Empire Hearth

Best-Selling Empire Series

These are the Empire lines Dreamwood Living customers buy most, grouped by series rather than by individual size so you can see which designs are actually moving.

1. Boulevard — Empire's linear range and its clear number one, in both vent-free and direct vent. Sizes from 30" to 72", plus see-through models.
2. Tahoe — the traditional direct vent fireplace, sold in Deluxe, Premium and Luxury depths from 32" to 48".
3. Spirit gas stoves — freestanding cast iron and steel stoves in vent-free and direct vent, from 10,000 to 25,000 BTU.
4. Rushmore — clean-face direct vent fireplaces and inserts with no visible louvers, in 36", 40" and 50".
5. Wood stoves and inserts — the Archway 1700 insert and the Gateway 3500 stove, for anyone who still wants real wood.
6. Breckenridge — vent-free fireboxes in 32", 36" and 42", built to take the burner and log set of your choice.

Empire Boulevard Linear Gas Fireplaces

The Boulevard is the modern end of the Empire range and the line customers buy most. It comes two ways. Vent-free models need no chimney or flue at all, which is why they end up in basements, additions and interior walls: 48", 60" and 72", plus see-through versions at 48" and 60". Direct vent models draw combustion air from outside and vent back out through a sealed pipe, in 48", 60" and 72", with a 48" see-through.

For a narrower wall, the slim-line SL models run 30" and 36". Finish the install with a trim kit, a reflective or brick liner, and either glass media or a log set depending on whether you want the fire to read contemporary or traditional.

Empire Tahoe Direct Vent Gas Fireplaces

The Tahoe is the traditional zero-clearance fireplace, and it comes in three depths that are easy to confuse. Deluxe is the shallowest and the most economical, in 32", 36", 42" and 48". Premium is roughly 20 inches deep and takes a taller, deeper log stack over the Slope Glaze burner for a fuller flame, at up to 28,000 BTU, in 36", 42" and 48". Luxury is the top tier, including the Clean Face Luxury 42" and the Luxury 42".

Multi-sided options include a 36" see-through and a clean-face peninsula. Clean-face Deluxe models come in millivolt and intermittent pilot control. Note that every Tahoe needs a barrier screen or a door set with barrier frame to be complete — it is not optional, and it is not in the box.

Empire Rushmore Clean-Face Fireplaces and Inserts

Rushmore is the clean-face line: no louvers, no visible grilles, just glass framed by whatever finish material you run up to it. Fireplaces come in 36", 40" and 50", with a 40" see-through for a wall between two rooms. If you are converting an existing masonry fireplace rather than building new, the 35" clean-face insert and 30" insert slide into the existing opening.

Empire Spirit Gas Stoves

A freestanding stove solves a problem a built-in cannot: it needs no framing and very little wall work, so it suits older houses, cabins and rooms where opening up a wall is not on the table. The vent-free Spirit stoves run 10,000 BTU and 20,000 BTU in the 22" cast iron body, 25,000 BTU in the 28" cast iron, and there are steel-bodied versions at 22" and 25". Direct vent Spirit stoves are available in small and medium cast iron and medium steel.

Empire Wood Stoves and Wood Burning Inserts

Empire still builds for real wood. The Archway 1700 insert ships with a blower and drops into an existing masonry fireplace, with surround options to close the gap to the opening and a fresh air kit for tighter houses. The Gateway 3500 is the freestanding stove, with a straight leg kit as an alternative to the pedestal.

Vent-Free Fireplaces, Fireboxes and Burners

Vent-free is where Empire has unusual depth, and it is worth understanding how the pieces fit. A complete vent-free fireplace like the Vail arrives with its burner: 24", 26", 32" and 36", plus a 36" multi-sided peninsula and see-through.

A firebox is the shell only. The Breckenridge fireboxes are zero-clearance certified, accept any certified vent-free burner and log set, and come in Deluxe (32", 36", 42") and Select (32", 36", 42") trims. Choose the burner separately: the Slope Glaze burner is sold with a millivolt valve, a variable flame remote, or intermittent pilot with a thermostat remote.

Or buy the logs and burner as one unit: the Flint Hill ceramic fiber set comes in 18", 24" and 30" with the contour burner included, and Whiskey River does the same in refractory. Logs alone are available in Ravenwood, Sassafras and Rock Creek for multi-sided fireboxes.

The Loft line covers the compact end: vent-free inserts at 10,000 and 20,000 BTU in 29", a 32" at 28,000 BTU, and linear direct vent models at 36" and 46".

Empire Outdoor Gas Fireplaces

The Carol Rose outdoor line is built for covered patios and outdoor rooms. The 60" vent-free linear and the see-through linear are the headline pieces, and the stainless steel outdoor insert fits an existing outdoor opening. Add a Wildwood log set, a wind deflector for exposed positions, a drain tray, and a weather cover for the off season.

Empire FAQs

What is the difference between vent-free and direct vent?

A direct vent fireplace is sealed: it pulls combustion air in from outside and pushes exhaust back out through a pipe through the wall or roof, so room air is never used and nothing from the fire enters the room. A vent-free fireplace burns room air, has no flue at all, and puts 99.9% of the heat energy straight into the room. Vent-free is cheaper to buy and install and can go almost anywhere, but it is capped at 40,000 BTU and is designed as supplemental heat alongside a central furnace, not as a primary heat source.

Is vent-free gas allowed where I live?

Not everywhere. Some states and municipalities restrict or prohibit vent-free gas appliances, and many codes limit their use in bedrooms and bathrooms or require a specific BTU rating for the room size. California in particular does not permit them. Check your local code, or send us your address and we will tell you what we can ship and what will pass inspection.

What is the difference between Tahoe Deluxe, Premium and Luxury?

Mostly depth and flame quality. Deluxe is the shallowest and most economical. Premium runs about 20 inches deep, which allows a taller and deeper log stack over the Slope Glaze burner and a noticeably fuller flame, at up to 28,000 BTU. Luxury sits above both, with clean-face options and multi-function remote control. All three are zero-clearance and share the same accessory families for liners, doors and louvers.

Does an Empire fireplace come ready to use out of the box?

It depends what you are buying, and this trips people up. A complete fireplace like the Tahoe or Vail includes its burner and log set, but the Tahoe still requires a barrier screen or a door set and frame with barrier before it is finished. A Breckenridge is a firebox only, so it needs a burner and a log set chosen separately. Boulevard models take a liner and either glass media or logs. If you tell us the model, we will confirm exactly what else you need in one message.

What is a clean-face fireplace?

A clean-face model has no visible louvers, grilles or exposed metal around the glass, so finishing material can run right up to the opening for a built-in look. Rushmore is Empire's dedicated clean-face line, and clean-face versions of several Tahoe models are available too. Louvered models are the traditional alternative and are usually less expensive.

What is the difference between millivolt and intermittent pilot control?

A millivolt system runs a standing pilot light that stays lit, generating its own power, which means the fireplace still works in a power outage. An intermittent pilot system lights the pilot electronically only when you call for a flame, which uses less gas over a season but needs power to ignite. Many Empire models are sold in both versions, so check which control the listing specifies before you order.

Can I get an Empire fireplace without running a chimney?

Yes, in two ways. A vent-free model needs no venting at all, subject to local code. A direct vent model needs only a short run of sealed pipe through an exterior wall rather than a full chimney, which is usually far simpler than it sounds and is the route most remodels take.

Can Empire fireplaces run on propane?

Most models are available for natural gas or propane, and conversion kits are offered for several lines. The fuel is set per model rather than being universally interchangeable, so confirm the listing or ask us before ordering if you are on propane.