Dimplex Optimist Fire

[Ilovemypantry]

Has anyone got any thoughts on the Optimist fires that look like a wood burner, i.e have the smoke effect by putting water in?

We considered one but felt they were pretty naff, sorry.
Heat output very low, cost much more to run than gas, don't look all that convincing. All in all just not worth it imho.

The thing is it’s not always possible to have the real thing due to cost or no chimney etc etc but people still like a fire, if you can’t have the real thing I think they are a reasonable alternative, I think they are used in Emmerdale if you want to see them in action, Moira’s farmhouse and the Woolpack both have them! Another alternative if you do t have a chimney but where you get a real flame is a bioethanol style woodburner, though they have their downsides as can cause condensation and the fuel can smell a bit, though now you can get coffee smelling fuel.

I suppose if you are going for it as a decorative effect then there's nothing particularly wrong with them.
If you need it for heat though a gas fire (or additional radiator) is more cost effective.
Candles can create a lovely atmosphere.

My friend has one and she says it a real faff having to fill it with water.
She said that she wished she'd just got one with log effect and no water but can't swap it as she paid quite a bit for it.
She also has an extra electric heater in the room when it's really cold as there's not much heat from the Optimist Fire.

@BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo
Oooh thanks for that, I don’t watch Emmerdale but will tune in to have a look.
Just need it for effect, not heat so not worried about the running costs. Just wondering if it would be too much faffing though with the water.