Empire Tahoe and Tahoe Clean-Face

Tahoe louvered fireplaces at a glance

Tahoe Clean-Face fireplaces at a glance

Propane inputs, viewing areas and full framing sizes for every model are on its product page.

Louvered Tahoe or Tahoe Clean-Face

The louvered Tahoe fireplaces have a black front that only non-combustible material may cover, and every one needs a front before it can run. The Clean-Face models come with their barrier screen, and tile, brick or other non-combustible material can run up to the edge of the fireplace for a built-in look. On the Clean-Face Premium and Contemporary the area above the opening is finished with non-combustible board, and the Clean-Face Peninsula and See-Through ship with that board in the carton.

The Tahoe Deluxe is the shallowest, framing 16-3/8" deep. The Clean-Face Luxury 42" is the most powerful, at 40,000 Btu/hr on natural gas.

What you need to order with each line

• Tahoe Premium and Deluxe: one front, either a black barrier or a door frame with barrier. The door frame is required if you add a door set. Fronts: Premium 36", Deluxe 32", and Deluxe 36", 42" and 48" and Premium 42" and 48".
• Tahoe Luxury: one front, the barrier or door frame with barrier. The 42" also needs one liner: banded brick (DVP42XE), stacked limestone (DVP3642XG) or black porcelain (DVP3642KR).
• Tahoe Peninsula and See-Through: the 24" multi-sided refractory log set (LSU24RR) and black barriers: two 36" barriers (DVFB36SPBL) for the long sides, plus one 22" barrier (DVFB22TBL) for the open end of the peninsula.
• Clean-Face Premium: a 6-piece ceramic fiber log set, LS3236FF for the 32" and 36" or LS42FF for the 42".
• Clean-Face Contemporary: the LR3236FF rock set and crushed glass in your choice of color. The 32" and 36" take one bag; the 42" takes one and a half, so order two.
• Clean-Face Deluxe and Clean-Face Luxury: nothing else is required. The log set and barrier screen are included.
• Clean-Face Peninsula and See-Through: the 24" Campfire log set (LSU24SPF) or the mixed logs and stones (DG36MX).

Liners, doors, louvers and frames

• Liners in aged brick, herringbone brick, stacked limestone, rustic brick, banded brick, old world stone and black porcelain, depending on the line and size. Each fireplace page lists the liners that fit it.
• Door sets for the louvered Premium, Deluxe and Luxury: black rectangle doors on every size, plus mission rectangle, arch and mission arch on the Deluxe (Deluxe 32", Deluxe 36" to 48", Premium 48", 36" and 42" rectangle). A door set needs the door frame with barrier.
• Louvers for the 36" in black or hammered pewter, arch or mission style (FBG36ABL, FBG36AHP, FBG36MBL, FBG36MHP), and black arch louvers for the 48".
• Outer frames and bottom trim for the louvered models in matte black or hammered pewter, such as the 36" and 42" outer frame and trim kit.
• Clean-Face fronts: 36" and 42" forged iron doors with frame or a rectangle front for the Clean-Face Luxury, an oil-rubbed bronze beveled frame, and beveled frames for the 36" peninsula and see-through.

Controls and model numbers

On most Tahoe models the model number tells you the control, and the last letter the fuel (N for natural gas, P for propane):

• 30 and 31, millivolt: a standing pilot that runs the burner without house power. 31 adds a factory-installed blower.
• 70 and 71, intermittent pilot: electronic ignition on an AC adapter with battery backup. 71 adds the blower.
• 91, multi-function: a remote for flame height and blower speed on the Premium; flame, accent lamp and blower on the Luxury; and flame, light and blower with a thermostat on the Clean-Face Luxury, where the blower and light are built in.

The Clean-Face Contemporary uses 32 (millivolt) and 72 (intermittent pilot), and the Tahoe Peninsula and See-Through use 32E, all millivolt. Optional remotes, wall switches and wall thermostats work with the millivolt and intermittent pilot models; each product page lists them. Blowers can be added where they are not included: FBB4 on the Premium, Deluxe and Clean-Face Deluxe, FBB5 on the Peninsula and See-Through, FBB10 on the Clean-Face Premium, Contemporary and Luxury, and FBB14 on the Clean-Face Peninsula and See-Through. The LK6 and LK7 lighting kits add a light on the Clean-Face Premium, Contemporary, Luxury, Peninsula and See-Through.

Venting

Every Tahoe is direct vent. The longest horizontal run is 20 feet, and island and room-divider installations need at least 8 feet of vertical rise; the vent graph in each manual shows what your layout allows.

• 4" x 6-5/8" pipe: Premium 36", Deluxe, Luxury 36", Peninsula and See-Through, Clean-Face Premium, Clean-Face Contemporary and Clean-Face Deluxe.
• 5" x 8" pipe: Premium 42" and 48", Luxury 42", Clean-Face Luxury, and the Clean-Face Peninsula and See-Through.
• Top vent only: Clean-Face Premium and Clean-Face Contemporary. The Premium 36" vents from the rear on natural gas models only.

Installation

• Most models are zero clearance to combustibles at the back, sides and floor. The Tahoe Peninsula and See-Through need 1/2" at the open end and sides.
• Ceiling height varies by line: 36" above the top of the louvered Premium, Deluxe and Luxury, 42" above the glass on the Tahoe Peninsula and See-Through, 41" above the canopy on the Clean-Face Deluxe, and 72" (Clean-Face Premium and Contemporary) or 84" (Clean-Face Luxury) measured from the bottom of the fireplace.
• Most models need at least 6" to an adjacent side wall.
• On most models, set the fireplace on a metal or wood panel the full width and depth of the unit when it sits on carpet, tile or any combustible floor other than wood.
• Combustible mantels follow the mantel chart in each installation manual.

Natural gas or propane

Every Tahoe is sold in natural gas (N) or propane (P). Each fireplace page lists the conversion kits that fit it, and the Tahoe conversion kits we carry are on this page.

Warranty

Empire's limited parts warranty for the Tahoe family covers the factory-installed glass, combustion chamber and heat exchanger for life. Other components are covered for 3 years, and remote controls, thermostats, lights, accessories and replacement parts for 1 year. The warranty covers parts for the original purchaser; full terms are in the warranty section of each installation manual.

Empire Tahoe FAQs

What is the difference between a Tahoe and a Tahoe Clean-Face?

The face. The Tahoe Premium, Deluxe and Luxury have a traditional louvered face and need a front ordered with them. The Clean-Face has no louvers and comes with its barrier screen, so tile or other non-combustible material can run right up to the opening.

Which Tahoe fireplaces work without electricity?

The millivolt models (30 and 31, and 32 on the Contemporary, Peninsula and See-Through) run the burner without house power. Blowers and lights still need a 120V supply.

Which Tahoe comes with a blower?

Models ending 31, 71 or 91, which includes every Tahoe Luxury and the Clean-Face Luxury multi-function. The other models take an add-on blower.

Which Tahoe is the shallowest?

The Tahoe Deluxe, at 16-3/8" framing depth.

Does the Tahoe come with logs?

The Tahoe Premium, Deluxe and Luxury and the Clean-Face Deluxe and Luxury include their log sets. The Clean-Face Premium, Tahoe Peninsula and See-Through, and Clean-Face Peninsula and See-Through need a log set ordered with them, and the Clean-Face Contemporary needs a rock set and crushed glass.

Is there a see-through Tahoe?

Yes, two: the 36" Tahoe See-Through and the 36" Clean-Face See-Through. Both also come as three-sided peninsulas.

Still deciding?

• Every Empire fireplace we carry: Empire Hearth
• A long, low linear flame from Empire: Empire Boulevard Linear Gas Fireplaces
• Direct vent fireplaces from every brand we carry: Direct Vent Gas Fireplaces
• Questions about framing, venting or which Tahoe fits your wall: contact us