Water Vapor or "Steam" Fireplace Buying Guide
Fireplaces add coziness and ambiance to your home, as well as create a stunning focal point and conversation piece. These days, health is a priority for many of us which is why many home and business owners are switching to alternative types of fireplaces, like Water Vapor Fireplaces.
What is a Water Vapor Fireplace?
Water Vapor Fireplace is one of the best alternatives to traditional wood or gas fireplaces for several reasons:
- Water Vapor Fireplace has the most realistic flame imitation out of all other alternative fireplaces.
- Water Vapor Fireplace doesn't produce any harmful emissions keeping your air clean.
- Water Vapor Fireplace is cool to the touch making it safe for kids, pets, and for installation in crowded commercial spaces.
- Water Vapor Fireplace has limitless installation options because it doesn't need venting and the 3-dimensional flame can be open on all sides.
- Water Vapor Fireplace doesn't cost much to operate. It runs on tap water and LED lights consume very little electricity.
There are many other benefits of water vapor fireplaces like their low energy consumption and environmental-friendliness but the bottom line is this: water vapor fireplaces feature dazzling flame realism that rivals gas, with the safety and simplicity of electric.
How Does a Water Vapor Fireplace Work?
Water vapor fireplace runs on water and electricity. It uses tap water to emit fine mist into the air. The light of LED lights gets reflected by this mist creating a realistic 3-dimensional illusion of flame and smoke.
Water Vapor Flame
The newest technology manages to create an extremely realistic flame look without the presence of a real fire. Flame imitation is so realistic, you’ll be surprised to learn you can actually touch this “fire.” The reason why is that the flames are created by energy-efficient LED lights and water vapor. These cold mist artificial fire fireplaces run on electricity and regular tap water. All you need to do is plug them into a standard household outlet (or hardwire), add water (or connect to a water line) to the tank and enjoy!
Do Water Vapor Fireplaces Give Off Heat?
Though water vapor fireplaces look realistic, you can actually reach out and touch the flames, as they are cold to the touch.
If you are looking to get the clean emission-free flame with the benefit of warmth, Modern Blaze does offer water vapor fireplaces that come with a heater, like the popular Dimplex Opti-Myst Pro 1000 Firebox.
This realistic water vapor electric firebox can be installed as a single-sided unit or converted to a see-through design by removing the included back panel.
The stunning appearance and practical design of the Opti-myst® Pro is the perfect fit for custom applications in residential and commercial projects.
Enjoy the ambiance, warmth, and the crackling sound of fire without the worry that children, pets, or your "spirited" friends run into it.
Find it here: Dimplex Opti-myst® Pro 1000 - 46” One or Two Sided Vapor Fireplace with Heater (GBF1000-PRO)
Also available in 65" size: Dimplex Opti-myst® Pro 1500 - 65” One or Two Sided Vapor Fireplace with Heater (GBF1500-PRO)
All other water vapor fireplaces don't come with a heater, however, the heater can be purchased separately and added to Dimplex Opti Myst Pro Cassettes, Opti-Myst Pro 500 and Opti-Myst Pro 1000.
Water Vapor Cassettes For Custom Fireplaces
If you are looking to create a unique custom fireplace with a safe-to-touch fire that is open on as many sides as you wish, water vapor cassettes are the perfect solution. These cassettes have limitless installation options from 2-sided to 360-degrees.
Cassettes come in sizes of 20", 40" and 60" long with the flame from edge to edge and can be connected in a series of cassettes for dramatic linear installations impossible to achieve with gas fireplaces.
Our customers' favorite water vapor cassette:
Dimplex Opti-myst® Pro 1000 - 40" Water Vapor Fireplace Cassette (CDFI1000-Pro)
The newest and longest water vapor cassette:
AFireWater Premium Smart Vapor Fireplace Cassette with Multicolor 3D Flames
How to Choose The Best Water Vapor Fireplace?
We have already selected the best Water Vapor Fireplaces to be featured on our website, you can see them all here: Water Vapor Fireplaces
Some of them do stand out, however:
Dimplex Opti-Myst - the original water vapor fireplace, installed in many residencies, hotels, and restaurants around the world. Loved by the customers. The Opti-Myst cassettes are flexible: add a heater, connect to a water line or plug them in instead of hardwiring - all with the help of added accessories. And you can add glowing log sets to add even more realism (highly recommend!).
aFireWater Cassettes - the newest revolutionary technology. The Premium version of these cassettes is the one that stands out. It can be connected to Wi-Fi and controlled via a smartphone app or home automation and it is the first Water Vapor Fireplace with changing flame color! The Premium version can also be connected to a water line eliminating refills, unlike the original version of this cassette.
Do Water Vapor Fireplaces Look Real?
Wondering if these mist fireplaces look like real fires? We get this question a lot. If you want to see one in person you might be lucky to find it installed in a hotel or a restaurant near you. We are collecting a list of showrooms in the US, email us at support@modernblaze.com to see if there is one near you.
We have also collected a series of videos generously submitted by our customers or manufacturers of water vapor fireplaces themselves. You can watch them all here, just keep clicking to the next video in the player below.
Videos of Water Vapor Fireplaces:
Water Vapor Fireplace Comparison
Hopefully, by now you have a pretty good understanding of water vapor fireplaces. To make things even more clear, here is a comparison table highlighting the main differences between the 3 most popular water vapor fireplaces at the moment.
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| Fireplace | Dimplex Opti-myst® Pro 1000 - 40" Water Vapor Fireplace Cassette (CDFI1000-Pro) | Dimplex Opti-myst® Pro 1000 - 46” One or Two Sided Vapor Fireplace with Heater (GBF1000-PRO) | AFireWater Premium Smart Vapor Fireplace Cassette with Multicolor 3D Flames - 40" |
| Fuel | Works on Electricity and Water | Works on Electricity and Water | Works on Electricity and Water |
| Installation | Many installation options. Several units can be connected to make a longer fireplace. | Standard or 2-sided fireplace installation | Many installation options. Several units can be connected to make a longer fireplace. |
| Harwire / Plug in | Hardwired / Can be plugged in using a plug kit. | Hardwired / Can be plugged in using a plug kit. | Each unit plugs into a standard 120V wall receptacle. |
| Time between refills | Up to 8 hours. Can be connected to a water line using a plumb kit. | Up to 8 hours. Can be connected to a water line using a plumb kit. | Up to 20 hours. Can also be directed plumbed for automated filling. |
| Crackling noise | Makes a crackling noise like a real fire | Makes a crackling noise like a real fire | Doesn't make any noise |
| Heat | Doesn't have a heater but it can be added | Has a built-in electric heater capable to heat up to 400 sq. ft. | Doesn't have a heater |
| Log Accessory | Optional Glowing Log Accessory | Optional Glowing Log Accessory | No accessories available. |
| Flame Color | Realistic 3-Dimensional Orange Flame | Realistic 3-Dimensional Orange Flame | Realistic 3-Dimensional Multicolor Flame |
| Energy Consumption | 460 Watts | 1,460 Watts (with heater) | 120 Watts |
The Green Alternative
All in all, water vapors are a healthier, safer, and more economical version of a wood-burning or gas fireplace. There are no logs or ash to clean up, no annual cleaning of the chimney and flue, no propane tanks or gas lines to worry about. Modern technology now allows you to have the beauty of realistic flames with no harmful emissions or other fire-related safety concerns. Select the option that best fits your project - firebox, insert or cassette - and upgrade your world to the fireplace of the future. It truly is the Green alternative for your home or commercial space!
If you want to find a perfect fireplace to match your style and needs, we can help you with that. Just give us a call or shoot us an email support@modernblaze.com.
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Continue Reading:
Most Realistic Electric Fireplaces: New Water Vapor Technology
Water Vapor Fireplace Installation Ideas
How to Install a Water Vapor Fireplace
Shop Water Vapor Fireplaces:
Modern Ventless Water Vapor Fireplaces
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2 Responses
Liz Miller
Saw this on John Taffy’s Bar Rescue show and immediately googled it! Now I want to learn more!!
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Anastasia
May 17, 2020
Yes!! We were so excited when Bar Rescue reached out and wanted to feature our water vapor fireplace on their show! Jon Taffer absolutely loved the Opti-myst cassette they got from us and they even ordered more for the next season! :)