PuraFlame Western Electric Fireplace Insert Review: a realistic look without the wood hassle

I put this PuraFlame Western 33" insert into a dead wood-burning fireplace that had basically turned into a black hole in my living room. No more chimney cleaning, no more hauling logs, and no more smoke smell that lingers in the house for two days. I’ve been using it mostly in the evenings for a few weeks, long enough to see what works well and what’s a bit annoying.

The first thing that struck me is how simple it is to get going. You literally slide it into the opening, plug it into a standard outlet, and that’s it. No gas line, no vent, no messing with anything technical. That part is very "plug and play". If you measure your opening correctly, it’s basically a big heavy box you just shove into the hole and you’re done.

My room is roughly 300–350 sq. ft., so pretty close to the 400 sq. ft. that PuraFlame claims as the supplemental heating range. I don’t use it as the main heater, but as a boost on colder nights, and for that, it does the job. The fan isn’t totally silent, but it’s not annoying either; it sounds like a normal space heater in the background.

Overall, my first impression is pretty positive: it looks good, it’s easy to live with, and it heats decently for what it is. It’s not perfect though. The crackling sound is a bit fake if you listen closely, the thermostat control is old‑school, and you can’t hardwire it. But if you want to bring an old fireplace back into use without spending a fortune on gas or wood, it’s a pretty solid option.

Price-wise, this sits in the middle: not the cheapest electric insert out there, but far from the high-end models that cost several times more. For what you pay, you’re getting a realistic-enough flame effect, a usable heater, a remote, and a unit that slips easily into a standard fireplace opening. When I compare it to cheaper inserts I’ve seen in stores, the flames and ember bed on this PuraFlame look better and less fake, which for me justifies the extra cost.

Where they clearly saved money is in the controls and "smart" features. No digital thermostat, no built-in timer, no Wi‑Fi or app, and the remote is basic. If those things matter a lot to you, this might feel a bit outdated. But if you mainly care about how it looks in the room and that it can add a bit of heat without fuss, then the feature set is enough. You’re basically paying for looks and solid core performance, not bells and whistles.

Compared to running a gas insert, the operating cost is different: at 1500W, you’re essentially running a standard electric space heater, so your electric bill will go up if you run it for many hours every day. But you don’t have gas line costs, venting, or annual safety checks. Compared to wood, you’re not buying logs, dealing with storage, or paying for chimney cleaning. So in the long run, if you use it mainly for ambiance and occasional heat, the running cost is manageable.

Taking everything into account, I’d say the value is good but not mind-blowing. You get what you pay for: a realistic-looking electric fireplace insert that’s easy to install and pleasant to use, with a few compromises on controls and sound realism. If you find it on sale, it’s an even better deal. At full price, it’s still fair, especially given the strong user ratings and the fact that it ranks high among electric fireplaces on Amazon.

The design is clearly aimed at people who want a traditional fireplace look, not some ultra-modern glass strip on the wall. The front is a clean black frame with a big glass window and a three‑sided brick pattern inside. From the couch, it reads like a classic masonry fireplace that just happens to be very clean. No fake metal grills or cheesy decorations around it, which I liked.

The fake brick interior is one of the things that sells the illusion. It doesn’t look like real brick if you’re standing a foot away and staring at it, but from a normal sitting distance it blends in very well and makes the whole thing feel less "electric heater" and more "firebox". The resin logs sit on a grate with an ember bed underneath, and the glow effect there is actually pretty decent. The embers pulse and shift a bit instead of just being one flat red light.

The flames themselves are on the better side for this price range. They’re not perfect, but they don’t have that cheap, super-flat orange cartoon look you see on some other inserts. You get three flame intensity settings. On the highest setting there’s a decent amount of movement, and there are some yellowish flickers mixed into the orange. If you play with the settings you can get a look that’s fairly close to a gas fire. Some people might find the color a bit too orange and would prefer whiter or bluer flames, but personally I think for a mid‑priced insert it looks pretty solid.

One thing I really appreciated is that the front glass doesn’t get hot. You can touch it even when the heat is running, which is a big plus if you’ve got kids or pets that like to get close. The controls are hidden on the upper edge behind a little panel, so you don’t see a bunch of buttons and lights when you’re just sitting and looking at the fire. Overall, the design is simple, not fancy, but it fits well in a traditional mantel and doesn’t scream "cheap electric heater" once it’s in place.

The main body of the unit is metal, with a tempered glass front and resin logs inside. Nothing fancy, but it feels solid enough for the price. When I lifted it out of the box, it didn’t feel flimsy or like the panels were going to bend. The frame is rigid, and once it’s in the fireplace opening, it sits firmly without wobbling. The weight (around 46–47 pounds) helps it feel stable.

The glass front is clear and doesn’t have weird tints or distortions. After a few weeks of use, I haven’t seen any fogging or discoloration. It will collect dust and fingerprints like any glass surface, but it wipes clean easily. The resin logs look decent. Up close, you can see they’re obviously molded, but from normal distance they do the job. The ember bed underneath is all internal LEDs, so no loose parts to fiddle with.

The buttons on the control panel feel a bit "plastic‑y" but they work fine. They don’t feel like premium switches, but they respond properly and I haven’t had any missed presses. The remote is as basic as it gets: lightweight plastic, simple buttons, two AAA batteries (included). It doesn’t feel high-end, but again, it works, and the range is good enough for a standard living room. I can point it roughly at the fireplace from the couch and it responds without issues.

One detail that matters over time is the fan and noise level. So far, the fan sounds smooth, with no grinding or clicking, which usually means the bearings and housing are decent. Obviously, long‑term reliability is something you only see after a year or two, but based on how it’s built and the thousands of reviews it has, I’m reasonably confident. It’s not bulletproof, but for the price and materials, it feels like a solid mid‑range product, not a toy.

I obviously haven’t had this for years, but using it daily in the evenings gives a decent first idea of durability. I’ve been running it pretty much every night for a few hours, sometimes with heat, sometimes just flames. So far, no weird noises, no flickering LEDs, and no random shutoffs. The fan sound has stayed the same from day one, which usually means nothing is loosening or rubbing inside.

The exterior hasn’t shown any signs of heat damage. The metal frame doesn’t get hot, and the glass stays cool to the touch even after running the heater for a while. That’s good both for safety and for long‑term wear, because it means the heat is being pushed out the front instead of cooking the frame or electronics too much. I’ve checked the cord a few times after long sessions, and it’s just warm at most, not hot.

From what I’ve seen and from user reviews, the LED flame system tends to last longer than older bulb-based setups. LEDs are rated for a lot of hours, and because there’s no actual combustion, there’s nothing to clog or clean inside. The main mechanical part that could wear out is the fan. Again, based on the smooth sound, I’d guess it’s reasonably built, but like any heater fan, if you run it hard for years, it might eventually start to buzz or need replacement. That’s pretty standard.

The brand offers a limited warranty (you’d have to check the latest details on their site or manual), and people mention decent customer service when they needed help or had fit issues. That’s reassuring if you’re worried about getting stuck with a dead unit. So while I can’t promise it’ll last ten years, it doesn’t feel fragile, and there’s nothing in the build so far that screams "this will fall apart quickly". For the price range, durability seems fair.

On the heating side, this thing is exactly what the brand says: supplemental heat for up to about 400 sq. ft., not a full house heater. On high (1500W), in my roughly 320–350 sq. ft. room, it takes the chill off in maybe 15–20 minutes and makes the space feel noticeably warmer after half an hour. It’s similar to running a decent space heater, just nicer to look at. On low (750W), it’s more of a gentle boost, useful for taking the edge off without making the room too hot.

The fan noise is there, but not bad. It’s a steady hum, not a rattling or whistling sound. With the TV on or some music playing, I forget it’s running. If the house is totally silent, you’ll hear it, but it didn’t bother me. The unit doesn’t blow super hot like some cheap space heaters that fry the air right in front of them, but the airflow is steady and spreads out from the top front vent well enough for a medium room.

Flame realism is where this insert earns most of its good reviews. Compared to some cheaper ones I’ve seen at big box stores, this one looks noticeably better. The flames have a decent rhythm and don’t just loop in an obvious pattern, at least not one you notice right away. The embers and coals underneath the logs pulse a little, which keeps it from looking static. I wouldn’t confuse it with a real wood fire if I was paying attention, but as background while watching TV or reading, it passes the test.

The crackling sound effect is a bit of a mixed bag. On low volume, it’s okay and adds a bit of atmosphere. On higher volume, it starts to sound more like popcorn hitting a metal lid than a real fire. I ended up either turning it way down or off completely. If you have other noise in the room (TV, music, conversation), it blends in enough. If you’re sitting in silence just listening to it, it’s not very convincing. Still, nice to have the option, and at least you can turn it off.

Out of the box, you get the insert itself, the resin log set already in place, a remote, and a basic manual. No fancy extras, no tools, nothing complicated. The unit is about 35" wide overall, with a firebox opening a bit over 32" wide and around 25.5" high. It weighs around 46–47 pounds, so it’s not light, but one reasonably strong person can slide it into place. Two people is just safer, especially if you’re trying not to scratch a mantel or tile.

The controls are split between the hidden panel on the unit and the remote. On the unit, you’ve got a power button, a thermostat dial (not digital), a heat mode switch (750W or 1500W), and buttons for flame brightness and the crackling sound. On the remote, you can turn it on/off, adjust flames, sound, and heat mode, but you can’t precisely set a temperature like you would with a modern digital thermostat. It’s more of a "turn the dial until it feels right" situation.

In practice, the setup is really straightforward: you slide it into your existing fireplace or opening (it has a flat bottom, so it can just sit on the floor of the firebox), plug it into a standard 120V outlet, and you’re ready. The manufacturer is very clear that it’s plug‑in only, not meant to be hardwired. So if you were planning a fully built‑in, super clean look with no visible cord and a junction box, this isn’t the right model unless you’re okay with bending the rules, which I wouldn’t recommend.

From a usage point of view, there are three main modes: flames only (no heat), low heat (750W), and high heat (1500W). You can also turn the crackling noise on or off and adjust its volume. The unit remembers your last settings when you turn it back on, which is handy. Overall, the feature set is simple but covers what most people actually use: looks, a bit of heat, and basic remote control. No smart features, no app, no Wi‑Fi, and honestly I didn’t miss any of that.

If you’re expecting this to heat your whole house, you’ll be disappointed. If you treat it as a space heater with nicer visuals, it does its job. In my case, I have central heating set a bit lower and use this insert to make the main room feel cozy in the evenings. On high (1500W), it noticeably warms the room and lets me avoid cranking the thermostat up a couple of degrees. On low (750W), it’s more like a background assist.

The thermostat is the old-school rotary style, not a digital display. That means you kind of have to play with it the first time: turn it up to max, let the room heat up, then slowly dial it back until the heater shuts off, and leave it there. After that, it cycles on and off around that setting. It works, but it’s not very precise, and you can’t just say "I want 72°F". That’s one of the weaker points for me, especially compared to newer heaters or inserts with digital thermostats and timers.

In terms of replacing the "feel" of a real fireplace, it obviously doesn’t fully do that. There’s no actual flame, no real smell, and no radiant heat from burning wood. But it gets close enough visually that for everyday use, I stopped missing the mess of a real wood fire pretty quickly. No ash, no soot, no smoke alarms, and no worrying about whether the flue is open or if the last log is fully out before going to bed.

So in practice, effectiveness is like this: as a heater, it’s decent but not exceptional; as a visual fireplace replacement, it’s pretty solid for the price; as an overall package for someone who wants low maintenance and a cozy look, it ticks most of the boxes. If you’re super picky about exact flame realism or want a precise digital thermostat and timer functions, you might want a higher‑end model. For regular day‑to‑day use though, it does what it’s supposed to do.