How to Install an Electric Fireplace Unit

An electric fireplace produces heat without emitting poisonous gasses like a traditional fireplace does. This allows installation in a room without the need to vent to the outside. Most electric fireplace units plug into a standard 120-volt wall outlet. The unit's glass doors stay cool to the touch even with its thermometer set on high heat. Electric fireplace options include remote controls, frosted or clear glass doors, different colored flame, adjustable flame height, fan speed and a fire pit that holds glass beads instead of ceramic logs.

Tape measure
Fireplace surround
1-inch drywall screws
Philips-head screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the electric fireplace's outside dimensions with a tape measure. Measure the fireplace surround's opening. Compare these two sets of measurements. The fireplace must slide freely into the surround's opening. A fireplace surround wraps around a fireplace on three sides.
- 2
  Position the fireplace's surround against a wall with an electrical outlet. Keep the outlet between the side of the fireplace's opening and the inside edge of the surround. Keep the outlet hidden inside of the surround behind one of the vertical pillars.
- 3
  Secure the surround to the wall with 1-inch drywall screws. Push the screws through the holes in the surround's mounting brackets, found inside the surround next to the wall, and tighten the screws with a Philips-head screwdriver. Many surrounds use two brackets on each side, with one near the floor and one near the top.
- 4
  Assemble the electric fireplace using the manufacturer's instructions as a guide. Usually this involves removing the packing material from around the ceramic log and sliding the glass doors into their tracks.
- 5
  Push the electric fireplace's plug into the wall outlet. Test the fireplace before continuing. If the light does not turn on, then tighten or change the light bulb. Refer to the manufacturer's warranty instructions if any other problems occur.
- 6
  Slide the fireplace into the surround's opening until its trim band touches the surround's face.
- 7
  Examine the space between the fireplace's trim band and the surround's face. Adjust the trim band with the height adjustment screws, located on the bottom of the fireplace near the rear. If the top of the trim band has a gap between it and the surround and the bottom touches, then remove the fireplace and lower the height adjustment screws. If the top of the trim band touches the surround but the bottom has a gap, raise the adjustment screws. After adjusting the screws, push the fireplace into place and verify the trim band rests flush against the surround.

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