Dimplex is a leading brand in electric fireplaces worldwide. If you are new to electric fireplaces, and are researching the best flames and most efficient models, you will quickly discover that Dimplex has a long history of manufacturing electric fireplaces. The company got its start in 1973, in Ireland, and is still privately owned. You can visit their corporate website to discover their values, where you will discover that their stated purpose is To be a leader in the transition to a sustainable world, empowering the lives of our customers with products that are built to last. When you combine this purpose with an entrepreneurial spirit, it’s no surprise that Dimplex electric fireplaces are among the most efficient available. They also offer some of the most realistic and natural-looking flames, in products like Optimyst water vapour, Ignite linear, and Revillusion traditional electric fireplaces. Because they are so innovative, there are lots of imitators, so it’s important to understand the differences between Dimplex and other brands.
How efficient are electric fireplaces?
Electric fireplaces are efficient by design, because they can operate without heat. Today’s electric fireplaces create flames with LED’s, which use very little power. Almost all electric fires have built-in heaters, and those heaters may be turned on or off, without impacting the flames. Not only does this make electric fireplaces the most efficient fireplaces available, it also allows them to be enjoyed year-round. You always have the option to have the ambiance of flames-only, without heat, with an electric fireplace. No other type of fireplace – not gas, nor wood-burning – can offer a fire without heat. To learn just how little an electric fireplace will cost to operate, check out Napoleon’s Electric Cost Calculator.
Electric fireplaces provide zone heating
Zone heating is a term we use to refer to the heating of just the room we are using, rather than heating the entire home. The amount of heat provided by electric fireplaces is part of the reason why they are perfect for zone heating. An electric fireplace connected to 120 volts has a maximum heat output of about 5000 BTUs, which will warm up an area of about 400 square feet. That’s more than enough heat for most rooms in your home. Some electric fireplaces may also be connected to 240 volts, which increases their heat output, should you need to do that for larger spaces, like basements. Because electric fireplaces provide room-size heat output, they don’t overheat the space. They are also unlikely to trigger your main thermostat into turning off the furnace to the rest of the home, as often happens with the excess heating from a gas fireplace. Using an electric fireplace for zone heating makes your entire home more comfortable, by focusing heat where you need it, without adversely affecting heating in the rest of the home. By using your central heating less, you will burn less fossil fuel, which is good for your wallet as well as the planet.
How are Dimplex electric fireplaces more efficient?
With electric fireplaces, you have heat on demand, whenever you need it. However, not all electric fireplace heaters are created equal. Premium Dimplex electric fires, like the Ignite series, have the patented Comfort$aver ceramic heater, which uses 11% less energy than the leading quartz infrared heater. It does this by automatically adjusting fan speed and heater wattage, to adapt to the difference between the temperature you’ve set, and the room temperature. The fan doesn’t have just one speed; it adapts to push our more heat when the temperature gap is greater, and less heat when the temperature gap is less.
Dimplex electric fires also have thermostats to control the heaters, allowing you to determine exactly how much heat you want. The heaters will cycle on and off to keep your room at the preset temperature, thus conserving energy. This is far more efficient than having an electric fireplace with an on/off heater, which will run until you remember to turn it off.
Upscale Dimplex electric fireplaces also have several innovative heating functions that make them even more efficient, while being responsive to our heating needs.
- Heat Boost is a timed feature that allows the heater and blower to run at their maximum settings, in order to bring a cold room up to temperature more quickly. When the timer elapses, the heater and fan will revert to their previous settings, to keep your room at the desired comfort level.
- Eco is a feature that keeps the heater and fan at their lowest setting, to conserve energy, while still working to get your room to the desired temperature. If the modulating fan has varying noise levels, as well, then this feature keeps the fan at its lowest noise level, so it won’t interfere with TV viewing.
- Dual-voltage is an option on many premium Dimplex electric fireplaces, allowing you to get exactly the amount of heat you need to suit your space.
- Heat Lock is a family-friendly feature that allows you to temporarily lock the heat functions, so that the heat may not be turned on until is it unlocked. This is also a great way to prevent heater overuse in public spaces.
- Sleep Timers on many Dimplex electric fires allow you to have the entire fireplace turn itself off automatically, after the timer elapses.Timers may be set from 30 minutes to 8 hours, depending on your needs. This is another great family-friendly feature that ensures that the fireplace isn’t continuing to run if someone forgets about it. It’s also a great feature for commercial spaces.
How Efficient are Dimplex Electric Fireplaces?
In summary, their long history of innovation and their focus on sustainability have made Dimplex a leader in efficient electric fireplaces. They also stand behind their products with some of the best warranties in the business, including 5 years of parts and labour coverage on their Ignite family of linear electric fireplaces. Whether you are focusing on efficiency to be more environmentally conscious, or to save money, you need to include Dimplex electric fires in your renovation and design plans.