There’s nothing quite like a Canadian winter for inspiring thoughts of gathering around a cozy fireplace. If your ideal fireplace is more traditional than modern, or more reminiscent of a wood-burning fireplace, we’ve got you covered. There have been some great advancements in electric fireplace inserts in the past year, with the most realistic fires yet. Below, we’ve gathered the best of the best electric fireplace inserts, with tips on what makes each model stand out. We’re looking at flame quality, heat output, media kits and installation options. You can use this as a handy reference guide for your next fireplace project, or forward it to your contractor. We’ve broken our inserts out by brand: Amantii, Dimplex, Modern Flames and Napoleon. For each brand, we’re showcasing their 2 best insert families, for a total of 6 great electric fireplace options.
Amantii electric fireplace inserts
The Amantii Signature is a hybrid of an LED insert with mist flames. Amantii has modified their TRD-38 insert, with LED lights and flames, and added the Dimplex Optimyst CDFI500-Pro cassette. The result is an electric fireplace that has all the same features as the TRD inserts (see below) plus the natural-looking flames that are created when warm lights hit the fine mist that’s generated by the Optimyst burner. The included black interior panels may be changed for optional brick panels in various colours. Signature is a great option if you need to warm up more than 400 square feet, or if the space is very cool. It has a maximum heat output of 10,000 BTUS on 240 volts. Installation Notes: It requires a water line to keep the Optimyst reservoir filled. It is dual-voltage, so it may be connected to either 120 volts or 240 volts; either way, it must have a dedicated circuit. It has a framing depth of 20.875 inches, which is deeper than other electric fireplace inserts.
Models: BI-TRD-38-SIG
Amantii TRD inserts are more traditional in size and shape than Amantii linear models, yet they retain a contemporary appearance with loose media options and a range of accent down-lighting to wash the media in colour. Flames are LED, and flame colours are yellow, orange and red. Amantii TRD heaters are thermostat-controlled, and will warm up a space up to 400 square feet. TRD-BESPOKE inserts are similar to regular TRD units, and come in all the same sizes. However, Bespoke models have accent lighting below the ember bed, crackling sound effects, a choice of included media kits, and a 5-year warranty. Installation Notes: TRD inserts are 120-volts only, and require a dedicated circuit. Framing depths range from 13 to 15.375 inches, depending on the size of the insert. Optional trim kits are available for all sizes except TRD-44, TRD-48.
Models: TRD-26, TRD-30, TRD-33, TRD-38, TRD-44, TRD-48
Dimplex Electric Fireplace Inserts
Dimplex Revillusion continues the Dimplex history of electric fireplace innovation. A unique Mirage panel puts the natural-looking LED frames right in the center of the logs, and allows us to view-through to the back of the insert. The included logs sit in a grate and glow from within, mimicking a real fire. Those logs may be swapped out for optional birch and fresh-cut logs. Revillusion inserts come standard with either herringbone brick interior panels, or weathered concrete interiors; the panels cannot be switched later. All models larger than RBF24DLX and RBF24DLXWC are dual-voltage, 120/240, with a maximum heat output of 10,000 BTUs; RBF24 models are limited to 120 volts only. The higher heat output that comes with a 240-volt connection makes these electric fireplaces ideal for larger or cooler spaces. Installation Notes: All Revillusion inserts require a dedicated electrical circuit, either 120 or 240 volts, as noted earlier. Regardless of size, these inserts have a framing depth of 12.5 inches. Trim kits are available for RBF24 and RBF30 models, to cover any gaps when putting these inserts into existing openings.
Dimplex Aspire electric fireplace inserts offer a portrait orientation, rather than the usual horizontal orientation. They also come standard with glass on 3 sides, so we can choose 2-sided L-shaped installation, 3-sided bay installation or single-sided installation (with the addition of optional side panel trim). There are 3 natural flame colours, and the logs light up from within with a natural pulse and glow. These logs do not sit in a grate, so the Aspire inserts are a little less traditional than other Dimplex inserts. All sizes of Aspire are dual-voltage, and may be connected to either 120 or 240 volts, for heat output that ranges from 5000 to 10,000 BTUs. Installation Notes: All Aspire inserts require a dedicated electrical circuit, either 120 or 240 volts. These are always built-in units, which means they must be hard-wired. All Aspire inserts require a framing depth of 18 inches.
Models: ASP30, ASP36, ASP42, ASP48
Napoleon Electric Fireplace Inserts
Napoleon Elevation electric inserts feature 3 interior panels that put the LED flames in the middle of the glowing split oak logs, from front to back and from side to side. Flame colours are yellow or orange, and may be turned up or down in all 3 positions from front to back. There are also ember-bed colours, as well as down-lights to accent the logs from above. These are dual-voltage units, so maximum heat output ranges from 5000 to 10,000 BTUs, enough to warm up an area of 400 to 800 square feet. Installation Notes: All Elevation inserts require a dedicated electrical circuit, either 120 or 240 volts. These are hard-wired fireplaces; they do not have plug kits. Elevation electric inserts require a framing depth of 16.25 inches. Elevation electric inserts were designed to fit into the same framing dimensions as Elevation gas inserts, to give builders flexibility in specifying electric or gas in their projects, without changing the design.
Models: NEFB36H-MF, NEFB42H-MF
Napoleon Element electric fireplace inserts are affordable alternatives that come in 2 popular sizes. Flames are orange only, and play off the back panel behind the logs. Logs are not lit from within, but down-lighting highlights them from above. Element inserts are dual-voltage, connecting to either 120 or 240 volts, for maximum heat output of 5000 to 10,000 BTUs. Installation Notes: All Element inserts require a dedicated electrical circuit, either 120 or 240 volts. They come with a plug for 120-volt connections, but must be hardwired for 240 volt connections. Element inserts require a framing depth of 11 to 13.75 inches, depending on the fireplace size.
Models: NEFB36H-BS-1, NEFB42H-BS
Modern Flames Electric Fireplace Inserts
Modern Flames Redstone inserts have a slightly horizontal profile, and are among the shallowest of the electric fireplace inserts. This makes them ideal for retrofitting into existing wood-burning fireplaces. There are optional trim kits available for all sizes except 42 and 54, which will help to cover gaps around the fireplace opening. There are 10 flame colours, as well as downlighting and ember bed lighting. Logs light up from within, and sit on a bed of black glass crystals. Redstone inserts will warm up an area up to 400 square feet. Installation Notes: All Redstone inserts require a dedicated 120-volt circuit, and may be plugged in or hard-wired. They require a framing depth of just 10-inches, except for the RS-5435, which requires a depth of 12-inches.
Models: RS-2621, RS-3021, RS-3626, RS-4229, RS-5435
Modern Flames Orion Traditional inserts feature Heliovision LCD flames, rather than LED flames found in the other inserts featured here. Because the flames are created with a video of real fire, they are accompanied by real sound effects. There are 3 flame styles, and flames may be updated in future with a simple thumb drive. The glowing driftwood logs are accented with 6 down-lighting colours from above, and 6 ember-bed colours from below. Optional trim kits are available for all sizes except 42 and 54. Installation Notes: All Orion Traditional inserts require a dedicated circuit, either 120 volts (all sizes) or 240 volts (36, 42, and 54 inch sizes only). They require a framing depth of just 10-inches.
Models: OR26-TRAD, OR30-TRAD, OR36-TRAD, OR42-TRAD
Contact Canada’s electric fireplace experts for help to select the best electric fireplace insert for your project. Our NFI Certified Hearth Design Specialists understand renovations and design, and will be happy to advise you.