Electric fireplaces work just like any other conventional heater, and come with a number of safety features to prevent them from overheating and becoming a potential fire risk.
An electric fireplace will shut off if one of these safety features is triggered. Understanding the different areas of an electric fireplace will help you to identify what’s causing your fireplace to keep shutting off.
Overheating
An electric fireplace will automatically shut off when it starts to overheat. This is to prevent to the unit from overheating causing damage to the fireplace itself, or becoming a fire hazard for your home.
In some cases the fireplace heater will need to be reset after an overheating issue has occurred, so check your owner’s manual for further instructions.
Restricted Airflow
A restricted airflow is one of the main causes of overheating in an electric fireplace. Electric fireplaces need sufficient airflow to operate, and a blocked or partially blocked inlet to the fireplace will quickly prevent cooling of the heating element, causing it to become too hot to work safely.
Find the inlet to your electric fireplace and check for anything that might be blocking it, whether it’s dust, paper or carpet.
When choosing a location for your electric fireplace, be sure to place it in an area of your room where airflow to the fireplace won’t be restricted. Ensure that the heater inlet is kept away from any walls, furniture or other items in your home such as curtains that may cause it to become blocked accidentally.
Some more modern models of electric fireplace may contain an air filter. Check to see if your fireplace has one, as it may need cleaning or replacing.
Temperature Setting
An electric fireplace can have a number of temperature settings for the heater, usually consisting of off, low, medium, and high. If the temperature within the room has already reached the correct temperature for that setting then the fireplace may turn itself off.
If your electric fireplace has a thermostat, use a higher heat setting than the temperature of your home to help prevent your electric fireplace from shutting off.
Blocked Heater
Much like when the airflow is restricted into the fireplace, restricting the outflow of hot air can also cause the fireplace to overheat and shut off.
Check to see if anything is blocking the area where your electric fireplace releases the heat.
Be sure to locate your electric fireplace at least 3 feet away from anything in your home, such as curtains, that could potentially block the heat from escaping the fireplace.
Dusty or Dirty Heater Element
It’s important to periodically carry out inspection of your electric fireplace, and especially the area where the heating element is housed. A buildup of dirt or dust can cause the heating elements to overheat, and in turn cause the fireplace to turn off.
To check if your electric fireplace has excess dust, turn off your fireplace at the wall and unplug it from the socket. Allow the fireplace to cool down before attempting to check for dust or dirt.
While waiting, check your manufacturers guidelines for the recommended procedures on how to clean your electric fireplace.