The atmosphere created by a roaring fireplace in winter is a comfort that’s rarely matched in modern living spaces. It’s a cherished feature and focal point that many will prioritise when buying, renovating or building a new home.
Despite some strong functional qualities, electric fireplaces have often been seen as the lesser choice when it comes to aesthetics and creating an atmosphere. However, recent innovations and exciting new products, like Rinnai’s EL Electric Fireplace, have given homeowners and professionals in the industry plenty of food for thought.
We spoke with Patrick Corcoran, Group Product Strategy Manager at Rinnai Australia, to find out more about the Rinnai EL Electric Fireplace and its truly transformative qualities.
Pursuing the perfect flame
The interest in electric fireplaces has been growing in recent years, partly driven by anti-fossil fuel sentiment and environmental concerns around wood burning fires, but also due to the dramatic improvement in the visual effects on show.
The first electric fireplaces were essentially just a series of flickering lights, but as Patrick Corcoran explains, the visual elements have advanced quickly with a lot of research and technology utilised to capture an authentic look of the flame with remarkable realism.
“A lot of time has been spent on the development of electric fires and the look around the flame, which everyone loves, and it’s about trying to replicate that as an ambience and aesthetic feature inside people’s homes.”
Many technologies and techniques have been intertwined to create this convincing illusion, including holographic images of real flames, as Patrick continues.
“We call it a Truburn technology because it looks exactly like a fire. We use holographic technology to get the truest view of a fire, making sure it intersects properly on the log set, which are created to look like timber and glow themselves with lighting, so it’s very realistic in that regard.”
The visual quality and accuracy of the flames and fire are crucial, but there’s a whole production at play that completes the experience. This includes the detail inside the fireplace, the quality of the projection, sound effects and more, which Patrick describes with enthusiasm.
“You have all the bits of vermiculite and stones which dress the log set itself. You have flames being projected and reflected on different points, so it looks like the flame is sitting on the logs. You can also have that smoke and spark effect that gives an even more realistic ambience.”
Effortless customisation and limitless possibilities
Another appealing trait of the Rinnai EL Electric Fireplace is the ability to tailor its settings to your liking, allowing you to set the atmosphere and mood to match your needs and the occasion.
Patrick says nearly every visual element in the fireplace can be adjusted and manipulated in some way, giving homeowners tremendous flexibility to refine an aesthetic.
“You can interact with the fire and turn the flames up or down. You can have different types of flame and change the colour and intensity. You can change the colours in the log set itself and they flicker like a fire normally does. The configurability makes it very customisable for the user.”
These settings can be controlled by remote control or Rinnai’s intuitive app, which has a great touch interface and also allows you to make changes that go beyond its appearance.
“The app has a great user interface and level of interactivity. You can also turn the sound off and on, adjust the heating to low or high, and use its thermostat function. It has a very high level of customisation, so you can set it up exactly how you want it.”
The Rinnai EL Electric Fireplace also works with Alexa and Google Home, which means you can also control it through voice commands, for ultimate convenience.
Simple installation and seamless integration
While appearances are important, they are meaningless if a fireplace can’t be easily installed or integrated into a space. Luckily, this again is one of the strengths of the Rinnai EL Electric Fireplace, starting with its wide range of sizes that accommodate varied and diverse spaces, as Patrick explains.
“When we looked at sizes, we wanted to make sure we had enough of a range to cover people's requirements. We've got the small 1.0 metre models that people can put in a bedroom, but we also have the nice, large, 1.8 metre models for large living spaces or lounges, as well as two models in between.”
Installation has also been taken into account with its design, which is far easier and less complex than the alternatives of wood-burning and gas options.
“The installation of an electric fireplace is far simpler, as the fire doesn't get hot. This means you don't need a flue, and you also don't need a large clearance around the product itself. All that’s required is for you to plug it into a 15 amp plug for the larger sizes, and a 10 amp plug for the smaller sizes.”
Aesthetically, it’s also been designed so that it has visual appeal when it's both in use and not.
“You've got to make it look attractive when it's on, but you've also got to try and make it attractive when it's off, as it will only be used for certain periods. When it's off, you still have a version of the logs that are there, so it can be a statement piece even when it’s off.”
There are also different enclosure options, like a sleek metal front-facing solution that integrates into the wall, as well as a panoramic glass vista model that floats in the corner.
In his final comments, Patrick says there are also different types of trim available, which match well with all the different interior styles you’ll find in Australia.
“We also have two different trims that you can put around the fire, as well as the frameless option. If your home is more traditional or Art Deco, you may want to go for the wider trim, but if your home is more contemporary or Scandinavian, you may want to go slimmer or frameless. The options just allow people to style the fireplace to whatever decor they have.”
Find out more about Rinnai’s exceptional range of electric fireplaces