Water Vapor or "Steam" Fireplace Buying Guide
Looking for a fireplace that doesn't need a chimney or a vent? Water Vapor Fireplace is the newest type of ventless fireplaces and everybody is talking about it.
Read on to learn why water vapor fireplaces are so popular and how to pick a good one from all the choices available on the market today.
What is a Water Vapor Fireplace?
Water Vapor Fireplace is a ventless fireplace with 3-dimensional realistic flames that you can touch without burning your hand. The flame illusion if created with the help of fine water mist and LED lights that reflect off of it.
5 Fun Facts About Water Vapor Fireplaces
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 fireplace types.
- Water Vapor Fireplace doesn't produce any harmful emissions keeping your air clean.
- The "flame" of 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 a huge number of installation options because it doesn't need venting or clearances and the 3D flame can be open on from 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.”
Realistic cool-to-the-touch flame is 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!
In photo: Faber E-Matrix 3-Sided Water Vapor Fireplace
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.
Most water vapor fireplaces do not come with a built-in heater.
If you are looking to get the clean emission-free flame with the benefit of warmth, Modern Blaze offers 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 cassettes:
Dimplex Opti-myst® Pro 1000 - 40" Water Vapor Fireplace Cassette (CDFI1000-Pro) and Dimplex Opti-myst® 500 - 20" Water Vapor Fireplace Cassette (CDFI500-PRO)
In photo: Dimplex Opti-myst® Pro 1000 - 40" Water Vapor Fireplace Cassette (CDFI1000-Pro)
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. This is the fireplace featured on an episode of Bar Rescue TV Show.
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!).
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) | Faber E-Matrix 3-Sided Water Vapor Fireplace |
| 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 | 3-sided with 4 orientations: front, left, right, bay |
| Harwire / Plug in | Hardwired / Can be plugged in using a plug kit | Hardwired / Can be plugged in using a plug kit | Hardwire Ready |
| 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 | Hard Plumbed Water Connection |
| Crackling noise | Makes a crackling noise like a real fire | Makes a crackling noise like a real fire | Makes a crackling noise like a real fire |
| 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. | No heat |
| Log Accessory | Optional Glowing Log Accessory | Optional Glowing Log Accessory | Realistic Log Set Included |
| Flame Color | Realistic 3-Dimensional Orange Flame | Realistic 3-Dimensional Orange Flame | Realistic 3-Dimensional Orange Flame |
| Energy Consumption | 460 Watts | 1,460 Watts (with heater) | 270 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 send us an email support@modernblaze.com.
Want to save on your fireplace purchase? Click here to get on our email list!
Continue Reading:
- Water Vapor Fireplace Featured on Bar Rescue TV Show!
- Most Realistic Electric Fireplaces: New Water Vapor Technology
- Electric Fireplace Buying Guide
- Water Vapor Fireplace Installation Ideas
- How to Install a Water Vapor Fireplace
- Clean Energy Fireplace Solutions For Your Home
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