No venting or gas line is needed; just an outlet.

Its adjustable thermostat lets you set a target and let the unit cycle. The remote handles flame speed, brightness and on/off.

For a hearth you already have, it's a simple way to add real heat and a fire view. Our roundup of electric fireplace inserts with logs compares more log-style options.

Skip it if your opening is a true firebox that needs a full insert body rather than a log set sitting in the hearth. Measure first and match the form to the space.

How do you get the most heat from an electric insert?

Run it on high in a closed room, keep the flame on for the look and the heater on for warmth, and use the thermostat. Small choices make the warmth go further.

Close interior doors to the rest of the house so the warm air stays put. Keep furniture and curtains clear of the front grille so air can move.

A ceiling fan on low, turning to push warm air down, helps spread the heat.

Set the thermostat to your comfort level and let the unit cycle on and off. Running it full blast in an open-plan space wastes heat.

In a contained room, the same unit feels stronger.

Clean the glass and the front trim now and then; dust on the glass dims the flame but doesn't affect the heater. And keep the unit plugged into a wall outlet, not an extension cord, to avoid overloading the circuit.

Which insert should you pick for real warmth?

For most rooms, pick an insert with a 1500W heater and a 400 sq ft rating, like the PuraFlame Western Insert. It gives off heat you can feel, runs flame-only when you want just the look, and fits a standard firebox opening.

Add the Kill A Watt meter if you want to see the running cost before you commit.

If you already have a fireplace opening and want a simpler fit, the duraflame log set does the job with an adjustable thermostat and separate flame controls. Either way, the answer to "do electric fireplace inserts give off heat" is yes, as long as you treat the unit as room warmth rather than a furnace replacement.

Match the insert to your opening, plug it into a dedicated outlet, and let it warm the one room you use most.

Frequently asked questions

Do electric fireplace inserts give off heat?

Yes. Most electric inserts include a fan or quartz heater that pushes warm air into the room.

They run at 750W or 1500W and are rated as supplemental heat for a space of about 400 sq ft, not as a whole-house furnace.

Can you run an electric fireplace insert without heat?

Yes. Flame-only mode lets you enjoy the glow with the heater switched off, so the unit works as decor in summer and as warmth in winter.

Many models separate the flame and heat controls for exactly this reason.

How much space does an electric fireplace insert heat?

A typical unit warms up to 400 sq ft, which is a single room such as a living room or den. That rating assumes average insulation and a closed space.

Open-plan areas and poorly sealed rooms will feel less of the heat.

Do electric fireplace inserts need a vent or chimney?

No. Electric inserts produce no combustion, so there's no flue, vent or gas line to install.

You need an opening that fits the unit and a standard 120V outlet nearby.

The chimney can stay blocked.

Can an electric fireplace insert raise the electric bill?

It uses electricity, so it does cost money to run. A 1500W heater draws about as much as a small space heater.

Running it as supplemental heat while you lower the central thermostat often keeps the total bill in check.