Last updated: January 2, 2023 at 11:11 am
Keeping your home warm is top priority, particularly when winter arrives. In the past a fireplace in every room was your only option. Now that homes are almost universally fitted with central heating, having a fireplace is no longer a necessity.
If you don’t have an open fireplace, then a quiet electric fire is a great option. They are freely available in a range of sizes and are the easy to install.
In this article:
We will explain what to consider when choosing, and review our top 5 quiet electric fires for a cosy (and quiet!) home. We have tried to include a range of styles, freestanding and wall mounted, whilst ensuring being quiet is the #1 priority.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Things to Consider When Choosing Your Fire
Style – Do you want it to be quite old fashioned looking or are you looking for something more modern that’s all glass and chrome?
Colour – What’s the colour scheme in the room you’re putting it into? If it’s dark blue and bronze then bright gold might clash. Similarly, if you have a room that has a neutral palette then black might be too harsh and intrusive.
Space/size – do you have an existing fireplace you’d like it to fit into naturally or will it be mounted solo against the wall? You should also consider the width of your room. For safety reasons, you don’t want coffee tables or couches too close to the fire.
How Big The Room Is – Electric fires can only provide a certain amount of heat. If you want your fire to be the main source of heat in your room, you need to make sure it will be sufficient. Many models have a range of power options but bear in mind that more power means more electricity and higher bills.
5 Top Electric Fires – Summary
| Rank | Brand & Model | Quiet Score |
| 1 | NETTA – Log Effect Freestanding with LED | 5/5 |
| 2 | Hawnby – 60″ Recessed Electric Fire | 4/5 |
| 3 | TruFlame – Wall Mounted Electric Quiet Fire | 4/5 |
| 4 | C-Hopetree – Freestanding Flame Effect with Quiet Fan | 4/5 |
| 5 | FIDOOVIVIA – Wall Mounted Fire Suite with Remote | 3/5 |
5 Best Quiet Electric Fires (Full Reviews)
1. NETTA Freestanding Log Effect Quiet Electric Fire – Our #1 Pick
- CLASSICAL DESIGN: This 1750W - 1950W NETTA...
- REALISTIC FLAME EFFECT: This stove heater is...
Last update on 2023-11-21 at 14:10 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- A freestanding option with realistic flames and powerful heater
- How quiet: 5/5
- Style: Freestanding
- Dimensions: 37 x 23 x 51 cm
The striking NETTA freestanding electric fire offers an option (as with C-Hopetree below) for those looking for a traditional style rather than wall mounted.
Perfect for a feature piece in a room, the NETTA offers a realistic flame effect and two heat settings depending on how warm you’d like the room to be. A cast iron finish gives the illusion of a built in/heavy unit, however the lightweight plastic allows it to be moved around easily.
Even with the highest setting of heat, this electric fire is still incredibly quiet, and completely silent when only the flame effect is on.
Note:
Most electric fires aren’t great at keeping a room warm, they’re best used in conjunction with you’re homes normal heating. However, the NETTA still keeps the room warm despite it’s size.
Overall, the NETTA offers everything we look for in a great quiet electric fire. Design, features and dB level all make this a great choice if freestanding is your thing. We understand this fire has a traditional look to it, to we have included more quiet (and contemporary) options below.
2. Hawnby 60″ Electric Fire (Recessed) with Remote Control – Our #2 Pick
- Contemporary designed electric fireplace is...
- Available in four sizes: 40''; 48''; 60''; 68''
Last update on 2023-11-21 at 14:10 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- A contemporary look which offers a superbly quiet heat function
- How quiet: 4/5
- Style: Recessed
- Dimensions: 103 x 14.5 x 51.5 cm
The Hawnby fire is recessed, meaning it’s “built into” the wall. This means it’s only suitable for certain rooms, but also means it takes up less space resulting in a cleaner look.
Coming in either 60″ or 68″, the Hawnby looks great underneath a television or as a standalone piece in the room. The ability to change the LED colour means it seamlessly adapt to the room, the mood you’re in or time of day.
The fire can be used with or without the heater, therefore can be used purely aesthetically if you wish. In total you can choose between 4 flame effects and 2 beds, either logs or crystals. This allows it to completely change looks with the press of a button.
3. TruFlame 50″ Wall Mounted Electric Fire
- ONE OFF SUMMER SELL OFF - PRICE RISES 31ST OCTOBER...
- NOVEMBER SALE - PRICE WILL BE REVIEWED 30TH...
Last update on 2023-11-21 at 14:10 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- A styling 50″ option with changeable flame effects
- How quiet: 4/5
- Style: Wall Mounted
- Dimensions: N/A
An excellent wall mounted option, the TruFlame is a 50″ electric fire coming in a sleek black finish. It can be wall mounted as standard or recessed as with the Hawnby.
Touch panel buttons are on the bottom left of the fire which control the whole operation, or use the included remote. We found the touch buttons slightly off putting as it takes away from the simple design.
There are three LED colours to choose from and the base can be changed to logs, crystals or pebbles… so great choice depending on the look you’re after.
This is extremely quiet when the heater is on, and completely silent when on flame mode only. A popular style is to hang this under the TV so being able to hear the TV without a fan whirring is great.
4. C-Hopetree Freestanding Electric Fire
- LIFELIKE BURNING LOGS provide visual entertainment...
- LIGHTWEIGHT, small & free-standing makes it easy...
Last update on 2023-11-21 at 14:10 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Freestanding fire with an old school look and quiet fan
- How quiet: 4/5
- Style: Freestanding
- Dimensions: 43.2 x 25.4 x 51 cm
A delightfully traditional electric fire, the C-Hopetree offers a stunning design with a quiet fan to ensure a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere. A flame effect heightens a cosy feel and the LED lights are energy efficient to reduce running costs.
This is also shut itself off automatically if it overheats, and essential feature to keep your home safe from fire risk. The heat function is optionally, so even having it on with the flame effect with no heat creates an extremely inviting atmosphere.
The relatively small size means it’s perfect for smaller room, although looks the part in larger room as well. It’s worth noting that the heater will have a lesser affect on larger room, so it’s recommended to use this in rooms below 37 square metres (if using the heat function to warm the room).
5. FIDOOVIVIA Wall Mounted Electric Fire with Remote
- 【Realistic Flames】This electric fireplace...
- 【Functionality】The wall fire is beautiful and...
Last update on 2023-11-21 at 14:10 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- A high tech fire which will be the centre of any room
- How quiet: 3/5
- Style: Wall Mounted
- Dimensions: N/A
Perfectly suited under a large television, the FIDOOVIVIA offers a range of features focused on adaptability and high tech. Available is either 40″ or 60″, it has 9 LED available colours and a powerful heater to easily warm a large room. The heater is, in part, why it’s slightly louder than others on our list.
This electric fire is definitely louder when the heater is on (compared to the others above) hence our quiet score of 3/5.
Advantages of an Electric Fire vs Traditional
Cost – Electric fires come in a range of sizes with varying features. It should be easy for you to find one in your price range.
Ease of install – If you want a traditional fireplace in a home that doesn’t have one it will take some work to achieve. As a minimum, you will need to cut a hole on the wall where you want it to be. For safety, you also need to ensure the room is ventilated. This could mean reinstating a chimney you don’t use or having to have a ducting system installed.
Pollutants – Fireplaces that burn wood or coal create ash which adds to the dust and other irritants in the room. This can be a problem for people with allergies, asthma, or other breathing problems.
Energy Efficiency – You get back out of the fire the power that you put in. Nothing is lost in the process.
Safety – Traditional fireplaces are open fires. There is the potential for clothes or furniture to catch on fire and for children to burn themselves while playing. Modern electric fires are contained behind glass so nothing can accidentally catch fire. The glass is usually heatproof and so the risk of being burned is greatly reduced.
Remote Control – Most electric fires are controlled by a remote meaning you can turn it on or off and change the temperature without moving from your sofa. You also don’t need to get up to add coal or other fuel.
Cleaning – If you have a traditional fireplace, you’ll need to clear the old ashes out regularly. Ashes will also come out into the room adding to the dust. Electric fires, on the other hand, will not add anything to your daily chores.
What Makes an Electric Fire Noisy?
The Fan – Some electric fires use a fan to blow the air into the room and improve the circulation of the heat. A fan will make some noise, but it shouldn’t be intrusive. If you’re finding yourself being aware of it all the time the fan or fire itself might be faulty. As a first step, you can clean the fan to make sure there’s no build-up of dirt or dust causing the noise. Always remember to unplug the fire and let it cool before you begin.
Loose Connections – Almost all fireplaces are fixed to the wall in some way. If these blogs or screws aren’t tight enough the fire may start to move when it’s being used. This can cause rattling and vibration noises. If there are any removable panels you should make sure they are secure too.
Heating Tubes – Under normal circumstances, the tubes shouldn’t make any noise but if they become bent, they may be noisy. Check the tubes and make sure they’re all straight. If they aren’t you can either get someone to repair them or do it yourself by gently tapping them straight with a hammer.
The Motor – This is more of an issue of your fire is older. If the motor starts to wear out, you may hear an unpleasant grinding sound when the fire is on. You can choose to investigate replacing the motor or possibly getting a new fire.
If a new fire is making this noise, then you should contact the manufacturer for a warranty repair.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for a freestanding or wall mounted quiet fire, we hope we’ve covered most varieties in this article. Our #1 pick is the NETTA freestanding fire which which offers a quiet solution, but also an old fashioned look which we loved.
Our #2 choice is the more contemporary wall mounted Hawnby electric fire which offers a more modern design.
However:
All the electric fires on our list offer a quiet solution, the difference seems to be if the heater is more powerful, the dB level is slightly higher.
