An electric fireplace is an effective and convenient way to heat up your house. Additionally, it is also easy to install, safe to use, and much more affordable than some other traditional fireplaces that can cost up to thousands of dollars.
However, like all electrical devices, an electric fireplace can have some errors once in a while. In this article, we will help you fix a malfunctioning flame on this device – one of the most common problems of an electric fireplace.
How Does The Flame Work On An Electric Fireplace?
Electric fire does not require any process of burning. With an electric fireplace, the fire can conveniently light up at a press of a button. Although the flame and the fire produced by this fireplace may seem realistic, they are but effects created by light from a light bulb inside this device.
The light source is placed in a rotating rod that has an array of strategically placed mirrors. When the rod rotates, lights get reflected on the front screen of the fireplace, creating an image of fire. This light also works with a refractor inside the fireplace to produce a three-dimensional flame pattern, making the fire image flicker and look more realistic.
Thus, the flame is not real because an electric fireplace does not radiate heat through actual fire. Instead, it uses electricity and its built-in fan to blow hot air to the outside. Hence, a flame is an additional effect that comes with this machine and can be prone to problems like glitching or not working.
Although a malfunctioning flame does not affect the heating function of your electric fireplace, it does make the fireplace less realistic and cozy. Yet, you don’t have to worry because you can always apply our simple fix whenever the flame of your electric fireplace has problems.
4 Problems With The Electric Fire And How To Fix Them
The fire can malfunction and stop working when a part of the system recreating the fire image stops working. Also, the same issue can happen to light bulbs – for example, the rod that rotates the lights may cease to rotate, or the motor operating the rod may stop.
To fix the flame on your electric fireplace, you have to diagnose the right issue and apply the proper fix.
Replacing the light bulb
The most common source of the problem comes from the light bulb. You can tell that the bulb has blown when you can hear the sound of the motor working yet cannot see any fire image on display. In this case, you can simply replace the bulb in your electric fireplace with the steps below.
- Prepare a suitable bulb for your fireplace.
- Remove all the power sources from the fireplace.
- Remove the cover of the fireplace and replace the bulb inside it
- Attach the cover and plug the fireplace to its electrical source to check if the fire image works properly.
Newer models use LED lights instead of bulbs because LED lights usually last for a longer time. Hence, if your model comes with LED light and the fire image stops working, the problem may not come from your LED light.
Fixing the motor
The motor inside the fireplace needs to work appropriately for the stable fire image on display. This motor is usually placed at one end of the rod. When you activate your electric fireplace, if the light is still on, but there is no movement or sounds of movement, the motor may have a fault.
In this case, you should look for a replacement for your existing motor and replace the motor. Remember to unplug your electric fireplace before performing any replacing process.
Fixing the rod
The metal rod is usually located at one end within the motor, which may seize over time. If you can hear the motor working, but there is no movement inside, the rod has probably seized. Squeaking noises also indicate a seizing rod.
In this case, you can apply some form of lubricant (like WD40) on the end of the rod to loosen it up. Again, unplug the machine from its power source and be careful not to spill the liquid to other electrical parts of the fireplace.
Other issues
There can be other undetectable issues when it comes to the flame stop working in an electric fireplace. A quick fix to any problems can be to reset the machine. You can switch off your electric fireplace and unplug it from the wall for five minutes to let it reset itself.
Yet, if this cannot fix the problem of your electric fireplace or if you cannot detect the problem of your electric fireplace, you should get it examined and repaired by experts.
Is The Electric Fireplace Worth It?
Since the flame of the electric fireplace is merely an illusion, an electric fireplace does not produce any ashes and does not require the complicated cleaning process of other fireplaces that use wood, coal, and fuel. Thus, as this artificial fire does not emit any spark, it is also much safer for the home while still allowing users to enjoy the coziness of a fireplace.
Another advantage of an electric fireplace is that it does not require a chimney to vent out the smoke produced by a fireplace. Therefore, this device can be easily installed and used in any type of household. It is also a worthy investment because it is energy-efficient and cost-effective, for no venting process needed means no energy and efficiency lost during the venting process.
Hence, we would say that an electric fireplace is definitely worth it despite its possible electrical errors. Yet, it is entirely up to you to decide whether or not an electric fireplace is worth your investment.
Conclusion
By the end of this article, you have grasped all our necessary information and tips on how to fix flame on electric fireplace. However, remember that if you cannot detect the problem, it is always better to call an expert to fix your electric fireplace instead of struggling with it on your own.
