Tips on removing this electirc fire place

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I'd like to remove this horrible electric fireplace from my house.
First question, is it safe to do this myself or should I get an electrician in first to decommission it? (There is a switch which isolates power to it)

Any general tips on removing it? (Seems pretty firmly stuck to the wall...).

Fireplace1 by Mark, on Flickr

fireplace2 by Mark, on Flickr
 
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There have been so many ways of fitting this sort of fireplace over the years that there is no easy answer.

I can't tell from your pics whether it's been plastered round, if it has then it's gonner be messy.

You may and it's a very big MAY be lucky and it's on 'keyhole plates' in which case it MAY lift 10mm or so then pull forwards.

Be careful as some of these have a big heavy slab of marble/granite etc which can take you by surprise as you stagger backwards.

The fire it's self MAY be freestanding and only held in place with double sided tape in which case it will pull forward quite easily, otherwise start dismantling, (some of the metal parts MAY just be clipped on).

There MAY be a plug and socket of some sort behind the fire.

How confident are you with electrics?
 
I suppose that the white switch fuse on the wall provides to power to the fire?

If so, you need to (power off first) remove this from the wall and disconnect the three wires on the load side of the switch/fuse. Then restore the power and turn the switch on to ensure that the fire is disconnected. That will isolate the electrical supply to the fire.

I assume that you do not have a test meter or a voltage tester (NOT a neon screwdriver!)

PS You could replace the switch/fuse with a single socket.
 
Thanks for the replies and yes that white switch provides the power to the fire.

I won't admit to being great with electric! I understand I should 'test for dead' but worry I'll electrocute myself doing that!

I typically turn the electric off via the main switch in the consumer box and check that kills the electric device I'm working on.

I do have a multimeter so will google how to check on that. Dumb question maybe but are the voltage testers I see on screw fix good ? (I'll google it as well as I'm sure it must be asked and answered a 1000000 times here)

Mark
 
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It depends on which one, what you want it for and what you mean by "Good"..
I see they have multimeters ranging in price from £9 to £300

To do a simple check voltage is on or off then a £9 one will do. But you could do that with a mains lamp.
Other tests cost more..
 
I'm planning on replacing all the plastic wall sockets, light switches and lights in the ceiling.
(As well as the fuse switch to the fire as discussed here)

Good = will check with 100% certainty the electric is dead.

When you say a mains lamp do you mean just plugging a lamp into a wall socket? (maybe I'm misunderstanding, excuse my ignorance).
 
Be aware the hearth may have been laid last so may need to come up first before the 'place.
Unless sold as a set, it would be sooooooooooo hard to get the cutouts in the hearth exactly right, and looking as precise as machine made uprights sitting on a slab, that I'd consider that most unlikely.
 

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