Pros
- The unit really does put out an impressive amount of heat for its size, especially when used in the proper spaces.
- This heater is quieter than you would expect; it really is as close to being completely silent as you will get from any type of electric fireplace.
- The cost of the unit is fairly low for the size category, making it one of the better fits that you are likely to find on a budget.
- The unique look helps it to stand out in a field that often seems like it puts much more focus on function than on form.
- The heater is a very dependable supplementary heat source, helping to ensure that rooms stay warm as long as the unit is turned on.
Cons
- The plastic housing of the unit really detracts from what would otherwise be a fantastic-looking casing, which makes the unit less suitable as a display piece.
- There are some manufacturing defects that can make the unit harder to assemble than most would prefer
While it’s nice to have central heating in a home, most homeowners know that there will always be spots that heating doesn’t quite reach. In these cases, many homeowners seek out some form of supplemental heating. One great choice is a freestanding fireplace, which gives consumers all the value of a traditional fireplace without having to worry about putting in the effort to remodel their homes. If you’re looking for something that’s even easier, you might want to try an electric unit like this GM Home Freestanding Electric Fireplace.
Features of GM Home Freestanding Electric Fireplace
Totally Electric
This fireplace doesn’t require gas or wood, instead of relying only on your home’s electrical outlets for power. This means that consumers not only don’t have to worry about providing fuel for the fireplace but also that they won’t have to worry about having specialized hookups just for this unit.
Portable Design
At only nineteen pounds, this unit is designed to be moved around. For some, that makes it an ideal piece to pull in and out of storage depending on the weather. For others, though, it means that the unit can easily be moved from room to room as needed.
Classic Look
Though this unit is all-electric, it does have a classic look that reminds most of a traditional wood-burning fireplace. The metal and plastic build echoes designs that were common over a century ago, helpings to combine the best of old aesthetics with newer technology.
Energy Savings Friendly
If you’re concerned about energy efficiency, you’ll be happy to learn that it’s much cheaper to run this unit than a full-sized heater or a comparable wood or gas heater. This helps to keep the consumer’s heating costs down during the coldest months of the year without sacrificing the utility of the device.
Rated for 400 Square Feet
This unit is rated to work in spaces of up to 400 square feet. This makes it not only a great unit for providing supplemental heat to bedrooms and offices but also a great fit for those who are looking for an extra bit of heat in their living rooms.
Designed for Easy Assembly
If you’re capable of using a screwdriver, you will be capable of putting this unit together. The heater is designed to work almost out of the box, with only a few small pieces requiring attachment. You won’t need any special tools to put this unit together, nor will you have to follow complicated instructions to get the heater up and running.
No Complicated Install
This unit is designed to be free-standing, so there’s no need for a complicated installation process. Once you have the unit set up, you can simply plug it and get the unit running—there’s no need to hook it up to gas lines or to integrate it into your home’s electrical wiring.
Small Size
The smaller size of this heater makes it a great fit for those who don’t have much space. The smaller footprint helps to ensure that it won’t get accidentally knocked over and that it won’t end up being too bulky for those who have limited amounts of space in their homes or offices.
Realistic Flames
As with the best electric fireplaces out there, GM Home is designed to give its owners the illusion of a traditional wood-burning fireplace without requiring the same kind of fuel. What this means is that it creates a realistic flame effect without requiring any wood or putting out any kind of dangerous sparks.
Optional Heat
This clever little heater is designed to work all year round. Users can turn off the heat with the flip of a switch, allowing them to enjoy the lovely flame effects without having to sacrifice having a comfortable room during the hotter months of the year.
Is This The Right Choice For You?
As nice as this little fireplace might be, it’s not going to be the right fit for everyone. It’s not going to heat your whole home, for example, and it’s not really rated for larger spaces. It also only gives the illusion of the kind of experience that you would get from a true wood-burning fireplace, so you’re going to lose something of that experience when you choose this kind of model. None of those points really detract from the experience of using this unit, but they are all things about which you’re going to want to think before you make a purchase.
Simply put, this kind of electric fireplace is a much better fit for someone who is looking for a heating unit that will provide supplementary heat in a reasonably sized room and who tends to prefer the look of old-style heating units. It’s a great-looking piece of engineering that does a good job of putting out heat in the spaces for which it is rated—it’s energy-efficient too [1], so you can’t go wrong if that’s the kind of thing for which you are looking. Though this unit might not be for everyone, it’s definitely a hit for those who are in its target audience.
