Best Electric Inset Fires (2024 UK Review)

There’s nothing quite so welcoming as a roaring fire in the fireplace after coming in from the cold on a Winter’s evening. One of the problems with open fires is they take time to get going. Which means the room is cold for some time before it eventually heats up to the point that it’s too warm.

There’s no regulating a real open fire, no switch to control the level of heat and plenty of mess to clear up the following morning. Which is where an inset fire comes in.

A decent inset fire can instantly warm up any room and add that cosy glow associated with open fires or log burners. The heat can be adjusted at the flick of a switch, there’s no mess and far less chance of pets or children getting accidentally burnt on an inset fire.

This Months Popular Electric Inset Fires

How Do Electric Inset Fires Work?

Electric inset fires, also known as recessed electric fires, work by taking in cool air and heating it up internally before forcing it back into the room using a fan. 

They have the look of a traditional log, coal or gas fire but that is created by cool LED lights. So if an inquisitive child were to touch the flames, they would be unharmed and the actual heat is controlled by a switch. So no struggling to light the fire with cold hands, all you need to do is flick a switch and you have instant heat.

What Are The Benefits Of Electric Inset Fires?

The advantages of electric inset fires include;

• Easy To Install
  There’s no need for professional installers, electric inset fires can be placed into position, plugged into the mains and you have instant heat and the ambient look of a traditional fireplace
• Easy To Use
  Most inset fires have three switches, one to operate the fire display, and two to control and regulate the heat, and that’s it. There’s no need to chop wood, carry coal, etc
• Energy Efficient
  As the energy used is converted directly to heat, electric inset fires are 100% energy efficient.
• Safe
  The fire effect relies on LED lights that are cool to the touch. Which means if pets or children accidentally touch them, they won’t get burnt. There is also no risk of any toxic fumes, no room full of smoke when the wind is too strong for the chimney exhaust and complete temperature control at the flick of a switch
• No Mess
  At the end of the night just switch the fire off and leave it alone. The following day there is no messy ash to clear before the fire can be used again.
• Far Cheaper To Install Than A Real Fireplace
  In fact, apart from the purchase price, there are no installation costs at all and no ongoing costs for chimney sweeps either
• Realistic Looking
  Modern inset fireplaces look as real as the real thing, with none of the associated mess
• Flame-Only Option
  The flame-only option allows you to have that warm glow without any heat at all. Perfect for those Autumn evenings before it gets cold when you want to create that warm, welcoming look.
• Generate Plenty Of Heat On Demand
  When you need to warm up the room, you can in an instant simply by flicking a switch

What Are The Disadvantages Of  Electric Inset Fires?

The disadvantages of an electric inset fire include;

• Relies On Electricity
  If the power goes out, so does the heat and ambient glow
• Needs To Be Sited Close To A Plug Socket
  Most electric inset fires have relatively short power cables. Which means you need a socket close to the fireplace or you’ll need to get one installed by an electrician
• Relatively Short Lifespan
  Most electric inset fires come with between 12 and 24 months guarantee, after which they run the risk of breaking down
• Only Looks Like A Real Fire
  There’s no authentic real fire smell or sound
• Only Heats Directly Into The Room It’s Situated In
  One electric inset fire cannot heat the whole home, just the room it’s in

Electric Inset Fires Buyers Guide

Before rushing out to buy an electric inset fire, there are a few points to consider, which are;

Siting

You’ll need to think about where the fire is going to be positioned. Does the existing fireplace need blocking off first? How big is the area you want to put the inset fire into?

The Size Of The Room

If the electric inset fire is going to be the main source of heat for the room, you’ll need to have a fire that has enough power to heat that room. To work out how powerful the fire needs to be you’ll need to know the room size. To do this, multiply the length of the room by the width to get the square footage of the room.

For example, a room that is 10ft long and 10ft wide will be 100 square feet

10 (ft long) X 10 (ft wide) = 100 (square feet)

To calculate the amount of power needed to heat this room comfortably, just multiply the square footage by 10. Which means using our example, you would need an inset fire that was at least 1000W (1kw).

100 (square ft) X 10 = 1000(w)

This calculation will work on all rooms with adequate insulation and a ceiling height of 8ft. For every extra 2ft of height add 25% to the wattage which in our example would add 250 watts to the total wattage.

If you get to a figure above 2000 watts (2kw) which seems to be the maximum wattage of most inset fires, you’d need to add an extra source of heat to sufficiently heat the room.

Fire Size

Electric inset fires come in many shapes and sizes, you’ll need to check the space you have and get a fire that corresponds with that space.

Fire Style

Electric inset fires come in many styles. Do you want a fire that looks like a coal fire, a log burner, a stove, a gas fire, or a modern coloured light flame fire? Will that particular style fit in with your decor?

The Power Rating

All electric appliances are rated in watts. The average wattage for electric inset fires will be somewhere between 600W to 2000W. Many have the option to switch between high and low power. The thing to remember is, the higher the wattage, the more power the fire will consume.

Eco-Friendly

If environmental issues are important to you, then we’d suggest you choose an infrared inset fire. These will cost more to purchase, but they use far less energy and will soon recoup the extra initial cost and they use far less energy. Which means they create far less of a carbon footprint.

Sleep Timer

This function can be used for operating both the flame lights and the heater.

Wifi And Smartphone Connectivity

The most up to date inset fires have wifi and smartphone connectivity. This allows you to control your fire via your mobile phone. Which can be very handy on a cold, wet evening as it allows you to turn the fire on and set the temperature before you even get home.

Touch Screen Control Panel

Featured on some models is a touch screen control panel which allows you to alter the settings with just the lightest touch of your finger.

Brand

We always recommend purchasing an electrical appliance from a well known, trusted brand. These companies will have many years of experience producing electrical appliances and they will also typically have great customer service departments, just in case something does go wrong.

Guarantee

Most electric inset fires come with a minimum of 12 months guarantee, with many having 5 years cover and the option to extend with the manufacturer once you register your product.

Thermostatic Control

Some models have built-in thermostats which allow you to set the heat once and never have to think about it again.

Remote Control Handset

Many of the better quality inset fires are supplied with a remote control handset which means you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your favourite armchair to alter the settings.

How Much Do Electric Inset Fires Cost?

The price of an inset electric fire differs depending on the make, brand, design and type, but just to give you an idea they range from around £70 for a brushed steel surround, coal effect fire, with a 1kw and 2 kw heat output up to £1000 for a 130cm log effect fire with a 1.6kw heat output, remote control, thermostatic controlled fire with LED flames.

How Much Will It Cost To Run An Electric Inset Fire?

Armed with the dimensions of your room, it is easy to calculate exactly how much the fire will cost to run. Our earlier example needed a 1000w heat output to heat our room. Electricity suppliers charge by the kilowatt (kw) which is 1000w. If you check on your electricity bill it will tell you the price per unit of electricity which is charged at the rate of kilowatts used per hour(kw/h).

If you are paying 30p per kw/h using the example of our earlier 1kw fire, it will cost you 30p per hour to run that particular fire.

Frequently Asked Questions