What do you think of fake log burners?

[Oollliivviiaa]

I'd love a real fire or at least a log burner. We have proper fireplaces but it will cost too much to get them working again. Do the electric fires that are designed to look like log burners look a bit rubbish? I'm not exactly the most stylish of people. I can't decide if I like them which probably means I don't.

We have a gas one and love it. Easy to control the heat and no messy upkeep you get with a real one. Really warms up the room well. Personally I love a real flame and do think the electric ones look a bit naff.

We have a log burner but also had one of these in another room and they really pump out the heat and look really nice with just the flame light on if you don’t need the heat

You really gave it your all on this thread, didn’t you?

I think they can look nice. My SIL had one and it made the room look complete. It was a temporary measure until she could afford a real one.

We’ve had a real log burner fitted this year, I love it, but it’s very messy, dusty and we have used loads of logs on just 5 months.

It’s not just the initial outlay you need to think of.

If you do get a fake one you could always sell it on if it’s not for you.

I think OPs mind has been made up, and is just wanting validation that other people think they’re naff too.

Tbh I think they’re ok, if you happen to be in OPs position and can’t afford a real one.

I imagine it depends how much you spend. The cheap ones that look like a freestanding wood stove are just glorified fan heaters. The heat just comes from warm air being guffed out noisily from underneath.

If they FEEL like a real fire in the way they radiate heat I wouldn't mind it as much.

Oh no don’t .. they absolutely stink! And cost way more than the manufacturer tells you.

we had a huge on installed in a development property you know long bar style fire and the whole place just stunk of the burning fuel the whole time. We never had it lit when there were viewings and the heat is useless.

You pour a bottle of ethanol in the tank (from memory I think they were 1lt bottles) and put a match to it. We had one in a huge room with a vaulted ceiling, gave some heat but obviously not like a real stove. When we moved we brought it with us but I couldn't stand the smell and felt I couldn't breathe when we lit it in a modern, draught-free house. I wouldn't have one again, ethanol is expensive too.

Have you looked at Everhot stoves?

Mine (rented house) heats the room with a noisy fan heater. I wouldn't touch one like mine with a 10 foot pole.

I think for something ‘faux’, they actually look ok.

We have a Dimplex Optimyst (almost identical to the one in your left-hand photo, OP) and are very pleased with it. It uses water vapour to create the flame effect. It also has a fan heater in the base, but we rarely if ever use that - we just like having the flame effect as a focal point in the room. Hope this helps.

We have two electric ones. We got them as we don’t have the £ to get the chimneys in working order, and we weren’t quite sure what else to do with the whacking great fireplaces in the sitting room and kitchen.

They do look a bit naff, yes. But ours (only something like £60 from screwfix) kick out an amazing amount of heat, and make the room look cosier. They also look better than the empty fireplaces did, so there we go.

On our honeymoon, we stayed in a lovely cottage that had a Broseley Canterbury electric stove and that actually looked really good - I think it was made out of proper cast iron rather than plastic like ours

Take a look at the Everhot mini stoves - they come with or without oven (and the oven is very good!). They avoid the whole 'fake' aspect.

Yes I forgot about those, I’d buy an everhot stove if I was buying now.

I came on to mention Everhot stoves. We have a log burner in the living room and I want the same in the kitchen but I think we just cant run to the cost again, I would have them in all the fireplaces given the choice but cant afford it

So in the kitchen fireplace/dining room really, Im going to get one of these with the mini oven just for emergencies!

I've got a small one in the TV room/study. OMG it throws out a ton of heat for sure. I have an inset coal effect modern looking one in the fireplace and it looks very nice. That too gives out great heat. They have convectors that gently blow warm/hot air into the room.

I find them great for heating the room quickly while waiting for the rads to come on if outside the timer time. Even when off, the log/flame effect can stay on. Very cosy.

I am not changing mine. Fashions be damned!

Real log burners are very polluting both outside and inside the home, so electric looks way better IMO.

I think it's really weird to burn solid fuel or wood in your home, unless there is absolutely no other option to stay warm.

So electric is best. I like the electric Everhot mini stoves, in bright colours.

I was very pro log burner until I discovered how much environmental damage they were doing. I'd get an electric one now, I think some can look quite convincing.

We have one and it’s fine. It depends what the alternative is. We have 3 fireplaces (I know 😂), two of which are actual log burners. But we have one in a hallway that gets very cold, but where the chimney really isn’t suitable to have a log burner or similar. Ours is a gas one and it kicks out enough heat to warm that bit of the house.

I just looked at that. It’s really nice. I have a real log burner and absolutely hate it. Ash flys everywhere each time you open the door, it makes the house stink and it uses a ridiculous amount of logs that aren’t cheap! Going to show that one to my husband. Is it expensive to run?

I don’t know @Tangerinenets tbh. I bought on looks alone to fill a gap. Can’t say I’ve noticed a huge difference in my bills when I use it.

The brand first came to my attention when this one won an award so I reckon mine must be five years old. I remember the everhot stove being launched not long after I’d bought it, I would have bought one of those with the oven instead tbh.

A quick Google would suggest about 50p an hour at today’s prices @Tangerinenets , at 2kw/full blast.

I think you get what you pay for, I’ve seen cheap ones in places like B&M and they don’t look great. My mum has quite an expensive one and it’s lovely, looks very realistic.

Like this https://www.flames.co.uk/lpg-gas-fires/gazco-chesterfield-5.html

There are smaller styles but this was my first hit when I googled “stove style gas fire”

Log burners cause so much pollution. Not just outside but inside. I don’t want the breathe that in. So we have one but I never put in on!

I do think there’s some good alternatives out there. Was considering the bio ethanol ones but worried about the smell… never heard of Everhot so that could be a solution.

You just need a stylish one - whatever the heat source.