Does the Dimplex Opti-myst actually produce heat?

Two jobs, two systems

It helps to think of Opti-myst as two things that don't overlap. The mist-and-light show is the flame — and it's deliberately cool, so a curious hand or paw never gets burned. If a model heats, that comes from a completely separate resistive fan heater built into the unit, the same kind found in any 120-volt electric fireplace.

That heater, where present, tops out around 1,500 watts — roughly 5,000 BTU — which is supplemental warmth for about 400 square feet in a moderate room. WNC's mountain winters push that coverage down, so treat it as a comfort boost for the room you're in, not a heat source for the house.

Don't count on it in an outage

Here's the honest part we won't skip: heater or not, every electric fireplace goes dark the moment the grid does. After Helene, the homes that stayed warm ran a working gas or wood hearth — power-optional heat. Electric is the opposite of that.

So if backup heat is anywhere on your list, Opti-myst is the wrong tool, and we'll tell you so before you spend a dime. Direct-vent gas with millivolt or battery-backup ignition, or a wood stove, is what keeps a room warm when the lights are out.

If ambiance is the goal, it's unmatched

For the look — a living, three-dimensional flame with no venting and no fuel line, paired with your central heat — Opti-myst is hard to beat. Come judge it burning at our Asheville showroom. Call (828) 545-0525.