Steam fireplaces - real fire from an electric fireplace

Choosing the location of the fireplace

Construction of the structure begins with the choice of its location. Most often, a fireplace is installed against a load-bearing wall opposite the entrance to the room. In addition, you can build a hearth in the corner or make it stand alone. What determines the choice? First of all, from the area of ​​the room and the individual wishes of the homeowners.
There are places in the room where it is undesirable to mount a fireplace structure. The hearth should not be placed against a wall that is opposite the windows, otherwise it will cause drafts in the room. When a fireplace is planned to be installed in a wooden house, all fire safety rules must be followed.

What to choose from

Electric fireplaces can be divided into two types:

• built-in
• or replaceable.

Considering the first option, understand that it already contains a cassette-firebox with a thermostat. In expensive models, it is possible to control the intensity using the remote control.

In turn, electric fireplaces are equipped with:

• backlit,
• sound accompaniment,
• bar or shelves.

A removable type device allows you to separately select → a portal for a fireplace and a hearth (the link can be used to get acquainted with the models of the portals and, if desired, purchase).

When installing a fireplace, it is worth considering its filling, dimensions and capabilities. In embedded systems, a portal must be present, which is a detail that surrounds a decorative fire.

Electric fireplace portal

It gives a finished look to the equipment and can be varied. To install it, a small recess is made in the wall or in the furniture. The classic version is installed vertically from the floor. Fireplaces with wide flames are laid horizontally. You can choose the parameters, the mounting method assumes the distance from the floor on a hill.

Hanging electric fireplace on the wall

If there is little space in the room, it is better to direct your gaze to the suspended electric hearth. It looks original, gives as much heat as others, but does not take up space either. The mounting method is identical to that used for flat-panel TVs.

Flat electric fireplace on the wall

Lucky for those who live in a private house or large apartment. Here you can experiment with free-standing kits. The hearth will look beautiful, creating a special charm around itself.

Built-in electric fireplace

Built-in units are made of plasterboard and polyurethane. The first has a low cost, easy to care for and work. The second can be painted well, so it can be painted like a tree or stone. The site has an article about the → DIY electric fireplace device, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with those who want to install an electric fireplace on their own or even make a portal with their own hands.

Built-in electric fireplace

If you have more funds, take a closer look at expensive marble, granite or malachite structures. The classic version is oak, pine.

Recommend: How to make a decorative fireplace (electric fireplace) with your own hands

Thanks to the assortment, you can choose even a desktop device that will look good in the office or in the living room near the armchair, but this already applies to bio fireplaces that really burn.

Table biofireplaces are no longer an electric fireplace, they really burn

Power

You must immediately decide on the question, you want warmth or beauty. The ability to purchase a beauty device does not require a lot of power. Where the hearth should provide warmth, it is worth choosing models with good power.In order not to miscalculate, try to calculate it correctly. Proceed from such indicators: one kilowatt can heat ten square meters.

Functional

In the store, it will turn out to pick up a hearth with different functionality. If you want a modern and efficient electric hearth, then consider the following characteristics:

• additional air humidification;
• backlight;
• a flavoring agent that imitates the smell of burning wood;
• sound accompaniment;
• 3D hearth;
• remote control;
• auto shutdown;
• regulation of flame intensity and power.

Models equipped with all functions are almost natural, warm well and do not harm your health. If a steam generator is installed, the air will not dry out. There is no need to buy ignition, logs, coals for an electric fire. The apartment will always be clean, because soot, soot and ash will not settle on the furniture. They don't exist here.

Calculation of the dimensions of the fireplace structure

Competent calculation of the focus is of great importance. When carrying out calculations, you need to remember that during the construction process, both whole bricks and their halves will be used.

Before performing the calculations, determine the area of ​​the room in which the fireplace device is designed with your own hands. Next, a plan is drawn on a sheet of paper on a certain scale, and then the dimensions of the firebox are determined. It should be at least 1/50 of the volume of the room.

To prevent the possibility of smoke and ensure proper heat transfer, it is necessary to create a fireplace portal correctly (in more detail: "Do-it-yourself fireplace portal"). Its height should be 2 times its depth. The size of the chimney hole is chosen on the basis of the area of ​​the firebox; it should be made about 8 times smaller. The easiest way to implement the installation of a rectangular chimney. The average pipe length for it is 5 meters.

The advantages of buying an electric fireplace

You don't need to be a builder to create a cozy atmosphere. Men can only pay for the delivery of the fireplace and install it themselves. Women will appreciate such an act, because caring for the family is expressed in such details. Installation of individual equipment is simple. You just need to insert the plug into the outlet and tune the hearth to the desired mode.

Those who want built-in and corner electric fireplaces, pay attention to portals that can radically change the interior. You can buy them individually, create them yourself, or choose kits. Manufacturers always offer different elements to help the client and let them prove themselves as the designer of the future design. Use the help of consultants or watch video tutorials on the Internet to properly build a hearth in your house or apartment.
Leave your tips and comments below. Subscribe to the newsletter. Good luck to you, and good to your family!

DIY materials for building a fireplace

The device of stoves and fireplaces begins with the preparation of tools and building materials.
You will need the following:

• Red brick;
• sand;
• crushed stone;
• cement;
• but;
• level;
• ruler;
• plumb line;
• Bulgarian;
• hacksaw;
• welding machine.

When choosing bricks in order to build a fireplace in the house, you should carefully examine their surface. Only products with a uniform structure that do not have white spots are suitable. You can check the quality of the bricks with a hammer. To do this, they lightly hit the product, and the presence of a clear sonorous sound means that it is of high quality.

Popular models of steam fireplaces

The most popular models of steam fireplaces include the following: Exterion, Ottawa, Nice, Versailles, Sherwood, Martin, Ford Castle and others. As you can see, the choice is quite large.

However, the leading position is still occupied by the model of the steam fireplace "Athena", the creator of which is Alex Bauman. On the Russian market, it became the first fireplace with the largest steam fireplace format.And no analogues have been presented to it yet. To summarize, it can be said that buying a steam fireplace is not a waste of money. The heat emanating from the hearth warms the atmosphere in the house and has a peaceful effect on all household members. Everyone will find a model to their liking and according to their taste preferences. Its cost, of course, can make you think about purchasing such an expensive pleasure, but saving on family and cozy atmosphere can be much more expensive. And the advantages of this purchase are many times greater than the disadvantages. In one device you can find both a functional thing and a charge of positive emotions, which will undoubtedly affect the general mood prevailing in the house.

The device of the foundation for the fireplace

It is not uncommon for a fireplace to weigh more than one ton. Before starting laying, be sure to make a foundation. Knowledge of how a fireplace is arranged helps to build a high-quality structure, which is impossible without a solid foundation.
The parameters of the foundation depend on the size of the sides of the future hearth. 10-15 centimeters are added to the length and width and, as a result, the base values ​​for the structure are obtained. There should be a gap of about 5-6 centimeters between the foundations of the house and the hearth, it is covered with sand and tamped. Thanks to this, it is possible to prevent the appearance of cracks on the unit during shrinkage (in more detail: "Making a foundation for a fireplace with our own hands").

The required depth of the pit is determined based on the number of storeys of the building: for a one-story building, 50-60 centimeters are enough, and for a two-story house - at least 80 centimeters. If the soil is normal, a sand cushion is laid on the bottom of the pit, and when the soil is loose, then a sand and gravel mixture is used. Each layer is moistened, compacted and the level of the surface is checked using a building level.

When installing fireplaces, a concrete foundation is usually used. First of all, they build the formwork, its internal dimensions must correspond to the parameters of the future foundation. The walls of the formwork are covered with bitumen, tar paper or roofing felt for waterproofing.

Safety tips for working with an electric fireplace. Precautions.

As we briefly mentioned earlier, an electric fireplace is really safe if you follow the instructions for use. Speaking of safety, it's worth looking at some general tips for owners of these wonderful home appliances. Yes, we know we said that it is safe to own an electric fireplace, and it really is, but mostly these tips are more of a simple common sense that people sometimes forget about.

• The heating element of an electric fireplace, while it is switched on, has a high temperature sufficient to cause a burn. Be careful not to touch it when it is on and for a while after that. Also, do not leave small children or pets alone near the fireplace.
• Try to remember to unplug the fireplace when not in use.
• Never plug the device into a damaged or defective outlet.
• Do not install an electric fireplace in bathrooms, saunas, or even garages and sheds. The electric heater should not be wet, so that the wiring does not short-circuit.
• Do not run the cord under furniture or other appliances. Try to find a place in your home to put the fireplace next to an outlet and you are not tempted to run the cord through high traffic areas or use an extension cord, which is also not recommended due to the high power of the appliance.
• Never throw objects of any kind into the device while it is plugged in, as this may result in electric shock, fire, or damage to the device.
• Never make any changes to the device.Not only will it void your warranty, but it can also be dangerous.

Fireplace construction instructions

First of all, the contours of the future fireplace structure are applied to the wall of the room. The foundation under the hearth is covered with two layers of roofing tar paper or roofing felt for the purpose of waterproofing. First, the bricks are laid without mortar for a correct and accurate fit. When laying out the underflooding, refractory bricks must be used from the inside. The hewn surfaces of masonry products are covered with masonry.
After the completion of the preparatory measures, the back and side walls of the fireplace are erected, their thickness should be 20 centimeters. The corner bricks should be laid first. Compliance with the horizontal masonry should be constantly checked with a level. Then they lay out the outer row and, last of all, put the middle.

When the fireplace stove is installed, before laying ordinary bricks, they must be placed in water for a couple of minutes and thereby remove air bubbles from them. Refractory products are rinsed with water to wash off accumulated dust from them.

The seams are made thin, and the excess solution formed in the intra-furnace space is certainly removed. A rounded shape should be used in places where it turns and tapers. The fact is that the efficiency of the hearth functioning largely depends on the degree of smoothness of the inner surfaces. Small potholes should be rubbed with a rag previously moistened with clay solution. See also: "How to paint a fireplace."
Bricks are laid sequentially. This means that each subsequent row begins to lay out only after the completion of the previous one. After the work is moving to the end, they begin to build the chimney.

For laying rows of red brick, a cement-sand mortar is used. It is impossible for precipitation to fall into the pipe, since this in the most negative way affects the efficiency of the hearth functioning. To exclude such cases, use a hood made of galvanized iron or a tin chimney.

Features of electric fireplaces

Nowadays, there are many ways to simulate fire, which by their appearance are difficult to distinguish from a burning fire. Burning simulation is a very interesting function, because it is a realistic copy of a real fire, while being safer and more convenient. An electric fireplace is one of the best options for making a fake fire.

It consists of elements such as:

• An element that simulates fire. It can be in the form of steam illuminated by halogen lamps or by a cloth vibrating under the influence of a fan and illuminated by the same lamps;
• Orange halogen lamps. Designed to create the illusion of a real flame;
• Fan or steam generator. The fan lifts the fabric to a vertical position and creates the illusion that it is moving. Steam generator, generates steam, which is both fire and smoke.

In addition to safety and convenience, the electric fireplace has a number of features:

• The ability to use only electricity and water, without any fuel;
• Built-in function to work with and without heating. Heating can be turned on and off at any time;
• Easy installation and removal. Due to the fact that the electric fireplace works from an outlet and weighs very little, it does not require special installation requirements;
• Humidification of the room. Some models are equipped with a humidifier, which will not be superfluous, given that during a simulated flame, the air becomes dry.

Considering all of the above, we can conclude that an electric fireplace is in no way inferior to a natural stove, and in some cases even surpasses it.

How can you decorate a fireplace

The design of fireplace structures should correspond to the interior of the room in which they are installed (for more details: "We create an original interior of a room with a fireplace").They can be decorated in a variety of styles, ranging from classic to modern modern. According to Russian traditions, fireplaces are often faced with tiles (read: "How to veneer a fireplace - tips for facing"). Such hearths add coziness to any interior and create an atmosphere of comfort. Fireplaces are finished with porcelain and decorated with tiles inlaid with gilding.

If the owners of the house prefer minimalism in the design of the premises or do not want to bother themselves with the external decoration of the hearth, the structure is left with brick walls, painted with lime and chalk paints, or they paint only one seams.

The fireplace is a great addition and decoration to any interior. The hearth gives warmth, coziness, peace, comfort and tranquility. Building a brick fireplace on your own is not a simple construction task. But you can still build it yourself if you follow the instructions.

The device and principle of operation of the electric fireplace

An electric fireplace consists of two main parts:

• hearth - directly the heart of the fireplace, which is an electronic device that translates the combustion process;
• portal - a frame for the hearth.

A fireplace can be not only a decorative element, but also a heater in the winter cold.

The hearth performs several functions at once. This is an imitation of fire burning and heat transfer. Each manufacturer brings its own technological solutions, which, by the way, directly affect the cost of the final result. Some of them can be used in a home-made electric fireplace:

1. Red matter acts as fire. At the bottom of the portal is a fan that lifts strips of tissue attached to one side. As a rule, silk is used for this purpose.
2. Using a reflector. It is installed under the so-called firewood. The essence of the work of such a fireplace is as follows: the reflector slowly rotates, which is why the glare is alternately projected onto the imitation of firewood. These glare create the flame effect. Another reflective screen can be placed on top, and then tongues of flame will appear from above.
3. The use of water vapor, on the cloud of which glare is projected, and the brightness of the fire is ensured with the help of LED bulbs.
4. Since an electric fireplace is not always used exclusively for decorative purposes, heating elements and other heating elements can be used. They are usually located at the bottom of the firebox. Heat enters the room as a result of the fan. It also serves to prevent overheating of the portal.

Any of these types of electric fireplaces can be made with your own hands. Its advantages are obvious:

• no noise;
• does not require the installation of a chimney, since there is no smoke;
• consumes a minimum of electricity;
• the heating of the room is gradual, which means that the heat is distributed evenly;
• the efficiency is always 100%.