A Guide To Smart Fireplaces: What Are They and How Can You Make One?

Fireplaces have evolved considerably over the last century, from old-fashioned wood-burning fireplaces to modern electric, gas and bioethanol fireplaces with minimalist designs.

Fireplaces today are not just a means to heat the home – they are design features in their own right. And with the growing popularity of smart technology in the home, it’s perhaps unsurprising that fireplaces are also becoming smarter.

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at smart fireplace technology, including what it is and how you could take advantage of a smarter fireplace in your home.

What Is a Smart Fireplace?

Smart technology refers to everyday objects that are connected with sensors or have WiFi compatibility so that they can be controlled in different ways.

A smart TV, for example, is connected to the internet, so viewers can watch films and programmes online when they want to.

A smart security camera can be accessed via a smartphone or tablet app so the owner can check in on their property when they are not at home.

There are also smart doorbells, smart lighting systems, smart thermostats…and the list goes on.

Smart fireplaces may not be as common as smart TVs, but they are growing in popularity. They can come in many different forms, but they all involve some kind of integration with technology to provide the owner with greater control and customisation options.

For example, a smart fireplace may come with timers that allow you to set a schedule for when your fireplace turns on and off. This means you could set it to turn on in the morning before you wake up or just before you get home from work so you can enjoy a warm fire as soon as you enter your front door.

Other smart fireplaces may allow you to control them via a smartphone app, which could allow you to turn it off or on from anywhere. Some models may even allow you to select the style of flame or adjust the sound effects via your phone.

Other models may be compatible with voice-activated systems like Amazon’s Alexa so you can turn your fireplace on or off using a voice command while at home.

Essentially, fireplace automation allows you to get more from your fireplace by allowing you to control it in ways that are not available with standard fireplaces.

Why Get a Smart Fireplace?

Normal fireplaces have many benefits. They make your home cosier, they’re easy to use and they improve the aesthetics of your room. Smart fireplaces come with all of these advantages and some additional benefits on top.

Greater Comfort

When you have a smart fireplace that you can set to turn on and off at specific times, this will increase your comfort levels in your home.

There’s no need to get home to a cold house and then turn the fire on and wait for it to warm the room. Now, you can programme it to turn on before you get home from work so that your room is already warm.

Likewise, you can set your fireplace to turn on half an hour before you wake up. There’s nothing like walking into your living room to find your fire already burning and heating up the room.

Some smart fireplaces also integrate with the thermostat so they can maintain the optimal temperature in your room without getting too hot or cold.

Ease of Use

Being able to program your fireplace to turn on and off when you want or turn the temperature up and down with a simple command makes it easier to use your fireplace.

Now, controlling your fireplace is as simple as using a mobile app with a simple dashboard. Most people are familiar with apps these days, so operating your fireplace should be a piece of cake.

With a voice-activated fireplace, you don’t even have to get out of your chair to control it. With a simple voice command like ‘Turn the fireplace on’, you could let your smart home system do the work for you.

More Efficient

Modern fireplaces are designed to heat rooms efficiently, and smart fireplaces take this even further.

We’ve already mentioned the comfort benefits that you can enjoy by integrating your fireplace with a smart thermostat. But this can also help to reduce the amount of fuel the fire burns, which can make it a more efficient option.

Modern Designs

While you can get smart fireplaces with a traditional design, many boast beautiful minimalistic designs that are sleek and sophisticated.

This may be just what you are looking for to improve the overall aesthetics of your living room or bedroom. Of course, many non-smart fireplaces are also available in beautiful modern designs, so don't assume that you have to get a smart model to take advantage of this.

Customisation Options

Smart fireplaces often come with a wide range of customisation models. Exactly what you can control depends on your model, but there are many features you can control with some fireplaces.

This could include the flame size, the flame colour and even the sound the fireplace makes, which can all help you to effortlessly change the ambience of the room.

Which Fireplaces Can Be Automated?

It should be mentioned here that not all fireplaces can be automated or converted into smart fireplaces.

Gas fireplaces are a popular choice if you want a smart fireplace. A smart gas fireplace can have several automation options, like remote controls to turn it on or off, integration with home automation hubs and integration with thermostats.

Smart electric fireplaces are another good option. You can now find electric fireplaces that can connect to WiFi so you can connect it to your phone via a dedicated app.

However, wood-burning stoves are not easy to automate, and bioethanol fireplaces are also not particularly easy to integrate into a smart home system.

How to Make Your Fireplace Smart

If you want a smart fireplace, the best option is to buy one that is already capable of automation.

There are many different models available these days. Simply choose the model you want, install it in your home, set it up with your smart system and it’s ready to go. This is by far the best option if you want a smart fireplace.

However, if you already have a fireplace and you want to make it smart, you may have a few options, depending on the type of fireplace you have.

An electric fireplace may be the best option for your own safety. This is because when handling gas appliances, you need to be especially careful, and it’s best to hire a Gas Safe engineer.

Probably the simplest way to create a smart electric fireplace is to invest in a smart plug. You can then integrate your smart plug with your system like Google Home.

Simply plug your fireplace into the smart plug and automate how and when it turns on and off, turning it into a fireplace smart switch. You could then control it with an app, on a timer or via voice commands.

If you want to monitor the warmth of the room, you may need to install temperature sensors. These smart sensors will allow for more precise temperature control.

You then choose the desired room temperature, and the fireplace can adjust its heat output accordingly. This, however, may be a complex job, so you might want a professional to help you.

Safety is paramount whenever you are working with fireplaces. Only attempt any smart upgrades if you know exactly what you are doing, but in most cases, hire professional help.

Smart or Not, Always Choose Quality

Smart fireplaces are growing in popularity, and they are a good option for anyone who wants a modern heating solution that provides comfort and convenience. As more homes go smart, it’s good to know that the fireplace can play a role too.

But not all fireplaces need to be smart. The most important consideration is to choose a fireplace that is made to a high standard using high-quality components, is easy to use and has an appealing design.

If you do decide to convert your standard fireplace into a smart model, take care. Beyond using a smart switch to turn your fireplace on and off, it can get quite complex. It may be best to hire a professional, or just buy a fireplace that already has smart features.

If a bioethanol fireplace sounds more like what you want, we can help!