An Overview of White Mountain Hearth Appliances
For nearly 100 years, Empire Comfort Systems has been manufacturing heating solutions for homes and businesses. Some of their most popular products are their gas fireplaces sold under the White Mountain Hearth brand. If you're interested in one of these excellent heating appliances, this guide will give you an overview of what you can expect from some of their featured products.
A Quick Note About Gas Log Sets
In addition to gas fireplaces, Empire also manufactures a variety of different gas log sets. However, those products are beyond the scope of this guide. If you're looking to buy a new Empire gas log set for your home, be sure to check out our Empire Gas Log Set Buying Guide.
Empire Fireplace Options
For this guide, we've split Empire's offerings into two categories: vented and vent-free units. If you're not sure which option is best for your space, check out our fireplace buying guide to learn more about the pros and cons of each installation type.
Empire Vented Fireplaces
Vented gas fireplaces are a great option if you're trying to replicate the look of a wood fireplace as accurately as possible or you're using your fireplace primarily as a decorative appliance. These systems work by pulling exterior air into the firebox to aid combustion and venting exhaust back out in a closed system.
Direct Vent Fireplaces
Tahoe Series
Starting off with one of the largest product lines in Empire's catalog, the Tahoe Series offers an impressive range of options for extensive customizability to suit your needs. Within this series, there are nine different base models, each with different features designed to fit the requirements of your space.
Empire has positioned the Tahoe Series with fireplaces at a variety of price points to meet your budget. Both single-sided and multi-sided units are available for purchase, meaning there's a style for any room. Additionally, a selection of clean-face units allows for an unobstructed view of the firebox and a design that allows finishing tile or other non-combustible material to be installed right up to the outer edge of the fireplace to provide a true built-in appearance.
Designer Direct Vent Fireplaces
Rushmore Series
The impressive Rushmore Series of fireplaces offers massive log sets, deep ember beds and dual burners to create an authentic flame display in your fireplace. With oversized ceramic glass front glass, the Rushmore Series offers an incredible display from any viewing angle, while Empire's TruFlame Technology ensures large, bright flames and minimal emissions while burning.
Forest Hills Series
The Forest Hills Series employs an atypical fireplace design to create a distinct focal point in any room. Instead of using the short and wide profile most would expect from a fireplace, the Forest Hills Series features a taller portrait-style design. To further enhance their ambiance, these fireplaces also feature an accent lighting system to highlight the striking design of each piece. Available in both traditional and contemporary styles, the Forest Hills fireplace makes a great addition to any decor.
Loft Series
Simple. Sleek. Classy. All are great adjectives to describe the White Mountain Hearth Loft Series of fireplaces. These units offer a modern take on fireplace design with crushed glass media, long and flickering flames and natural log and stone elements. These fireplaces add a modern touch to any space and are perfect for both residential and commercial applications.
Linear Direct Vent Fireplaces
Boulevard Series
The Boulevard Series offers big and bold design perfect for large spaces like spacious living rooms, hotel lobbies or other commercial spaces. All units offer a variety of customizable options depending on the needs of your space, while size options ranging from 36 inches to 72 inches ensure there's a model for any space. Additionally, both contemporary and traditional options are available as are single-sided and see-through units, meaning this fireplace can easily transform any space.
Direct Vent Inserts
If you're looking to upgrade an existing wood-burning fireplace to something more efficient, Empire's direct vent inserts offer the perfect option for your space. Available in Innsbrook, Rushmore and Loft styles, these direct vent inserts slot into an existing space for an easier installation process.
These appliances are classified as zone heating appliances, meaning they make an excellent choice for those looking to reduce heating costs. By relying on a direct vent insert to heat an individual occupied room, extra load can be taken off of a furnace or boiler system for more efficient (and cheaper) heating.
Empire Vent-Free Fireplaces
Vent-free fireplaces are a great way to add a fireplace to a space where traditional venting isn't possible. These units also tend to put off more heat than vented units, making them a more effective heating option for some spaces. These units work by using air from the room for combustion, and they do not require any special venting.
Please note, vent-free fireplaces are not allowed in all areas. Check your local building codes and regulations if you're considering one of these units.
Vent-Free Fireboxes
Brekenridge Series
The Breckenridge Series is available in multiple model configurations based on your needs and budget. Deluxe, Premium and Select options all deliver impressive performance and aesthetics. However, Premium models add more depth and a taller opening to showcase larger log sets. Select models take this same approach, but retain more compact outer dimensions and a low-profile top and bottom. The result is a more visible firebox with less of the fireplace face showing.
The Breckenridge Series also features a multi-sided fireplace design. This unit can accept any properly sized vent-free burner and logs and can be purchased with either conventional louvres or a flush face design. The former gives a more classic fireplace appearance, while the latter allows the unit to be completely bricked or tiled into place while still allowing use of the circulation blower.
Linear Vent-Free Fireplaces
Vail Series
The Loft and Boulevard Series vent-free fireplaces feature many of the same design elements as their vented counterparts, including contemporary styling and long linear designs. These fireplaces are feature nearly 100 percent efficient t designs to effectively heat your room, while a multitude of sizes and styles allow for greater flexibility when choosing the right model for your space. Most models also feature optional upgrade options for a greater level of customization to truly make your fireplace your own.
Traditional Vent-Free Fireplaces
The White Mountain Hearth Vail Series features fireplaces with highly customizable designs and 99.9 percent heating efficiency. Additional accessories like frames and mantels take this a step further to allow you to adapt your Vail fireplace to various installation types. Additionally, single-sided and multi-sided units are available so you can enjoy the impressive heating potential of these fireplaces no matter your room layout.
Vent-Free Fireplace Inserts
If you have an existing hearth space that you're looking to fill with a vent-free unit, Empire's Innsbrook and Loft vent-free inserts are excellent options. Both styles feature a variety of options and premium burner systems to help you get the most out of your space, while their overall designs are similar to the vented versions of these models.
Get Help from a Product Expert
We know there's a lot to consider when trying to decide on the best fireplace for your home or business. Instead of trying to sift through information on your own, why not let one of our product specialists help you out?
Our team is trained to help customers find the right products for their specific needs. Even better, our experts don't work on commission, so you feel confident in the advice you receive. Our expert guidance is complimentary, so feel free to ask as few questions or as many questions as you need to feel confident about your purchase. Ready to get started?
We're here Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time to answer your questions by phone. You can also email us at any time, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. See our contact page for more information.
