Acantha Electric Fires

Buying guide

Acantha's fires are designed for one job: to sit flush in a media wall and give a long, realistic flame under the TV. Three widths and two installation styles cover most living rooms.

The range compared

All six have a 3D LED flame over a log fuel bed, 1kW and 2kW heat settings, a flame that runs without heat, and a remote control with a 7-day timer. The Aspire models have a 1.6m cable and the Ignis 1500 a 1.5m cable. Acantha fires come with a 1 year warranty.

Choosing an Acantha fire

Width. Many people choose a fire about as wide as the TV above it. A 55 inch TV is about 1.22m wide, which suits the Aspire 125; a 65 to 75 inch TV suits the Ignis 1500; and an 85 inch TV or a long open plan wall suits the Aspire 200.

Depth. The Aspire models are 235mm deep; the Ignis 1500 is 376mm deep, with a taller 604mm glass and a deeper fuel bed. The media wall must be deep enough for the fire plus any gap the manual specifies.

Fully inset or panoramic. Fully inset fires have glass on the front and suit a flat wall. Panoramic versions add end glass and suit a wall that projects into the room. See panoramic fires.

Planning the wall

Get the fire and its manual before building, and frame the opening to Acantha's cut-out sizes. Plan the socket or spur within reach of the cable before boarding, keep the heater outlet clear, and follow the manual's clearance to the TV above. If you need a new socket or circuit, use a qualified electrician. Our media wall guide covers the build step by step. We also list the Acantha Allnatt marble surround with downlights; check its listing for dimensions and what is included.

Living with an Acantha fire

The flame runs with or without the heater, so many owners leave the fire on for the look most evenings and switch the heat on only when it is cold. On 2kW, using the rule of about 1kW per 14 cubic metres, an Acantha fire heats about 28 cubic metres on its own, so in most living rooms it tops up the central heating. An hour on 2kW uses 2kWh; multiply by your electricity unit rate for the cost, and the flame on its own uses much less. The 7-day timer on the remote lets you set the heat around your week. There is no flue to sweep and no annual service: keep the glass clean with a soft cloth, keep the heater outlet clear and dust the vents now and then.

Design ideas

A long Acantha fire works best with a calm wall around it. Keep the media wall to one colour, add shallow alcoves either side for books or speakers, and use warm white lighting in the alcoves to echo the log bed. The Aspire 200's 2054mm width suits a long wall in an open plan room, where it reads as a single strong line beneath the TV. A panoramic version set into a projecting box makes a natural room divider between living and dining areas.

Buying Acantha from us

Each listing gives the width, height and depth so you can plan the wall before ordering. Delivery is free to England and Wales. For questions, contact us or email info@glowingflames.co.uk.