Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
the stove looks great and the screen doors add a special touch. i have a small room, but i have not had to put it on high yet.the stove gives off a nice warmth and its well put together.overall its very attractive and heats very well.Best Deals on Muskoka Electric Stove, Large
I love my little electric stove. It warms up my bedroom quickly and is very realistic to watch. I hate the idea of having to warm a whole house up with just me, so this is a wonderful alternative.Honest reviews on Muskoka Electric Stove, Large
Cannot say enough good things about this "stove", and I was a skeptic!In case others are going through the same thought processes, a little background first: I've had my eye on gel-can "fireplaces" for some years now while watching the prices drop. They've not dropped enough, though--at least not on the more realistic-looking models. Since we had an oil-filled, rolling radiator in our budget for October (already have one and love it), before we pulled the trigger on that I thought perhaps we should combine the supplemental heat with a bit of ambience. So I amped up the research on faux fireplaces. Concerned about the recurring cost for canned fuel in gel versions, not to mention the smell it can give off (I've witnessed it, and yuck), I put some time into researching electric versions. It's been many years since I saw any in person, and they've come a LONG way! We decided gel was out, electric was in. Also, "fireplace" was out, "stove" was in; we wanted something mobile, and fireplaces obviously need to be up against a wall to look remotely authentic, plus vents and power buttons are hidden in some stoves. But since they're little more than space heaters with fancy tops, the questions were 1) will the stove heat as well as a radiator?, 2) will it look decent as furniture goes?, and 3) how realistic is the "fire"?
I spent hours looking at the leading manufacturers' offerings before I ever saw this product on Amazon. The heating claims are basically the same for this size stove, no matter the manufacturer, so it came down to aesthetics. There are videos aplenty online, and it's worth seeking them out. I was unimpressed with the look and behavior of the "embers/flames" I was seeing until I happened upon Muskoka's company promo video. The designer said he felt they had the most realistic-looking ember/flame design of any out there and, though I was still skeptical when I ordered it, now that I have it in front of me I can whole-heartedly agree. That aspect, along with the size and design of this stove in particular, makes it stand out among similar electric stoves.
Form: The box is metal (top, sides and back), as is the screen on the doors. Everything else is molded plastic. We're fine with that because it's done well, and it keeps the unit from being too heavy. The design touches on this unit really set it apart, and the doors and screen make the most difference. Not only are the power buttons hidden, so is the glass front--the glare from which, on doorless models, screams "faux!" on first sight. You can't see the heater at the bottom unless you're 12+ feet away or sitting on the floor; it's tucked under and centered. The power cord is 6 feet long, and though the manufacturer does advise against it, they nonetheless approve the use of a short, three-prong, heavy-duty extension cord. And the flame effect? Pretty astonishing. We had a friend walk in last night who thought it was the real deal. (I'm putting up an image but maybe we'll shoot a video as well.)
Function: The low (half) and high (full) settings on the heater work appropriately, there's not a lot to say there. It's forced/fan heat, so the effect is instantaneous as a floor and foot warmer, as compared to radiator-type heaters. Whether or not it will make a big difference in our living room space overall remains to be seen. (If it fails I'll add an update in deep winter.) But we have wood floors that get ice cold in the winter, so I imagine some hot air moving across them will be helpful. You can use the flame effect without heat if you're just looking for ambience.
Price: I'd say this unit is appropriately priced. There are far more expensive models out there which just don't look authentic. And yes, there are cheaper models, but those also look cheaper.
Packaging: It was packaged just fine in a sturdy box, with styrofoam on the top and bottom, and with plenty of air/space inside the box to prevent dings and dents. The unit arrives intact with no assembly needed.
Bottom Line: 100% happy with our purchase. And I swore I'd never go faux! Of course you can't beat the ambience of a real fire, but we all know the smoke's no good for us. This unit is a nice alternative. We're ordering one for a relative when it comes back in stock. (It's offered elsewhere on Amazon and beyond, at various prices from various sellers. Just be sure to get the one with the screen.) Since this stove is new to us, if it malfunctions I'll add an update.
Now all we need, save a temperature drop, is a pop-and-crackle soundtrack (we're working on it)--and some good "fireside" wax melts! Happy fall and winter to all.
--Update:
Just hours after submitting this glowing review the "fire" mechanism unfortunately failed on our unit! After running for 20 minutes it went dark for no reason. (The heater was fine.) We opened the back of the cabinet and checked both bulbs, and neither was burned out. When we closed the cabinet one light inexplicably came back on, then a few minutes later went dark again. Amazon was great and quick: within two days they picked up the defective unit and sent us a replacement--just in time for a huge temperature drop. I'm happy to report that the second unit is fine (so far)... no black-outs after testing for ten hours over two days. And on the high setting, the heater definitely warmed the room enough that we had to shut it off. I'd give it five stars if we weren't a little nervous about how long this will last.
