Will using an electric fireplace save me money?

Heating your home with an electric fireplace is not realistic. At about 7,675 BTUs, it would take four or five electric fireplaces in your home to equal the heat output from one gas fireplace. Not surprisingly, even more than a larger wood-burning stove or fireplace. Heating a home is all about BTUs. Many modest size homes have forced air furnaces in the range of 75,000 to 120,000 BTUs. How many BTU's/hour do you need to sustain a comfortable temperature vs your heating home loss on any given day?

In comparing the BTU values between different fuel types, remember that:

• 1 kWh of Electricity = 5,118 BTU’s
• 1 Therm of Natural Gas = 100,000 BTU’s
• 1 Gallon of LP Gas = 91,500 BTU’s
• 1 Gallon #2 Fuel Oil = 139,000 BTU’s
• 1 Lb. Wood Pellets = 8,250 BTU’s