LegendFlame Carl 39" W Electric Fireplace Insert (EF265), Fireplace Heater 750/1500W, Fire Crackling Sound, Remote Control…

Simply the best looking 'fire/log' insert available on Amazon!My fireplace was sealed off for 15 years. It used to suck the heat out of my house or cold drafts would come down the chimney. Over the years we converted our house to gas, so I thought maybe I'd finally get to doing that fireplace 'remodel' that was needed for so long. Forget it. A gas insert would cost thousands and I just was not willing to spend that kind of money for 'ambiance.' I did not require my fireplace to supplement my heating. Then I realized I did not want to mess around with actual fire or potential hazards that come with fire.NEXT: search for electric options. I found this insert as well as many others, but LegendFlame provided the best measurement description of all the others available and it appeared to 'look' the nicest. Some models from other sellers, if you can find them in this larger size, look as if there's a pile of burning stuff laying all over the floor of the unit or there's no 3 dimensional look from the from to the fake 'back wall of the fireplace,' where with this model the fire/logs are elevated inside the unit and look much nicer. My fireplace required the largest sized unit and it looked as if I'd have about 1/2" at the top where there might be a gap. I was not happy to have to add 5" of black frame on 3 sides, so I tried a do-it-yourself approach.These units are very lightweight, have convenient built in handles on the sides and simply slide into the opening of your fireplace. I ordered that (add 5" of black framing on 3 sides) trim kit but, didn't open it. I knew I wanted to try to do something to hide that little gap without installing that kit. Basically, I had a thick 3/4" piece of heavy duty corrugated cardboard that had come packaged with a large screen TV (that I had saved because I knew it would come in handy some day) I cut that down to match the shape of the fireplace floor. I installed the insert on top of it, then to keep the insert from tilting out of the fireplace, I took a piece of narrow wood 1/2" square, cut to length, covered it with black duct tape and tapped/tucked it right under the front of the unit. It holds the unit snug and looks PERFECT! The modification fills the gap on top and I didn't have to use the trim kit to cover a simple 1/2" gap, so I sent it back. It cost about $29 to send it back, but I did anyway. So, if your might be really close, don't order the kit, was to see if you can modify it on your own, save yourself the shipping. Then, if you need it, order it. I had planned, if forced to use the trim kit, to paint the trim kit the same color as my brick face. I had just made the brick look so pretty, the last thing I wanted was a giant black frame hiding a lot of it.I had just 'remodeled' and painted my fireplace brick face and made a new mantel from scratch. I used crazy glue to hold the cord in the mortar joint that runs along the lower, outer edge of brick face, then before installing the side trim, I burrowed out the wood on the backside to allow the cord to run behind it, then I used a cord concealer box to hide the cord going to the outlet. After it was all done I painted all of it, including the cord, the same color as my walls and brick face.The fireplace is awesome, with lots of lighting options, flame effects and the sounds. I opted for the solid glass front model saving $50 from the next model up that has the moveable doors. I figured I didn't need spend the extra $50 to have operable doors in order to open and tend to my fake fire. : )Get this unit, you will not be sorry. The first thing I do when home in the mornings is to turn it on. The fire looks VERY realistic and I love all the options for how it appears. I'll probably never use the heater, but I did try it. It blows hot air, quietly, but it's nothing substantial and will likely run up your electric bill. They should consider offering a 'no heat' model option to keep prices down. I know I'd have bought it.

We couldn't be more please with our beautiful new electric fireplace. The price was reasonable, the product is well made, well packaged for shipment, and the quality far exceeds my expectations. The installation is easy providing you are prepared. From the moment I turned on the fireplace I couldn't get over how lovely and realistic the flames look and I particularly like the crackling noise. You can choose different color backgrounds for ambiance. The heater works perfectly and will certainly warm up an area, although I believe it is not recommended for use as the sole heating source. I highly recommend the Legend Flame electric fireplace. What a beautiful addition to our home, especially for the winter holidays, I can't wait to see!

I LOVE this fireplace! I’ve had it for well over two months now.First—it fit easily. Installation was super easy. My existing fireplace has an ash dump that allowed some embers to set my house on fire a few years ago. It also has an awful flue, so my fireplace has just been a black hole for years. I considered a gas insert—all are too big and would have required major construction modifications. A gas log set would have required fireplace piping, a permanently open flue (allowing cold air into my home) and a new fireplace floor to close off the ash dump opening—about $10-15k in bids. I saw an electric fireplace at a friend’s home and was stunned at how realistic it was. I ordered this with the trim kit.For installation, I removed the existing door, which was held in by 4 screws. I thoroughly cleaned my fireplace—wear gloves, old clothes , and use floor coverings. Simply Orange degreaser worked perfectly, and I got most of the soot off the sides. I already had nearby electric, so put the trim on the fireplace (6 total screws, about 3 minutes), then slid it in place. Done! No screwing into the brick, it simply slides in and stays. The trim perfectly sets it off. It looks built in because it sits tight against the brick.I’ve played with every feature (flame, sound, heat, etc). The flames look real, the “crackling” sound is very good, heat output is excellent. I don’t particularly care for the mood lighting option, but that’s a personal preference and since everything is optional, I just don’t use that mode.When you open the box, there is a weird nasty smell—that disappears by the time you’re done installing the fireplace, and doesn’t come back.This solves my problem—now I have a beautiful fireplace that can put out heat for snuggling on my couch, and I can use it on a rainy summer night if I want. There’s no mess and no smell. It even looks good when it’s off.Be sure you measure your interior opening correctly, and I suggest the trim kit if you need the balance for appearance. This was a good purchase for me.