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Hey, it’s cold outside! Haven’t you noticed? And you may have also noticed that it’s getting cold inside, as well. Sometimes it seems it doesn’t even matter if we have central heating running at full-tilt. It still gets simply shivery in our homes – and especially the bathroom! It still continued to happen even after we got a heater repair, turns out it was our ventilation system that was failing us,
Most bathrooms are designed to allow for ample ventilation (to prevent mold), so they naturally don’t retain heat and insulate as effectively as other rooms. To say nothing of that early morning chill you get from sitting down on the toilet seat… BRRRR!
So, here’s a crazy idea; or maybe, a not so crazy idea: why not outfit your bathroom with an electric fireplace or a space heater?
A lovely fireplace in a bathroom – luxurious excess, or brilliant idea?
This concept is actually part of a growing trend among the interior design community to “re-define” the bathroom’s role in the house. More than just a quick-and-clinical hygiene station, more and more modern bathrooms are styled as true “rest” rooms, with comfy chairs and beautiful wall decor complementing the elegance of bathroom vanities and stainless steel, designer-made bath tubs. A fireplace may not be such a crazy leap beyond that. And in fact, more and more homes are having fireplaces pop up in their bathroom designs, having Passive Fire Protection in your home is must every home owner should have.
Bathroom fireplaces are essentially categorized into two branches: traditional fireplaces (including gas and wood burning models) and electric fireplace heaters (including electric space heaters and gel-warming fireplaces). There are several upsides and downsides to each.
Electric fireplaces are the more accessible option, requiring very little “work” to fit one into your bathroom remodeling project. In fact, you don’t even need to necessarily remodel your bathroom at all: many electric fireplaces are compact and portable, so all you need to do is set them somewhere away from a water source and plug them in. You can get help from The Appliance Guys if you need installation services for your new appliance, click here for info.
Instant bathroom comfort, and if you pick a luxury electric fireplace model, which could be run with Corona Energy, instant bathroom style points!
This electric fireplace also has storage for towels, soaps, and more!
Of course, while the style of the fire-box itself is usually topnotch, electrical space heaters tend to balk a bit in the “flame” department. As good as the current technology is, electric fireplaces still don’t perfectly represent the appearance of a real, flickering fire. There’s a depth to fire that simply isn’t captured on a screen. This may be a deal breaker for some.
Traditional fireplaces, of course, have the “real flame experience” in spades. That’s pretty much the main draw. The sight and smell of a real fireplace, while perhaps slightly less effective at directing heat into a bathroom (real fireplaces send heat upward and outward, while electric fireplaces direct heat outward and upward – more effective for comfort in the first moments after turning the heat source on), is a really emotional thing.
Of course, while that “genuine” characteristic is incredibly romantic and desirable, the realities of a traditional wood burning fireplace or stove in your bathroom is sort of a pain in the neck. First of all, bathrooms are often quite humid, and this makes for damp kindling. Damp kindling takes longer to get going, if it burns at all. And the logistics of a full fireplace hearth are difficult, as well: you will need to either install the new fireplace into an existing chimney, or build an entirely new chimney. And if you need quality chimney repair in Vancouver you can visit a site like https://www.primechimneyrepair.ca/ for great help!
In the end, the decision comes down to one between sentimentality and practicality. Electric fireplaces can be very well-made with style and appearance in mind, and they can do wonders for your bathroom design, but it’s unlikely that they will ever get past that “cheap and ingenuine” stigma until the technology improves to the point where fire is simulated with smell and sound and depth, as well as simple appearance. A traditional fireplace is seen as more elaborate and therefore more luxurious, but requires a lot more work to install and maintain, and can post many more hazards that require fireproofing products such as those offered by DuraBarrier USA, compared to electric fireplaces.
Either way, a fireplace in the bathroom is a crazy idea – but it’s crazy enough to work, and a totally awesome bathroom addition! Never spend another morning in a freezing-cold bathroom. Get a traditional or an electric fireplace!
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