Electric fireplaces are fireplaces that, as the name implies, run through electricity. Two types of electric fireplaces exist. One is a heater and one serves for aesthetic purposes only. Other varieties or combinations may also appear from time to time in the market. Generally speaking, people who are for the aesthetic purposes of fireplaces do not usually purchase electric fireplaces as a practical replacement for real fire places. No matter how convincing the fiber optics can be or how high definition the LCD can be, nothing beats the dance of a true flame and its hypnotizing effects on people who love to stare at fire.