Electric

Electric is the fireplace that goes where nothing else can. There is no combustion, so there is no vent, no chimney, no gas line, no permit and no TSSA technician. It plugs in. That single fact is why electric has become the default in Toronto condos, on interior walls, and in any renovation where the budget or the structure will not carry venting.

The flame is the whole decision

Every electric fireplace heats about the same. What separates a good one from a great one is the flame, and the gap is wide. Most units use LED light on a moulded or printed surface, which looks fine at a distance and flat up close. Dimplex's Optimyst models do something different: they lift a fine water mist and light it from below, so the flame has real depth and movement. It is the only electric effect that makes people stop and look twice, and it is the reason we tell everyone to see these running before choosing.

Wall-mount, built-in, insert or mantel package

Wall-mount and recessed linear units create a modern focal point and are the easiest to add to a finished room. Built-ins install flush for a custom look and suit a feature wall. Inserts drop into an existing fireplace opening, which is the tidiest fix for a masonry fireplace whose chimney is no longer worth relining. Mantel packages combine fireplace and surround in one piece. Browse contemporary for the wide linear look or traditional for log-style fireboxes.

The honest downside

Electric is supplemental heat, not a heating system. A typical unit puts out around 1.5 kW, roughly a space heater, which warms a condo-scale room but will not carry a large open space. And however good the effect, it is a simulation rather than combustion. If you want real heat and a real flame and you can vent, gas is the better appliance. Our gas vs electric comparison works through the real Ontario running costs and is blunt about the trade.

What we carry

Dimplex for the most realistic flame, Amantii and Modern Flames for wide contemporary fireboxes, and Napoleon, built in Barrie, Ontario, across the range. We keep electric units running on the floor so you can compare flame effects side by side rather than from a spec sheet.

In a condo? Our Toronto condo guide explains why electric is almost always the answer and what your board actually controls. Or visit the showroom and judge the flames yourself.