What's the difference between infrared and fan-forced heat in an electric fireplace?
Fan-forced heat blows warm air out of the unit to raise the room's air temperature quickly, while infrared heat radiates gently to warm people and objects directly, like sunshine. Fan-forced heats the air fast and evenly; infrared feels softer, doesn't dry the air as much, and holds warmth better in larger or draftier rooms.
Two ways to deliver the same watts
Both types pull the same electricity and make a similar amount of total heat — the difference is entirely in how they deliver it. A fan-forced fireplace (you'll also see it called forced-fan or convection) runs air across a hot coil and blows it out into the room, raising the air temperature quickly and spreading warmth around the space. Infrared uses a quartz element to send out radiant waves that heat solid objects directly — you, the couch, the floor — without warming the air first. That's why infrared feels warm the instant you step in front of it and tends to leave a room feeling less stuffy, while fan-forced brings the whole space up to temperature faster.
Which one suits your room
For a small-to-medium room you settle into every evening, fan-forced is usually the pick — it heats the air fast and pushes it around, so the whole space feels warm quickly. For a larger, open, or draftier room, infrared often feels better, because it warms bodies directly and you still notice the heat even when air is moving through the space. Infrared also holds onto humidity a touch better, which is worth something in a dry mountain winter when the air's already parched. Neither one is more powerful than the other at the same wattage — a 1,500-watt unit is right around 5,000 BTU whichever way it moves the heat.
What we tell folks on the showroom floor
Honestly, for most WNC homes the flame look and the fit on the wall matter more than the heat mechanism, since electric is supplemental heat for one room either way. Come stand in front of the electric units lit on our showroom floor — the feel of the heat is far easier to judge in person than off a spec sheet, and folks usually know within a minute which they prefer. And remember the one rule that applies to every electric fireplace: it goes dark in a power outage, so it's ambiance and zone comfort, not backup heat. Visit our Asheville showroom or call (828) 545-0525 and we'll walk you through the options.
How we can help
Related questions
- How do electric fireplaces work?
- Do electric fireplaces give off real heat?
- How much heat does an electric fireplace actually put out — how do watts compare to BTUs?
- What's the difference between a plug-in (120V) and a hardwired (240V) electric fireplace?
- What's the difference between radiant heat and convective heat from a fireplace?
- What is a direct vent gas fireplace and how does it work?
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