Electactic 24Inch Electric Fireplace Stove , Free-Standing Infrared Fireplace Stove, Controllable 3D Flame, 4 Variable Flame&Log Colors, 1500w, 5100BTU, Black (S230B-BLACK), 23.5"L X 10.7"W X 24.3"H

On a gray November morning, I swapped my old space heater for the Electactic stove and immediately understood why people like these faux-fireplace heaters. It doesn’t just push warm air—it changes the mood of a room. After several weeks of daily use in a small office and weekend tests in a larger, open living space, here’s how it performed.

Design and build

This is a retro-styled, free-standing electric fireplace with a mostly metal body and a curved LED “firebox.” At 23.5 x 10.7 x 24.3 inches and roughly 33 pounds, it feels solid but is still easy for one person to move. The matte black finish reads more “cast iron stove” than “plastic appliance,” and the proportions look right on a hearth, in a corner, or under a window.

Out of the box, assembly took me five minutes—attach the metal legs with the included screws and you’re done. The doors and trim are well aligned, and the curved display helps the flame effect look layered rather than flat. It’s a design that passes the squint test: from across the room, it could be mistaken for a compact, real-flame stove.

Setup and controls

You get two ways to operate it: a top-mounted touch panel and a simple remote. The touch panel is responsive and straightforward once you learn the icons. The remote covers all the major functions—heat on/off and level, fan speed, flame speed, flame color, log color, brightness, and timer. Mine worked best with direct line-of-sight; I needed to aim it at the lower front of the unit to guarantee a response. It’s not a deal-breaker, but expect an occasional missed command if you’re off-angle.

A small red numeric readout briefly flashes inside the unit when you change settings. It disappears after a moment, which keeps the illusion of a fire intact while still confirming what you adjusted. It’s a smart touch.

Flame effect and ambiance

The 3D flame is this stove’s strongest trick. The curved screen, layered flame, and separate control for flame color and log color let you dial in a surprisingly convincing look. Out of the box, a classic orange/amber combo is the most realistic; the cooler blue and multicolor options go a bit nightclub, but they’re fun. I preferred the fastest flame speed to mimic an active fire, with brightness one notch below max to avoid a “TV bright” look at night.

There’s no built-in sound, so you get the visuals without crackle. If you want the full vibe, a small speaker or a white-noise app with fireplace sound pairs well.

Heating performance

This is a 1500-watt infrared/electric heater with two heat levels and a top vent. In a well-sealed, roughly 200–250 square-foot office, it raised the temperature from 68°F to about 73°F in 35–45 minutes on high, then held it comfortably with the fan on a mid setting. In a larger, open plan (living room plus kitchen), it worked as a supplemental heater—taking the edge off and making the space feel warmer near the unit, but not replacing central heat.

Advertised BTU is around 5100, which is typical for a 1500W household heater. That’s enough for small rooms, bedrooms, home offices, and enclosed porches (indoor use only), and it meaningfully reduces the run-time of whole-house heat if you’re looking to zone-warm the room you’re in. For large or unusually drafty spaces, treat it as a secondary heat source.

A note on airflow: the hot air exits at the top, and the intake is at the back. For best performance, don’t push the stove tight against a wall. I had the best results with 18–24 inches of clearance behind it or positioning it where there’s natural circulation (for example, near a doorway). When the intake can breathe, the heater ramps up more consistently and avoids going into cool-down as often.

Fan noise and power use

With five fan speeds, you can trade noise for output. On lower speeds it’s a soft whoosh that fades into background room noise; on the highest settings, you will hear it. I kept it at a mid speed for daytime and one or two notches up while initially warming the room.

Electrical draw on high is 1500 watts. On a typical US rate of $0.15/kWh, that’s about 23 cents per hour on full heat. If you’re using it daily, a timer helps limit costs; I often set it for 1–2 hours in the evening. As with any 1500W appliance, plug it directly into a dedicated or lightly loaded 15A circuit, avoid power strips or light-duty extension cords, and don’t run it on the same outlet as other high-draw devices.

Safety and placement

The top vent is a thoughtful improvement over bottom-vent designs, which can overheat flooring or carpets. The top surface does get warm—especially near the center—but it didn’t approach burn-hot in my tests. The unit includes tip-over shutoff and overheat protection. Still, follow heater best practices: keep combustible materials a few feet away from the front, provide clearance behind for the intake, and don’t drape anything on top.

Because the flames are visible at kid and pet height, I appreciated that the glass stayed comparatively cool to the touch versus the top vent area. Even so, I wouldn’t call it childproof—treat it like any space heater with supervision.

Daily usability

• Heat options: Two heat levels are simple and effective. I mostly used high to warm the room, then lowered the fan speed to keep noise down.
• Flame controls: Separate flame and log colors plus speed and brightness give you lots of combinations without feeling gimmicky. You can run the flame with heat off for year-round ambiance.
• Timer: Handy for evenings and for letting the room stay warm as you drift off. It beats waking up to turn it off.
• Portability: At 33 pounds, it’s sturdy but still easy to relocate for seasonal rearrangements.

Quirks and limitations

• Remote sensitivity: It works, but it’s picky about aim. If you expect RF-like freedom, you’ll be a little frustrated. The touch panel solves this when you’re nearby.
• Intake placement: Because the intake is on the back, starved airflow can limit heating performance. Give it space, and consider spots with natural air movement if a room is hard to warm.
• No built-in audio: Some competing units fake crackle sounds. This one doesn’t. I prefer silence, but ambiance fans may want a separate sound source.
• Heat expectations: Like all 1500W heaters, it won’t replace a furnace in a large, open, or poorly insulated area. It’s best at zone heating.

Who it’s for

• Apartment dwellers and homeowners who want the look of a fireplace without installation or venting.
• People seeking targeted warmth in a bedroom, office, or den.
• Anyone who values aesthetics and flexibility—realistic flame when you want it, quiet background when you don’t.
• Folks comfortable with basic heater safety and with a suitable household circuit.

Less ideal for: wide-open floor plans expecting it to be the only heat source, or users who demand whisper-quiet operation on maximum fan speed.

The bottom line

The Electactic stove strikes a pleasing balance between form and function. The flame effect is convincing and customizable, the metal build feels durable for the price, and the top-vented heating design makes practical sense. As a zone heater, it’s effective for small to mid-size rooms. The remote could be more forgiving and the rear intake means placement matters, but day to day it’s easy to live with and genuinely elevates a room.

Recommendation: I recommend this stove for anyone looking to combine supplemental heat with a realistic, adjustable flame in small and medium spaces. It’s not a whole-home solution, and the remote’s aim sensitivity is a minor annoyance, but the overall package—build quality, ambiance, and straightforward heating—makes it a strong pick for cozy, efficient spot warming.