Electric fireplace in living room

Do Electric Fireplaces Need to Be Vented?

4 min read
When installing a fireplace, one of the biggest obstacles is figuring out where to install it, and whether structural requirements can be met. The result is that your design can be greatly impacted.

When installing a fireplace, one of the biggest obstacles is figuring out where to install it, and whether structural requirements such as flues, pipe-work, vents, chimneys, etc. can be met.

These structural requirements are often restrictive, based on your building layout, room design, and or specific regional building codes and regulations. The result is that your design can be greatly impacted - or you may find that installing a fuel burning fireplace just does not make sense, or can’t be done. If that is the case, what options do you have? The answer: electric fireplaces.

Electric Fireplaces Don’t Need to be Vented 

Electric Fireplaces (and heaters for that matter) do not require any structural additions and can therefore be installed (virtually anywhere) with ease. In many cases, you simply have to unpack your new fireplace and plug it in.

The reason that fuel burning fireplaces, such as wood and gas, require vents, is to expel excess heat and dangerous emissions, such as carbon monoxide. Because electric fireplaces do not burn fuel internally or produce any emissions, venting is not required.

This is great news because the lack of venting means that electric fireplaces can run more efficiently - none of the heat produced is escaping out via flues and chimneys. Instead, electric fireplaces convert 100% of the inputted energy into heat and ambiance, which means 100% of the money invested in running your fireplace is being used for your personal comfort.

With an electric fireplace, you don’t have to worry about the fire or burning bans and restrictions. You don’t even have to worry about the seasonal temperature – electric fireplaces can be run with or without heat, making them the perfect option in warm climates or simply for year-round enjoyment.

So Where is the Fireplace Confusion Coming From?

You may have noticed, in the past, that some electric fireplaces were vented. While vented electric fireplaces do exist, this has nothing to do with health and safety and more to do with the flame effect.

Luckily, innovation and technological improvements have led to stunningly realistic flame effects that no longer require additional venting.

Here are some examples of Dimplex electric fireplaces using patented advanced flame technology.

The Opti-Myst®

 

Opti-Myst unboxing

The Opti-Myst® line uses revolutionary ultrasonic technology to create a lifelike flame and smoke effect from light reflecting against water molecules. The result is an appearance so authentic it will be mistaken for a traditional wood-burning fireplace. 

Browse both the Opti-Myst® Pro 1000 Built-In Electric Firebox and the Opti-Myst® Pro 1500 Built-In Electric Firebox to find the perfect fit for your space.  

Opti-Myst fireplace in living room

The Revillusion

 

Revillusion fireplace

Our latest technology, Revillusion, is completely changing the standard for electric fireplaces by offering a lifelike flame experience that looks as if it were cut straight from the pages of a magazine. A clear view through the lifelike flames, to the full brick interior, captures the charm of a wood-burning fireplace.

RBF fireplace in living room

Add Style and Comfort to Any Room With a New Electric Fireplace

All of Dimplex’s electric fireplaces are easy to install and require no venting! Your design options are wide-open for any room in your house. Shop all of our electric fireplaces online or find a dealer nearest you. 

Shop Our Electric Fireplaces


Video Transcription

0:00 [Music]

0:00 Today we are going to unbox the Opti-myst

0:03 CDFI 1000 - Pro to show you what's

0:08 Included in the box.

0:10 Open the box and remove the plastic

0:13 Bottles, spacers, and remote from the top.

0:15 Then take the cassette out. Next remove

0:21 The styrofoam and plastic from the

0:23 Cassette. The tethered remote is placed

0:28 Between the back of the unit and

0:29 Controls, in bubble wrap.

0:32 Here is the controller. In the back

0:36 Middle of the cassette, you'll find the

0:38 Controls. Make sure the tether remote is

0:41 Fully attached.

0:42 [Music]

0:46 You'll find the plumbing connection,

0:48 Which is used when hooking the Opti-myst cassette up with the plumping kit.

0:50 Unscrew

0:53 The cap to find the water filter. There

1:00 Is an air filter near the on board

1:03 Controls in the unit. Spare transducers

1:06 Are stored behind the secondary unit

1:08 Near the back middle of the cassette. The

1:12 Cassette is set up to be used with the

1:14 Plumbing kit. To set it up for use with

1:17 The water bottles, unscrew the plum kit

1:20 Cap and remove the red c-clip. Then you

1:27 Attach the bottles like this. The wiring

1:33 Compartment is to the back left of the

1:34 Unit. Remove the cover by unscrewing the

1:37 Two Phillips screws. Inside the wiring

1:40 Compartment, you'll find wire hookups.

1:42 Notice the small black and red wires?

1:45 Those are used to connect the cassette

1:47 To heater controls in the Opti-myst Pro

1:49 Box heat accessory. This is only the

1:52 Beginning.

1:52 Be sure to check out our other videos to

1:54 Learn more about the Opti-myst Pro series.

1:58 [Music]

2:05 [Music]