With all that said, when I build my new house, I think I'm going to install an electric fireplace.
We have some unique needs in South Florida. Occasionally there's a cold snap (one started last night, temps to 40*, high of 62* today) and it's nice to have something to take the chill off. It's usually not worth turning on the central heat. Our present vent-free cast-iron gas stove works very well, and we use smal, electric ceramic heaters in smaller rooms like my home office or my 100-year-old Mother-in-law's bedroom.
But, it's also nice to have the visual ambiance of a flickering fire when entertaining, for example. The problem is, most of the time it's too warm to have a real fire. I know folks who have turned on their gas logs and then turned their air conditioners to a cooler setting! One funny story occurred when I had my BBQ Grill business. We didn't sell fireplaces, but we did sell grills made by the Napoleon Appliance Co., who also makes fireplaces. We go a phone call from a lady who had just had a Napoleon fireplace installed, and she was calling anyone with a listing for Napoleon, out of desperation. "You have to send a service man, immediately!" , she said. I asked, "What's the problem?" She replied, "I love my new fireplace, but it's too hot. You have to send someone to take the heat out!"
Electric fireplaces have gotten more and more realistic, with some of them almost awesome in appearance. Many of them have a CD sound system that replicates crackles and pops. The best part, from a South Florida point of view, is that all the visual effect can be enjoyed without turning on the heat! When there is a cold snap, the electric heater can be turned on. And, there's no combustion problems.
We have some unique needs in South Florida. Occasionally there's a cold snap (one started last night, temps to 40*, high of 62* today) and it's nice to have something to take the chill off. It's usually not worth turning on the central heat. Our present vent-free cast-iron gas stove works very well, and we use smal, electric ceramic heaters in smaller rooms like my home office or my 100-year-old Mother-in-law's bedroom.
But, it's also nice to have the visual ambiance of a flickering fire when entertaining, for example. The problem is, most of the time it's too warm to have a real fire. I know folks who have turned on their gas logs and then turned their air conditioners to a cooler setting! One funny story occurred when I had my BBQ Grill business. We didn't sell fireplaces, but we did sell grills made by the Napoleon Appliance Co., who also makes fireplaces. We go a phone call from a lady who had just had a Napoleon fireplace installed, and she was calling anyone with a listing for Napoleon, out of desperation. "You have to send a service man, immediately!" , she said. I asked, "What's the problem?" She replied, "I love my new fireplace, but it's too hot. You have to send someone to take the heat out!"
Electric fireplaces have gotten more and more realistic, with some of them almost awesome in appearance. Many of them have a CD sound system that replicates crackles and pops. The best part, from a South Florida point of view, is that all the visual effect can be enjoyed without turning on the heat! When there is a cold snap, the electric heater can be turned on. And, there's no combustion problems.