Which electric fireplace brands are good for renters or apartments where nothing can be installed?
For a rental where you can't touch the walls or run gas, a plug-in electric fireplace from Dimplex is the answer — it makes the most convincing electric flame we've seen, needs only a standard outlet, and comes as freestanding mantels and stove-style units you take with you when you move. No venting, no gas line, no landlord permission.
Truly no installation required
This is the one hearth product that doesn't need us to install anything. A plug-in Dimplex mantel or stove-style unit runs off a normal wall outlet, lights instantly, and packs up and moves to your next place. There's no chimney to sweep, no gas line to permit, no combustion at all — which is exactly why it works in an apartment where a landlord would never approve gas or venting. Dimplex even offers a flame-only mode, so you can run the look in summer without any heat.
Set your expectations on heat
Electric is supplemental warmth, not a whole-home heater. A typical unit puts out around 5,000 BTU — enough to take the edge off a room up to roughly 400 square feet — so think 'cozy corner,' not 'heat the apartment.' And be honest with yourself about outages: electric fireplaces go dark when the power does. In a rental that's usually fine, but if you're counting on backup heat, electric isn't it.
See the flame before you decide
Not all electric flames are equal — many look like a screen saver. Dimplex is the brand we carry because its flame effect actually reads as fire across a room. Come see it lit in our Asheville showroom so you know exactly what the flame looks like before you commit to one, and we'll help you pick the size and style that fits your space. Call (828) 545-0525 with questions.
How we can help
Related questions
- Is Dimplex a good electric fireplace brand?
- What are the best electric fireplace brands?
- Which brands make electric fireplace inserts that retrofit into an existing fireplace?
- Are the electric fireplaces sold on Amazon and at big-box stores as good as dealer brands like Dimplex?
- What is the Dimplex IgniteXL linear electric fireplace?
- Is Napoleon a good fireplace brand?
Still deciding? Talk to a real installer.
Free assessments across Western North Carolina — no pressure, straight answers.