A fireplace in the home looks inviting, cozy and also romantic. It creates a special ambiance with its crackling sound of wood, flickering flames, the glow and the warmth. Fireplaces are captivating and you cannot stop staring at them. They instantly make you sit in from of them with a fuzzy blanket and a cup of hot chocolate.
However, you cannot have a traditional fireplace if you are living in a condo or an apartment complex. For people who want to have a fireplace but cannot install one, electric fireplaces are the way to go. They can be installed quickly and do not require any vents or chimneys. When you are planning to buy a fireplace for your home, the following are the things that you need to consider.
Heating capacity
First, determine what capacity heater you really need. Most of the electric fire units work on a standard 120-volt outlet, 12.5 amps, and 1500 Watts. To understand the heating capacity of a fireplace, divide the watts by 10 and the answer would be the approximate area of square feet that it would be able to provide heating. Depending upon your requirement, you can choose a higher range one or a lower range one.
Easy installation
Electric units are very easy to install and are inexpensive. All you need to do is bring in the fireplace and plug in to an electric outlet. You can also move the fireplace from one room to another. You can keep this fireplace wherever you have an electric point. This is the main advantage of fireplace electric version over the gas ones. Gas fireplaces need more serious installation. A permanent gas line needs to be drawn and once you install it, it cannot be moved.
Advantages
Electric units are always a better option because if you have kids or pets, you are in constant fear that they might get hurt from fire. But if you buy the electric one, you get heat and there is no fear of getting burnt, because its surface will be cool to touch even when it is working. Some of the other benefits include:
Mobility
You can move your electric unit anywhere you want inside the home or to you RV when going on a vacation or to a new home if you are relocating.
No refills
To keep the traditional wood-burning fireplace burning, you need to stock wood mindfully. If you run out of the logs, there will be no fire. Similarly, the natural gas fireplace also needs a constant supply of gas. But with electric ones, you only need the electricity to generate heat. If there is a power cut, it can also run on a generator.
Easy operation
Operating an electric fire unit is very simple. With the push of a button, the unit starts generating heat. You can also adjust the temperature settings with a remote.
These units come with various options and features. The more you pay the more options you get. Do your research and pick an electric fireplace that suits your home decor and needs.
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The pros and cons of wall beds
Read moreThe Murphy beds or the wall beds have many advantages and disadvantages too. You may find that the wall bed has many shortcomings. One of the disadvantages of these wall beds is that it is challenging to change the mattress of the bed. To find the exact size of the mattress for the bed, one has to order an entirely a new bed. The other shortcoming of these beds is that these beds are not the ideal choice when one is constantly on the move since these beds cannot be moved or shifted to different places. Here are some pros and cons of Murphy beds that will help you if you are planning to buy a bed for your room.
Murphy beds have many advantages mentioned below:
Open spaces
These beds give you more open spaces and that is one of the primary reasons people choose to buy Murphy beds. They are perfect for people who do not have lot of free space in their bedrooms as these beds can make your room completely spacious once the bed is flung back to the wall. You can then use the space for other activities such as exercising, dancing, etc.Lets you make your room multifunctional
Once you pushed the bed back and have the room space freed up, you can use the room for many other activities. As mentioned in the previous point, you can use the room to exercise, dance, practice yoga or just play with the kids or pets (if any).Contemporary and simple designs
You can find Murphy beds having modern and contemporary designs keeping the simplicity that people look for today. You will not be disappointed with the designs available to you by Murphy beds. You can also find designs like library Murphy bed, Bi-fold Murphy bed, and Fill-up Murphy bed.Here are some cons that come along with Murphy beds you should know about:
Comfort
One might have to sacrifice a little on the comfort when it comes to buying wall beds. The biggest reason for this is that these beds make use of wire mesh instead of box springs. In regular or luxurious beds, wire mesh is avoided, and box springs are used to add more comfort. So in comparison to regular beds, wall beds are not very apt for studying or doing desk work.No scope for decoration
There is no scope for decoration on Murphy beds due to lack of headboards, footboards or bed rallies. So, there is no space for decoration left because of lack of adequate accessories. Due to lack of headboards, footboards and bed rallies, there is no scope for decoration. So it could be not an ideal choice for creative people who enjoy decorating their bed almost every week.Tedious task
Putting away these beds or folding them can be a very stressful task if done every day. Since this bed is used to save space and is installed in limited spaces, it becomes essential for people to fold it every morning. This can be a tedious task and can require a little effort and time. Hence, this may not be an ideal choice for younger children or senior citizens who can have the problem of putting it away every day.Lesser customization
There are not much customization options available for Murphy beds. These beds usually come with a simple design with moderate installation options. Therefore, they cannot be customized according to individual preferences. If one needs a little customization, then bed accessories have to be bought to suit the customer’s needs.A little expensive
Murphy beds can prove to be a bit pricey as compared to cabinet beds. They are smaller than the Murphy beds, and they also come with an old fold away foam memory mattress. They are easier to maintain than the wall beds and comes in many shapes, types, and sizes. -
5 lifestyle factors that elevate the risk of gout
Read moreGout is a condition that has affected around 8.3 million Americans and continues to do so till date. It is a form of arthritis, and like every other form of arthritis affects the joints, causing excruciating pain in the process. Gout affects the joints especially in the big toe and causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. An individual with gout can experience sudden gout attacks at any time of the day, and the pain can take days to subside. One can say that with every gout attack you have, the tissues in the region deteriorate owing to the inflammation it is exposed to.
Gout is caused due to an increase in the level of uric acid in the body. The uric acid crystals deposit in the joints, and the process of inflammation sets in causing redness, pain, and stiffness of the joints in the process. One’s age, gender, family history, the medications they consume, and other health problems can also trigger gout. However, apart from these, there are other factors that can trigger gout, and these are mostly self-inflicted.
- Crash diets and fasting
One of the prominent causes of gout is going on crash diets or fasting for long periods. When you go on crash diets to lose weight, you begin to metabolize the body tissues, and this results in an increase in the level of purines, which, in turn, increases the level of uric acid in the body. This adds to other vital reasons to avoid going on crash diets and fasting. - Dehydration
Drinking enough water is quite essential for our health; if you do not drink enough water, you become dehydrated, and this is detrimental to your health on different levels. Dehydration leads to an increase in the blood uric acid concentration and ultimately leads to a gout attack. - Extra weight
We are well aware of the repercussions of being overweight. Another health issue that accompanies obesity is gout. Research indicates that people who are overweight are more prone to develop gout since obesity stimulates the body into producing more uric acid, and blocks uric acid excretion as well. - Food habits
Erroneous eating habits can put us in harm’s way, and this holds true even in case of gout. Bad eating habits can cause gout. Foods such as red meat, liver, sweetbreads, certain seafood, are to be avoided since these have high purine levels and lead to an increased production of uric acid, which, in turn, causes gout. - Alcohol
Alcohol is known to worsen a plethora of health conditions, and that includes gout as well. Alcohol consumption interferes with the kidney function; the kidneys cannot filter uric acid to its optimum level, and this results in the build-up of uric acid.
- Crash diets and fasting