Electric Fireplace Installation
4.8 Stars • 500+ Reviews • Family Owned since 1982
Electric Fireplace Installation in Maryland, DC & Northern Virginia
Every home has different requirements for an electric fireplace installation. We look at your space, electrical capacity, and (if you’re converting an existing fireplace) the condition of your chimney and firebox before recommending a specific fireplace and finish. Priddy Chimney Solutions has been installing fireplaces across Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington D.C. since 1982. We’re family-owned and woman-led, and our team coordinates the design, electrical, and any chimney work as one connected project.
Why Homeowners Choose Electric Fireplaces
Most homeowners come to us for one of a few reasons, not because they’ve already decided on a specific product, but because something about their situation points them toward an electric fireplace:
- You Want Ambiance With Less Maintenance: Electric units offer the convenience of a year-round flame effect without ash, wood storage, or chimney maintenance.
- You Want Features Only Electric Can Offer: Some homeowners are drawn to features gas and wood simply can’t match, like color-changing flames, adjustable brightness, and flame effects that run independent of heat, so you can enjoy the look on a warm day without turning on the heater.
- You Want a Fireplace Without a Chimney: Electric fireplaces are a natural fit for additions, basements, condos, and any room where running a flue or venting simply isn’t practical.
- You’re Updating an Existing Fireplace: An older wood-burning or gas fireplace can often become an attractive electric focal point without rebuilding the chimney.
- You’re Remodeling a Room: Family rooms, primary suites, home offices, and finished basements are common places where an electric fireplace becomes part of a larger renovation.
During your consultation, we help you compare electric and gas options based on your home, your heating goals, and the overall project, rather than recommending one solution for everyone.
Which Type of Electric Fireplace Fits Your Home?
The right option comes down to one main question: do you already have a fireplace opening, or are you creating a new feature from scratch?
Electric Fireplace Inserts
If you have an existing wood-burning or gas fireplace, an insert is designed to slide into that opening, using the space and structure that’s already there. Your current mantel and surround can often stay as-is. This is the most common choice for converting an existing fireplace to electric.
Built-In / Recessed Electric Fireplaces
If you don’t have an existing fireplace opening, or you want something larger than what your current opening allows, our team can help expand a current fireplace or create a new structure to frame your electric fireplace. This could include building a new hearth or creating a space that allows the unit to sit flush with the wall.
Wall-Mounted Electric Fireplaces
The simplest option: the unit mounts on the wall’s surface, similar to hanging a TV, with no framing or recessing required. This is also the category where quality varies the most. A box-store unit from a place like Costco can look similar in photos, but the units we install are built with better flame technology, sturdier construction, and stronger warranty support.
For all electric fireplace units, our team handles the preparation, electrical work, and installation to make sure it’s installed safely and correctly the first time.
If you aren’t sure where to start, our team will help you understand the differences and present options specific to your home and goals.
Shown: Regency Ei29 LCD
Before We Recommend a Fireplace
Choosing an electric fireplace isn’t just about picking a style you like. Before we suggest a specific unit, we look at a handful of things about your space and your home to make sure whatever we recommend will actually fit, work safely, and look right once it’s installed.
- Existing Fireplace Conditions: If you’re converting an existing fireplace, we evaluate the firebox condition, flue, chimney, and surround, even though the new unit is electric. These still matter: a compromised firebox or surround can affect what can safely be installed and how it should be finished.
- Electrical Requirements: We confirm whether the unit needs a dedicated circuit, whether it requires 240V or standard 120V power, and whether your electrical panel has the capacity to support it. Any necessary electrical work is coordinated with licensed electricians as part of the project.
- The Space: We look at room dimensions, furniture layout, viewing angles, and the overall design of the room before recommending a fireplace style or size.
- Framing & Finish Details: Built-in units require framing that matches manufacturer specifications. We’ll walk you through options for mantels, stone, tile, drywall, and other custom finishes.
Not Sure What Your Space Can Support?
An in-home assessment tells us exactly what your room, electrical panel, and existing fireplace (if any) can handle before we recommend a specific unit.
Bringing the Design Together
An electric fireplace conversion doesn’t mean starting over on the design of your room. In many cases, your existing mantel and surround can be reused as-is or updated with smaller changes, something we’ll walk through once we know what the new unit requires and what framing it needs.
For a more traditional look, classic mantels and masonry-inspired finishes keep the fireplace feeling like part of the home’s original character. For a more contemporary approach, linear fireplaces with minimal surrounds and large viewing areas make the fireplace itself the focal point rather than the framing around it.
Not all electric flame technology looks the same.
One thing worth understanding before you shop for a unit: there are major differences in electric flame technology. Modern LCD flame systems use layered lighting and digital projection to create a genuinely realistic, dimensional flame effect, a significant step up from the flat, repetitive look of inexpensive LED fireplaces. We can show you the difference during your consultation so you know what you’re actually choosing between.
Shown: Davinci Greensmart 51-Bay
Fireplace Brands We Install
Featured Electric Fireplace Installation
Ellicott City, MD This home had two outdated, builder-grade prefab fireplaces, one in the family room and one in the master bedroom, that no longer matched the layout or style the homeowner wanted. Rather than treating them as separate cosmetic updates, our team coordinated a full redesign across both spaces on the same chimney system.
In the family room, we removed the old prefab unit, reframed the wall to support a 60″ slim TV layout, and added a tiled facade along with two 42″ base cabinets and custom shelving for built-in storage. In the master bedroom, we closed off the old throat area and installed a new Orion Traditional 42″ electric fireplace, running a dedicated 120V line to power it while preserving portions of the original surround. The project also included recessed lighting, a new chase cover, and chimney closure work at the top of the structure to tie everything together.
The result: two updated, functional fireplace spaces built around real day-to-day use, not just a fresh coat of paint over an outdated unit.
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What Affects the Cost of an Electric Fireplace Installation?
Electric fireplace pricing varies more than people expect. As a general range, most installations in the DC/MD/VA area fall between $2,000 and $8,500, with around $3,500 being the average investment for many homeowners. Where a project lands in that range comes down to a few things.
The type of unit matters most: a wall-mounted fireplace is the simplest and least expensive option since it skips framing entirely, while a recessed or built-in unit adds cost for wall modifications like framing and drywall. Electrical work is the next biggest factor, whether your panel can support the unit as-is, or whether new outlets, circuits, or 240V hardwiring need to be run to get power where it’s needed. Finally, whatever you choose for the surround, stone, tile, a custom mantel, adds to the overall scope and cost of the project.
Because every home and installation location is different, the best way to determine the right option is through a professional evaluation. Our team can help you select an electric fireplace that fits your space, heating needs, and budget while ensuring the installation meets safety and electrical standards.
Experience Matters for Electric Fireplace Installation
An electric fireplace looks simple from the outside, but a good installation still touches your home’s electrical system, sometimes your existing chimney and firebox, and often structural framing behind the walls. Get any of that wrong, and you end up with a fireplace that doesn’t sit flush, a circuit that trips under load, or a firebox that wasn’t properly finished after conversion. The people doing that work matter as much as the unit itself.
Priddy Chimney Solutions has been installing and converting fireplaces across the DMV since 1982, and we bring the same standard of care to every project as a family-owned, woman-led company. Even on an electric installation, our CSIA-certified (Chimney Safety Institute of America) technicians know how to evaluate and safely finish an existing firebox and chimney, not just mount a new unit. And because we coordinate the design, electrical work, any chimney modifications, and installation as one connected project, you’re not left managing multiple contractors yourself.
Schedule Your Electric Fireplace Consultation
Your space and design goals help determine the right approach to an electric fireplace installation. The first step is an in-home assessment helps us evaluate each of those details before we recommend anything. Our team has been installing fireplaces across the DMV region since 1982.
Call us at 301-530-4262 or request an appointment online.
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Questions Homeowners Ask Before Installing an Electric Fireplace
Can I convert my wood-burning fireplace? In most cases, yes. We’ll evaluate your firebox, flue, and chimney condition during your consultation to confirm what’s possible and what finish work is needed.
What happens to the chimney? It depends on your goals. Some homeowners choose to cap and seal the chimney once it’s no longer venting anything, while others keep it in place structurally as part of the surround. We’ll walk through the right approach for your home.
Will I still need chimney maintenance? If your chimney is capped and no longer in use, ongoing sweep and inspection needs typically go away. If it remains part of the structure without being sealed, some maintenance considerations may still apply, which we can advise on directly.
Do I need a dedicated circuit? It depends on the unit. Some electric fireplaces run on a standard 120V outlet, while others require a dedicated 240V circuit. We confirm this during your consultation.
Can an electric fireplace heat the room? Yes, most models include a heating element suited for supplemental heat in a single room, though they’re not designed to replace a home’s primary heating system.
What’s the difference between LCD and LED flame technology? LCD flame systems use layered lighting and digital projection to create a more realistic, dimensional flame effect. LED systems are simpler and less expensive, but the flame effect tends to look flatter and more repetitive.
How long does installation take? A standard insert or wall-mount installation typically takes one day. Recessed built-in projects with custom surrounds generally take two to three days depending on scope. Feature wall projects involving custom cabinetry or stone work may take longer.
Can I control it with my phone? Yes, several of the models we carry, including select Modern Flames and Napoleon units, offer app-based control via Wi-Fi, letting you adjust flame intensity, color, heat output, and timer settings from anywhere in your home.
Can I install one in a bedroom? Yes. Electric fireplaces are a popular addition to bedrooms, bathrooms, and basements, since they don’t require venting or a gas line, just power. We can help you figure out the right unit and placement for the room during your consultation.