Electric fireplaces are growing in popularity amongst homeowners. Does that mean one is right for you? Let's take a look at the benefits (don't worry, we'll hit on the cons too):

They are great for people who want to add the warmth and style of a fireplace without building a permanent unit (whether wood-burning or gas), which includes the labor and cost of installing a chimney or venting to the outside. Because the electric units are not actually burning anything (they only simulate flames), they do not steal CO2 or vent potentially toxic fumes. With an electric fireplace, you simply plug the unit into a standard 120-volt outlet and flip the switch.

These units can be built into a fireplace surround with mantel and the whole works or they can simply stand against a wall, a scenario that means no tools are required for installation. Many electric fireplaces come with surrounds and mantels to give them a realistic look with no effort. This simplicity and ease is what attracts many homeowners to these appliances. Also, they can be installed in places traditional fireplaces or wood-burning stoves cannot. For example, it's no problem putting an electric fireplace into a trailer or a high-rise condominium.

Ok, let's talk about the cons of electric fireplaces, lest I start to sound like a smarmy sales person. For one thing, these fireplaces are basically just glorified space heaters. If all you want is warmth, and you don't mind paying an electricity bill to get it, you could buy a simple heater for much less. The reason people buy electric fireplaces is more for the ambiance and the focal point they can create in a room. They do certainly work as heaters though. Most new models come with a built-in thermostat, so that when the room reaches the desired temperature, the heater automatically flips off.

One con of these fireplaces is that they have a bad reputation in that they do not look realistic. After all, nothing is really burning in there, so it's not going to look like a snapping and crackling wood fire. However, the technology is improving, and a lot of today's electric fireplaces use randomized filtering of lighting to simulate glowing embers and flame patterns that are reminiscent of the real deal. The best thing to do is visit a dealer and see a number of units turned on before you make a decision.

Now that we have touched on pros and cons, let's take a look at options. Today's electric fireplaces have such perks as built-in fans to distribute the heat more thoroughly, air filtration systems to clean the air as it is heated, a heatless setting in case all you want is the look of flickering flames, and of course most of these units come with remote controls (heaven forbid, we have to get off our couches to turn on the fireplace).

Ok, but what about the price, you ask? Electric fireplaces are cheaper than gas fireplaces, and you can get a pretty decent model for about $500 (even cheaper models are available, though they tend to have fewer perks and less realistic flames).

TC Thorn owns a number of web sites on home improvement. This article originally appeared on Fireplace Lowdown at http://sicarius.typepad.com/fireplace_lowdown/ and may be reprinted so long as a link to that site is provided.